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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. An author's choice of words - based on their effectiveness for the author's purpose






2. Five feet per line of poetry






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






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






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






6. 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)






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






8. A narrator who gives a faulty or distorted account of the events in a story; a child as a narrator might misinterpret someone's actions






9. One foot per line of poetry






10. A pair of rhymed lines in iambic pentameter that work together to make a point or express an idea






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






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






13. Writing or speech that tells a story






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






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






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






17. 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






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






19. A statement or situation that seems to be contradictory but actually makes sense (ex: the more I learn - the less I know)






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






21. Four feet per line of poetry






22. 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






23. 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)






24. Rhyming of word at the ends of line






25. 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






26. The central character in a literary work - around whom the action revolves






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






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






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






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






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






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






33. The repetition of a line or phrase in a poem at regular intervals - usually at the end of each stanza






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






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






36. Type of diction; informal language used by a particular group among themselves






37. A literary technique that records a character's memories - opinions - and emotions






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






39. 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)






40. The outcome - or resolution - of the plot






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






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






43. A person portrayed in a literary work






44. The sequence of events in a short story - novel - or drama






45. The use of a series of words - phrases - or sentences that have similar grammatical form






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






47. Two feet per line of poetry






48. Conversation between characters in a literary work






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






50. A lesson about right and wrong conduct taught in a fable or parable