Test your basic knowledge |

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 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.)






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






3. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






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






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






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






7. Exaggeration






8. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






9. Direct contrast or opposite






10. Direct contrast or opposite






11. A comparison using like or as






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






13. The underlying message






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






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






16. Change and growth of the character






17. Writing whose purpose is to instruct or teach






18. Repetition of vowel sounds






19. Where the audience knows more than the character






20. Sound words - imitative harmony






21. Same ending sounds






22. A numbered list






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






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






25. Saying one thing but meaning the opposite






26. A mistake in reasoning






27. Technical - specialized language






28. A political comment through the use of humor






29. A conclusion drawn from presented details






30. A form a logic that moves from the specific to the general






31. A metaphor around which the entire story revolves






32. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






33. The use of slang in writing






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






35. Using the same word or phrase for emphasis






36. Words which evoke sorrow






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






38. Same beginning sound






39. Word order or organization






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






41. When the story begins






42. Literary - historical - artistic reference






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






44. A metaphor which changes and grows throughout the story






45. A sermon or moralistic lecture






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






47. The manipulation of words for a specific purpose






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






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






50. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand







Sorry!:) No result found.

Can you answer 50 questions in 15 minutes?


Let me suggest you:

Browse all subjects

Browse all tests

Most popular tests



Major Subjects

Tests & Exams


AP
CLEP
DSST
GRE
SAT
GMAT

Browse all subjects

Browse all tests

Most popular tests