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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 speaker or writer's credibility - honesty






2. Combines a compound sentence with a complex sentence






3. The perspective from which a story is written






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






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






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






7. 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'






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






9. A verb used for issuing commands - 'Do it now!'






10. A concept or idea without a specific example; idealized generalizations






11. Vowel rhyme






12. ... - used to indicate omission of words or letters






13. A comic tool of satire - ridiculous exaggeration or distortion






14. Repetition - at close intervals - of beginning sounds






15. A phrase that refers to a person or object by single important feature of that person or object






16. Understatement created through double negative






17. One of many conjunctive adverbs






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






19. 'ed' form of a verb - 'Bettina played with the children'






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






21. Example - I think that your sweater is lovely






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






23. A phrase or saying that has two meanings - one being sexual or provocative in nature






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






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






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






27. A figure of speech






28. Words whose sounds mimic their meaning - buzz - woof






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






30. Used to link two independent clauses of parallel connection






31. 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'






32. 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






33. An explanatory reference at the bottom of a page of text






34. A work or poem written to celebrate a wedding






35. To illustrate how a claim can be true in some ways and false in others






36. Consists of a single independent clause






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






38. Expressed of direct address - i.e. 'Sit - Bettina - sit!'






39. A short quotation or verse that precedes text that sets the tone or provides a setting






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






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






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






43. Verb in present tense - 'Bettina plays with children'






44. Example based on supposition or uncertainty






45. To move off point






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






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






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






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






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