Test your basic knowledge |

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 formal speech praising one who has died






2. Point of understanding or awakening (not necessarily emotional)






3. When the story begins






4. A formal - often pompous - speech






5. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






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






7. A mistake in reasoning






8. A story that functions on the symbolic level






9. A direct comparison






10. A particularly clever extended metaphor






11. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






12. Word order or organization






13. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






14. Exaggeration






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






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






17. Direct contrast or opposite






18. Writing whose purpose is to instruct or teach






19. Emotional response of the reader






20. A metaphor which changes and grows throughout the story






21. Same beginning sound






22. Words that create mental pictures






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






24. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






25. Word choice






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






27. Direct contrast or opposite






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






29. Repetition of vowel sounds






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






31. Time and place of a story






32. Literary - historical - artistic reference






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






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






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






36. A question that does not expect an explicit answer






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






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






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






40. 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.)






41. Unexpected outcome in the plot






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






43. A comparison using like or as






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






45. A short witty statement






46. Saying one thing but meaning the opposite






47. Change and growth of the character






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






49. The recreation of regional spoken language






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