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CLEP College Composition

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. The juxtaposition of incongruous or conflicting ideas that reveals a truth or insight






2. The commentator does not mean what she writes






3. Open - honest communication






4. Descriptive language to evoke the senses






5. Saying less than is warranted by the situation in order to emphasize reality






6. Third-person narrator tells another's story using third-person pronouns






7. The assigning of human attributes - such as emotions or physical characteristics - to nonhumans - usually plants or animals. Differs from personification in that it is a pattern applied to a nonhuman character throughout the entire literary work






8. Main idea of an essay - what the writer hope to prove is true






9. The official 'headquarters' of a state or nation - its actual location or area






10. Drawing conclusions from insufficient evidence






11. The act or practice of envisioning things in an ideal form; seeing things as they could be






12. Basically an 'either or' situation - typically a moral decision






13. Refers to the way the writer lets readers know what will be discussed - a framing statement gives the reader some sense of what to expect






14. Neoclassical principles of drama






15. Consists or two or more simple sentences joined by a common and coordinating conjunction - or by a semicolon






16. A line of iambic hexameter; the final line of a Spenserian stanza is alexandrine






17. Abab bcbc cdcd ee






18. Abbaabba cdecde or abbaabba cdcdcd






19. Another way to say the writer used an analogy






20. The ordinary - everyday speech of a region






21. Verb used to express conditional or counterfactual statements - i.e. 'If I were rich'






22. Information distributed to promote a specific cause usually of a biased or misleading nature






23. Abab cdcd efef gg






24. Combines a compound sentence with a complex sentence






25. A kind or more gentle word to dilute the meaning in order to evade responsibility for a more disturbing word - i.e. 'passed on' instead of 'died'






26. A figure of speech in which sharply contrasting ideas are juxtaposed in a balanced or parallel phrase or grammatical structure - i.e. 'to err is human; to forgive - divine'






27. Referring to phrases that suggest an interplay of the senses - ie 'hot pink' or 'golden voice'






28. Vague - not easily defined






29. Repetition of the same consonant two or more times in short succession






30. A thing - idea - or person that stands for something else






31. Essay pattern in which the writer shows the immediate and underlying causes that led to an event or situation






32. The opposite of an idea used to emphasize a point






33. Unconjugated verb with 'to' in front of it






34. A metaphor using 'like' or 'as' in the comparison






35. Example - I think that your sweater is lovely






36. Type of faulty reasoning in which the writer attempts to support a statement by repeating the statement in different or stronger language






37. Helping verb (often be - have - or do) - i.e. 'I am working on it'






38. The verb and its object and modifiers






39. List of details that reinforces a concept






40. Quiet reflection upon a topic






41. A type of poem that takes the form of a lament for the dead sung by a shepherd






42. A comparison of two unlike things in order to show or more clearly or in a new way






43. Example - this white wine goes well with this fish






44. The building housing lawmakers of a state or nation






45. Innocence in perception - lack of worldly knowledge






46. Repetition - at close intervals - of beginning sounds






47. A statement that is obviously true and says nothing new or interesting






48. Referring to local custom or sayings; regional language or behavior






49. One of many prepositions






50. A rhyme ending on the final stressed syllable - i.e. know and snow