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






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






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






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






5. Poetry in which characters are revealed through dialogue - monologue - and description






6. The recurrence of sounds - words - phrases - lines - or stanzas in a literary work or speech






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






8. Occurs when words include sounds that are similar but not identical (ex: tone and gone)






9. A category or type of literature - defined by its style - form - and content (ex: poetry - drama - fiction - and nonfiction)






10. The outcome - or resolution - of the plot






11. The narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of one character






12. The literary representation of a character's free - flowing thought processes - memories - and emotions; often does not use conventional sentence structure or rules of grammar






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






14. A narrative song or poem






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






16. Poetry or lines of dramatic verse written in iambic pentameter






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






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






19. The use of a word or phrase that imitates or suggests the sound it describes






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






21. A quotation from another work that suggests the main idea - or theme - of the work at hand






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






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






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






25. Six feet per line of poetry






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






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






28. A figure of speech in which opposite ideas are combined (ex: wise fool)






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






30. Three feet per line of poetry






31. 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






32. A literary style in which the writer combines realistic characters - events - situations - and dialogue with elements that are magical - supernatural - or fantastic






33. Two feet per line of poetry






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






35. The continuation of a sentence from one line of a poem to another to complete meaning and grammatical structure (aka - a run - on)






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






37. An occurrence is the opposite of what was expected






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






39. The suggested or implied meaning associated with a word beyond its dictionary definition; can be positive - neutral - or negative






40. A short saying that expresses a general ruth or gives practical advice - usually about behavior and morality; similar to adage or aphorism






41. Short narrative about an interesting event - often used to make a point






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






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






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






45. A person portrayed in a literary work






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






47. The repetition of the same or similar vowel sounds in stressed syllables that end with different consonant sounds






48. The larger - than - life central character in an epic (a long narrative poem about events of crucial importance to the history of a culture/nation)






49. Writing or speech that tells a story






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