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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 short witty statement






2. Repetition of vowel sounds






3. Word choice






4. Sentences - or parts of a sentence with similar structure






5. A numbered list






6. Direct contrast or opposite






7. Writing whose purpose is to instruct or teach






8. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






9. Words that create mental pictures






10. A device that enables a writer to refer to past thoughts - events - episodes






11. A story that functions on the symbolic level






12. The use of a quotation at the beginning of the work which often hints at a theme






13. The recreation of regional spoken language






14. A question that does not expect an explicit answer






15. A particularly clever extended metaphor






16. Emotional response of the reader






17. A form of personification - only it is not a character in the story






18. An inscription on a tombstone






19. Emotional definition of a word






20. Words which evoke sorrow






21. The use of slang in writing






22. A political comment through the use of humor






23. Time and place of a story






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






25. Literary - historical - artistic reference






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






27. A metaphor which changes and grows throughout the story






28. Change and growth of the character






29. The manipulation of words for a specific purpose






30. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






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






32. Unexpected outcome in the plot






33. Same ending sounds






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






35. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






36. A moment of great revelation






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






38. Direct contrast or opposite






39. A formal - often pompous - speech






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






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






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






43. Contrasting words placed together for effect






44. When the story begins






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






46. Sound words - imitative harmony






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






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






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






50. A comparison using like or as