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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. A person or force working against the protagonist - or central character - in a literary work






2. The point of highest emotional intensity or suspense in a literary work






3. A narrative song or poem






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






5. A literary technique in which the author uses clues to prepare readers for events that will occur later






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






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






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






9. Six feet per line of poetry






10. A literary work in which all or most of the characters - events and setting stand for ideas or generalization about life; have a moral or lesson






11. A person - place - thing - or event used to represent something else (ex: scarlet 'A' representing the sin of adultery)






12. The basic unit in the measurement of a line of metrical poetry; usually has one stressed syllable and one or more unstressed syllable;






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






14. Rhyming of word at the ends of line






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






16. A figure of speech that uses the word 'like' or 'as' to compare two unlike things






17. The narrator knows everything about the characters and events and reveals details that even the characters themselves could not reveal






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






19. Type of diction; specialized language used in a particular profession or content area






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






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






22. Writing or speech that tells a story






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






24. 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)






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






26. 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






27. A sudden intuitive recognition of the essence or meaning of something






28. Type of diction; language widely considered crude - disgusting - and offensive






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






30. A literary device in which the author interrupts the chronological order of a narrative to show something that happened in the past






31. A figure of speech in which a comparison in implied but not stated (ex: The snow was a white blanket)






32. The writer says one thing but means something else






33. A type of comedy with ridiculous characters - events - or situations






34. The person who tells a story; may be a part of the story or an outside observer






35. Type of diction; language that shows disrespect for others or something sacred






36. The reader or the playgoer has information unknown to characters in the play






37. A rhythmical pattern in verse that is made up of stressed and unstressed syllables






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






39. A concluding statement or section added to a work of literature






40. A literary movement and philosophical attitude important during the mid -19th century in New England; emphasized reliance on intuition and conscience - focused on protesting materialism and Puritan ethic. Hallmarks of the movement: individualism - fr






41. A significant word - phrase - idea - description - or other element repeated throughout a literary work and related to the theme






42. 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)






43. An occurrence is the opposite of what was expected






44. Comparison of two things that are alike in some ways






45. Five feet per line of poetry






46. Conversation between characters in a literary work






47. Seven feet per line of poetry






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






49. A person portrayed in a literary work






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