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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. A formula of deductive argument that consists of 3 propositions - the major premise - minor premise - and conclusion






2. Reasoning by which a general statement is reached on the basis of particular examples






3. That which comes before; the antecedent of a pronoun is the noun to which the pronoun refers






4. A group of words acting as a noun - i.e. 'Playing the guitar is extremely difficult'






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






6. Appearing in episodes - a long string of short individual scenes






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






8. A saying or expression that proposes to tell the truth






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






10. Open - honest communication






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






12. Comparison of two things that are similar in several respects in order to prove a point or clarify an idea






13. The speaker or writer's credibility - honesty






14. Descriptive language to evoke the senses






15. A type of literature that exposes idiocy - corruption - or other human folly - through humor - exaggeration - irony






16. Essay that presents information about the causes of some known or likely outcome - how different causes contribute to the outcome






17. Vowel rhyme






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






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






20. Third person narrator sees and knows all without constraints of time - space. Can digress into contemplative or philosophical forays - often voicing the viewpoint of the author (mostly found in fiction)






21. An indirect attack or insinuation






22. Imagined - even while it may possess truthful elements - it cannot be verified






23. A word that introduces a subordinate clause - i.e. 'Since you're awake - I'll turn on the radio'






24. The work is narrated by the person 'I' - who can also be the protagonist - omniscient speaker. There can be multiple narrators of the same work






25. The commentator does not mean what she writes






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






27. To give human attributes or qualities to something nonliving or nonhuman






28. 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'






29. Lines rhymed by their final two syllables - i.e. running and gunning






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






31. To move off point






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






33. An example that is particularly apt for the situation at hand






34. Language chosen by the writer






35. Language that is not meant to be taken literally - such as metaphor - simile - personification - metonymy






36. A narrative or description with a secondary or symbolic meaning underlying the literal meaning






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






38. The claim or point that the writer is making






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






40. A variety of literary devices i.e. - anaphora - repeating






41. Acronym for basic elements of nonfictional text - speaker - occasion - audience - purpose - subject - tone






42. An exaggeration or overstatement






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






44. A figure of speech






45. A derogatory term used to described poorly written poetry of little or no literary value






46. An attack on an opposing view to weaken - invalidate - or make it less credible






47. Understatement created through double negative






48. An error of reasoning based on faulty use of evidence






49. Example based on supposition or uncertainty






50. The use of parallel elements in sentences or in the structure of an essay or prose passage ie - essay consisting of 4 paragraphs - each beginning with a question followed by the answer