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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. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






2. An unexpected outcome






3. Dictionary definition of a word






4. A direct comparison






5. Change and growth of the character






6. The manipulation of words for a specific purpose






7. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






8. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






9. A short witty statement






10. Writing whose purpose is to instruct or teach






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






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






13. A form of logic that moves from the general to the specific






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






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






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






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






18. A comparison between two dissimilar ideas or things






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






20. A question that does not expect an explicit answer






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






22. A moment of great revelation






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






24. Word choice






25. A political comment through the use of humor






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






27. A formal - often pompous - speech






28. Literary - historical - artistic reference






29. An inscription on a tombstone






30. A mistake in reasoning






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






32. Direct contrast or opposite






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






34. Technical - specialized language






35. The recreation of regional spoken language






36. Emotional response of the reader






37. Emotional definition of a word






38. Same beginning sound






39. The answer to a question






40. Time and place of a story






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






42. Unexpected outcome in the plot






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






44. When the story begins






45. Using the same word or phrase for emphasis






46. Words that create mental pictures






47. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand






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






49. Words which evoke sorrow






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