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. A rhythmical pattern in verse that is made up of stressed and unstressed syllables






2. 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)






3. Eight feet per line of poetry






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






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






6. Five feet per line of poetry






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






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






9. The perspective from which a story is told






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






11. Persuasive writing






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






13. Rhyming that occurs within a single line






14. Four feet per line of poetry






15. The writer says one thing but means something else






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






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






18. An occurrence is the opposite of what was expected






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






20. 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)






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






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






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






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






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






26. 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






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






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






29. Three feet per line of poetry






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






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






32. 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)






33. 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






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






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






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






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






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






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






40. Seven feet per line of poetry






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






49. A figure of speech that uses exaggeration for emphasis






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