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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. A direct comparison






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






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






4. Making something sound nicer than it is; candy-coated words






5. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






6. A moment of great revelation






7. 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.)






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






9. The underlying message






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






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






12. Dictionary definition of a word






13. A play on words that are identical or similar in sounds but differ in meaning






14. When the story begins






15. A formal speech praising one who has died






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






17. Direct contrast or opposite






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






19. Words that create mental pictures






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






21. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






22. Emotional definition of a word






23. A short witty statement






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






25. A formal - often pompous - speech






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






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






28. The use of slang in writing






29. Unexpected outcome in the plot






30. The manipulation of words for a specific purpose






31. A metaphor which changes and grows throughout the story






32. Events that take place before the story begins






33. Writing whose purpose is to instruct or teach






34. Direct contrast or opposite






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






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






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






38. Sound words - imitative harmony






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






40. Word choice






41. Form of personification - speaking to an absent or dead person or object as if it is there






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






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






44. An unexpected outcome






45. A story that functions on the symbolic level






46. A comparison between two dissimilar ideas or things






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






48. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand






49. A question that does not expect an explicit answer






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