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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. Descriptive language to evoke the senses






2. Quality in literature that appeals to the audience's emotions






3. An exception to a proposed general rule






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






5. An explosion of harsh language that usually vilifies or condemns an idea






6. Further information about the subject (predicate must contain the verb)






7. Refined taste - tact - the ability to avoid distress or embarrassment






8. Essay that presents information about a problem followed by a description of one or more solutions






9. 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






10. Essay that presents information in order of importance - either most important to least important or vice versa






11. 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'






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






13. An event or experience that causes disappointment because it is less exciting than what was expected






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






15. List of details that reinforces a concept






16. Rarely used - the writer uses the pronoun 'you' making the reader an active participant in the work






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






18. Opposing point of view






19. A figure of speech in the form of a question posed for persuasive effect without the expectation of a reply






20. To place side by side in order to show similarities or differences






21. Another way to say the writer used an analogy






22. A reference to something in culture - history or literature that expands the depth of the text that allows the reader to make a 'connection'






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






24. 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






25. (1) a short poetic nickname; (2) a term used to describe the name or title of a person -ie 'The Great Emancipator' for Abraham Lincoln; (3) an abusive slur






26. Words that mean the opposite of their literal meaning - i.e. 'how wonderful that you wrecked your car!'






27. A figure of speech






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






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






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






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






32. Refers to ascribing emotion and agency to inanimate objects






33. Knowledge based on experience or observation - the view that experience - especially of the senses - is the only source of knowledge






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






35. Not taking a position






36. The verb and its object and modifiers






37. Drawing conclusions from insufficient evidence






38. A speaker directly addresses something or someone not living - that cannot answer back






39. A work or poem written to celebrate a wedding






40. Can be verified






41. Abab bcbc cdcd ee






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






43. A phrase that refers to a person or object by a single important feature - ie 'the pen is mightier than the sword'






44. Short narrative of an amusing - unusual - revealing or interesting event






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






46. One of many prepositions






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






48. The building housing lawmakers of a state or nation






49. To move off point






50. One of many subordinating conjunctions