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. Five feet per line of poetry






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






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






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






6. An emphasis on themes - characters - settings - and customs of a particular geographical region






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






8. 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






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






10. A feeling of curiosity or dread about what will happen next in a story






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






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






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






14. Occurs at the ends of lines of poetry






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






16. The struggle - internal or external - between opposing forces in a work of literature






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






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






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






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






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






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






23. The point of view/perspective of a story when it is told by someone who stands outside the story






24. The writer says one thing but means something else






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






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






27. The outcome - or resolution - of the plot






28. Four feet per line of poetry






29. Rhyme that occurs within a line of verse






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






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






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






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






34. A narrative song or poem






35. 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)






36. Seven feet per line of poetry






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






46. 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






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






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






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






50. A break or pause (usually for sense) in the middle of a verse line - marked in prosody by a double vertical line (||)