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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. Sentences - or parts of a sentence with similar structure






2. A mistake in reasoning






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






4. Same beginning sound






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






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






7. Words which evoke sorrow






8. Writing whose purpose is to instruct or teach






9. Literary - historical - artistic reference






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






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






12. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






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






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






15. Ashort account of an interesting or humorous incident - intended to illustrate or support some point






16. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






17. Sound words - imitative harmony






18. Emotional response of the reader






19. 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.)






20. A formal - often pompous - speech






21. Statement that contradicts itself - "the more you learn the less you know"






22. Unexpected outcome in the plot






23. A word that represents a larger idea or concept






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






25. A formal speech praising one who has died






26. A short witty statement






27. Contrasting words placed together for effect






28. A question that does not expect an explicit answer






29. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand






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






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






32. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






33. Repetition of vowel sounds






34. Emotional definition of a word






35. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






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






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






38. The answer to a question






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






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






41. Exaggeration






42. Word choice






43. Word order or organization






44. An unexpected outcome






45. A story that functions on the symbolic level






46. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






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






48. Using the same word or phrase for emphasis






49. Choices a character makes in relation to an obstacle (problem)






50. The underlying message