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 figure of speech in which a word or phrase is substituted for another that is related (ex: the crown=the king of a country)






2. Two feet per line of poetry






3. A figure of speech in which a comparison in implied but not stated (ex: The snow was a white blanket)






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






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






6. The rhythmic rise and fall of oral language






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






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






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






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






11. Rhyming of word at the ends of line






12. 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






13. Persuasive writing






14. The dominant mood or feeling of a literary work






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






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






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






18. The perspective from which a story is told






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






20. A narrative song or poem






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






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






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






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






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






26. The outcome - or resolution - of the plot






27. A figure of speech that uses exaggeration for emphasis






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






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






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






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






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






33. The use of a word or phrase that imitates or suggests the sound it describes






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






35. 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)






36. The central understanding about life as expressed in a work of literature; may be stated or expressed directly; usually implied or revealed gradually through events - dialogue - and outcome






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






45. A movement in early twentieth - century (1900s) poetry - which regarded the image as the essence of poetry






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






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






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






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






50. Seven feet per line of poetry