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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 particularly clever extended metaphor






2. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






3. Using the same word or phrase for emphasis






4. Same ending sounds






5. Dictionary definition of a word






6. Time and place of a story






7. A political comment through the use of humor






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






9. Writing whose purpose is to instruct or teach






10. A sermon or moralistic lecture






11. A formal - often pompous - speech






12. A conclusion drawn from presented details






13. Direct contrast or opposite






14. A comparison using like or as






15. Emotional definition of a word






16. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand






17. Words that create mental pictures






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






19. The manipulation of words for a specific purpose






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






21. An unexpected outcome






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






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






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






25. Saying one thing but meaning the opposite






26. Technical - specialized language






27. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






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






29. A question that does not expect an explicit answer






30. A metaphor around which the entire story revolves






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






32. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






33. Word choice






34. A comparison between two dissimilar ideas or things






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






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






37. A direct comparison






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






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






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






41. The answer to a question






42. Direct contrast or opposite






43. When the story begins






44. A formal speech praising one who has died






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






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






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






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






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






50. Exaggeration