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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 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.)






2. Unexpected outcome in the plot






3. Where the audience knows more than the character






4. Saying one thing but meaning the opposite






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






6. A short witty statement






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






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






9. Direct contrast or opposite






10. A formal - often pompous - speech






11. Contrasting words placed together for effect






12. Literary - historical - artistic reference






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






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






15. Using the same word or phrase for emphasis






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






17. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






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






19. A comparison using like or as






20. Word order or organization






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






22. Technical - specialized language






23. A mistake in reasoning






24. Words which evoke sorrow






25. The manipulation of words for a specific purpose






26. Exaggeration






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






28. A direct comparison






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






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






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






32. Emotional definition of a word






33. A numbered list






34. A formal speech praising one who has died






35. Emotional response of the reader






36. A story that functions on the symbolic level






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






38. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand






39. Time and place of a story






40. Word choice






41. An overused expression






42. Repetition of vowel sounds






43. Same ending sounds






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






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






46. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






47. A moment of great revelation






48. The use of slang in writing






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






50. Words - phrases - ideas placed side by side for effect