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Rhetoric Vocab

Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Time and place of a story






2. Unexpected outcome in the plot






3. A type of pun where the use of a word modifies two or more words - but used for different meanings (On the fishing trip - he caught three trout and a cold.)






4. Repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of consecutive lines or sentences






5. Literary - historical - artistic reference






6. The answer to a question






7. Exaggeration






8. Same beginning sound






9. Word order or organization






10. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






11. Words - phrases - ideas placed side by side for effect






12. Ashort account of an interesting or humorous incident - intended to illustrate or support some point






13. A comparison using like or as






14. Contrasting words placed together for effect






15. Sound words - imitative harmony






16. A story that operates on the symbolic level and teaches a lesson or moral






17. An inference that does not follow logically from the premise (literally - does not follow)






18. A metaphor which changes and grows throughout the story






19. A conclusion that can be arrived at without any observations of the world - but relies only on logical connections between ideas






20. An unexpected outcome






21. A form of personification - only it is not a character in the story






22. A word that represents a larger idea or concept






23. A part is used to represent the whole (crown=king)






24. When the reader expects a climax to occur and it doesn't happen






25. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand






26. A metaphor around which the entire story revolves






27. Direct contrast or opposite






28. A formal argument that consists of a major premise - a minor one - and a conclusion






29. The use of slang in writing






30. Repetition of vowel sounds






31. The use of a quotation at the beginning of the work which often hints at a theme






32. Attitude the narrator wants the reader to take toward a setting - character - or idea






33. Point of understanding or awakening (not necessarily emotional)






34. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






35. Making a situation seem less important or serious than it is






36. The 'unravelling' or resolution of the story - falling action






37. A statement consisting of two parallel parts in which the second part is reversed ('Susan walked - and in rushed Mary.')






38. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






39. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






40. Same ending sounds






41. Statement that contradicts itself - "the more you learn the less you know"






42. Choices a character makes in relation to an obstacle (problem)






43. A comic imitation that ridicules the original. It can be mocking or gently humorous






44. Where the audience knows more than the character






45. Word choice






46. A political comment through the use of humor






47. A question that does not expect an explicit answer






48. Emotional response of the reader






49. A formal - often pompous - speech






50. Reaching for the sublime - the tone results in the absurd