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. Reversal of the usual word order for variety or emphasis (ex:A girl with a hat/In a dream I saw)






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






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






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






5. The perspective from which a story is told






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






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






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






9. Four feet per line of poetry






10. Two feet per line of poetry






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






12. Six feet per line of poetry






13. 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)






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






22. Eight feet per line of poetry






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






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






25. 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)






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






27. The pattern of sound created by stressed and unstressed syllable - particularly in poetry






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






29. The repetition of final consonant sounds in words containing different vowels (ex: fresh cash - yard bird)






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






38. The methods - direct and indirect - used by a writer to reveal a character's personality






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






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






41. A narrative song or poem






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






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






44. A wise saying - usually short and to the point; similar to epigram or maxim






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






46. 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)






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






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






49. 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)






50. An occurrence is the opposite of what was expected