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






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






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






4. 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)






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






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






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






8. Two feet per line of poetry






9. 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






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






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






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






13. The literal - or dictionary - meaning of a word






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






15. 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






16. Persuasive writing






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






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






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






20. A figure of speech in which a part is used for a whole or a whole is used for its parts (ex: All hands on deck)






21. A story intended to be performed before an audience by actors on a stage






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






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






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






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






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






27. Eight feet per line of poetry






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






29. The perspective from which a story is told






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






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






32. The writer says one thing but means something else






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






34. Verse that contains an irregular metrical pattern and line length; also called vers libre






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






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






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






38. 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)






39. An occurrence is the opposite of what was expected






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






41. A narrative song or poem






42. A person portrayed in a literary work






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






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






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






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






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






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






49. The chief character in a literary work - usually one with admirable qualities






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