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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 direct comparison






2. Time and place of a story






3. Repetition of vowel sounds






4. An unexpected outcome






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






6. Writing whose purpose is to instruct or teach






7. Technical - specialized language






8. Sound words - imitative harmony






9. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






10. Clues that tip the reader off as to What is to come later in the work






11. The 'unravelling' or resolution of the story - falling action






12. Direct contrast or opposite






13. When the story begins






14. Words that create mental pictures






15. A detail - image - or character type that occurs frequently in myth and literature - thought to appeal to the unconscious






16. When the reader expects a climax to occur and it doesn't happen






17. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






18. A form of logic that moves from the general to the specific






19. A form a logic that moves from the specific to the general






20. An inscription on a tombstone






21. A short witty statement






22. Events that take place before the story begins






23. A metaphor which changes and grows throughout the story






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






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






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






27. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






28. A type of pun where the use of a word modifies two or more words - but used for different meanings (On the fishing trip - he caught three trout and a cold.)






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






30. Emotional definition of a word






31. Word order or organization






32. Words which evoke sorrow






33. A question that does not expect an explicit answer






34. A metaphor around which the entire story revolves






35. Contrasting words placed together for effect






36. Word choice






37. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






38. Type of irony in which a person seems to be praising something but actually insulting






39. Exaggeration






40. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand






41. Form of personification - speaking to an absent or dead person or object as if it is there






42. A numbered list






43. A formal argument that consists of a major premise - a minor one - and a conclusion






44. A formal - often pompous - speech






45. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






46. A particularly clever extended metaphor






47. Dictionary definition of a word






48. A comparison between two dissimilar ideas or things






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






50. A moment of great revelation