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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 formal - often pompous - speech






2. Words that create mental pictures






3. Repetition of vowel sounds






4. Change and growth of the character






5. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






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






7. Word choice






8. A story that functions on the symbolic level






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






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






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






12. Dictionary definition of a word






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






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






15. Same beginning sound






16. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






17. Technical - specialized language






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






19. Time and place of a story






20. A word that represents a larger idea or concept






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






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






23. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand






24. Words which evoke sorrow






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






26. Sound words - imitative harmony






27. The answer to a question






28. A political comment through the use of humor






29. Emotional definition of a word






30. The manipulation of words for a specific purpose






31. Literary - historical - artistic reference






32. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






33. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






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






35. A numbered list






36. A comparison using like or as






37. 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.)






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






39. Events that take place before the story begins






40. A sermon or moralistic lecture






41. A metaphor which changes and grows throughout the story






42. An overused expression






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






44. Word order or organization






45. Exaggeration






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






47. Contrasting words placed together for effect






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






49. Direct contrast or opposite






50. The recreation of regional spoken language