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Rhetoric Vocab

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 form of logic that moves from the general to the specific






2. Words that create mental pictures






3. Literary - historical - artistic reference






4. A conclusion that can be arrived at without any observations of the world - but relies only on logical connections between ideas






5. Saying one thing but meaning the opposite






6. Repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of consecutive lines or sentences






7. An overused expression






8. A comic imitation that ridicules the original. It can be mocking or gently humorous






9. An inference that does not follow logically from the premise (literally - does not follow)






10. Reaching for the sublime - the tone results in the absurd






11. An unexpected outcome






12. A story that operates on the symbolic level and teaches a lesson or moral






13. Emotional response of the reader






14. Events that take place before the story begins






15. Making a situation seem less important or serious than it is






16. The answer to a question






17. Word choice






18. The use of slang in writing






19. A question that does not expect an explicit answer






20. Contrasting words placed together for effect






21. Change and growth of the character






22. Literary devices that enable an author to operate on levels other than the literal (simile - metaphor - etc)






23. The underlying message






24. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






25. A play on words that are identical or similar in sounds but differ in meaning






26. Time and place of a story






27. A conclusion drawn from presented details






28. A comparison using like or as






29. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






30. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






31. A part is used to represent the whole (crown=king)






32. Making something sound nicer than it is; candy-coated words






33. Same ending sounds






34. A statement consisting of two parallel parts in which the second part is reversed ('Susan walked - and in rushed Mary.')






35. Emotional definition of a word






36. A metaphor which changes and grows throughout the story






37. The manipulation of words for a specific purpose






38. A comparison between two dissimilar ideas or things






39. Writing whose purpose is to instruct or teach






40. A rhetorical strategy that attacks the person rather than the idea






41. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






42. A moment of great revelation






43. Attitude the narrator wants the reader to take toward a setting - character - or idea






44. A political comment through the use of humor






45. Character whose behavior and values contrast with those of another character






46. A numbered list






47. A metaphor around which the entire story revolves






48. Direct contrast or opposite






49. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand






50. Technical - specialized language