Test your basic knowledge |

CSET English Reading Understanding Text

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 use of a word or phrase to mean the exact opposite of its literal or expected meaning.






2. The pattern formed by end rhyme in a stanza or poem; indicated by the assignment of a different letter of the alphabet to each new rhyme






3. A word or phrase that is so overused that it has lost its expressive power






4. The repetition of final consonant sounds in words containing different vowels (ex: fresh cash - yard bird)






5. Language used for descriptive effect rather than literal meaning and including at least one figure of speech (metaphor - simile - personification)






6. Six feet per line of poetry






7. The assignment/application of human characteristics to animals - inanimate object - or gods (ex: Sponge Bob - Bugs Bunny)






8. A short - witty verse or saying; similar to aphorism or maxim






9. The author's attitude toward his/her subject matter or audience; expressed through diction - punctuation - syntax - and figures of speech; (ex: humorous - serious - formal - distant - friendly)






10. The dominant mood or feeling of a literary work






11. Type of diction; expressions usually accepted in informal situations






12. A type of pun - or play on words - that results when the speaker gets two words mixed up (ex: We watched the flamingo dancers all day)






13. Rhyming that occurs within a single line






14. Three feet per line of poetry






15. A long speech by a character in a literary work






16. Reversal of the usual word order for variety or emphasis (ex:A girl with a hat/In a dream I saw)






17. In drama - a long speech given by a character who is alone on stage; reveals the inner thoughts and emotions of that character






18. A symbol - image - plot pattern - or character type that occurs often in literature - such as the hero on a dangerous quest






19. Repetition of initial consonant sounds in words; used as musical device






20. A movement in early twentieth - century (1900s) poetry - which regarded the image as the essence of poetry






21. The central understanding about life as expressed in a work of literature; may be stated or expressed directly; usually implied or revealed gradually through events - dialogue - and outcome






22. A question to which no answer is expected or the answer is obvious






23. A metrical foot; _/ (unstressed - stressed)






24. Five feet per line of poetry






25. An occurrence is the opposite of what was expected






26. The flaw that leads to the downfall of a tragic hero; the word comes from the Greek word hybris meaning 'excessive pride'






27. Type of diction; a variety of language used by people in particular geographic area






28. The perspective from which a story is told






29. A figure of speech in which a speaker addresses an absent person - inanimate object or idea






30. A type of narrative nonfiction recounting a period in the writer's life






31. Reference to a well - known person - place - or situation from history/art/music/work of literature






32. A narrative in which situations and characters are invented by the author






33. One foot per line of poetry






34. Four feet per line of poetry






35. A form of dramatic poetry in which a speaker addresses a silent listener






36. The repetition of the same stressed vowel sounds and any succeeding sounds in two or more words






37. The use of words to create pictures in the reader's mind






38. Verse that tells a story






39. A specific kind of figurative language such as - simile - personification - metaphor - or hyperbole






40. An introductory section of a play - speech - or other literary work






41. A philosophy that values human freedom and personal responsibility. Writers include: Jean - Paul Sartre - Kierkegaard - Camus - Nietzsche - Franz Kafka - and Simon de Beauvoir






42. A stanza made up of two rhyming lines that follow the same rhythmic pattern






43. The point of view/perspective of a story when it is told by one character who uses the pronouns I and me






44. The time and place in which the events of a literary work occur






45. A metrical foot; // (stressed - stressed)






46. Type of diction; old fashioned words no longer in common use






47. A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is substituted for another that is related (ex: the crown=the king of a country)






48. The feeling a literary work evokes in a reader - such as sadness - peace - or joy






49. An interruption in the chronological sequence of a narrative to leap forward in time






50. A brief statement commemorating a dead person - often inscribed on a gravestone