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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. An unexpected outcome






2. The recreation of regional spoken language






3. A conclusion drawn from presented details






4. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






5. A numbered list






6. Technical - specialized language






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






8. A comparison using like or as






9. Exaggeration






10. A device that enables a writer to refer to past thoughts - events - episodes






11. A formal - often pompous - speech






12. Direct contrast or opposite






13. A rhetorical strategy that attacks the person rather than the idea






14. A comparison between two dissimilar ideas or things






15. Type of irony in which a person seems to be praising something but actually insulting






16. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






17. Contrasting words placed together for effect






18. The answer to a question






19. Sound words - imitative harmony






20. Using the same word or phrase for emphasis






21. A detail - image - or character type that occurs frequently in myth and literature - thought to appeal to the unconscious






22. The use of slang in writing






23. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






24. Where the audience knows more than the character






25. 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.)






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






27. Emotional definition of a word






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






29. The underlying message






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






31. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






32. Character whose behavior and values contrast with those of another character






33. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand






34. Word choice






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






36. The manipulation of words for a specific purpose






37. A direct comparison






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






39. Sentences - or parts of a sentence with similar structure






40. Literary devices that enable an author to operate on levels other than the literal (simile - metaphor - etc)






41. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






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






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






44. A story that functions on the symbolic level






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






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






47. A sermon or moralistic lecture






48. A question that does not expect an explicit answer






49. Events that take place before the story begins






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