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






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






3. A sermon or moralistic lecture






4. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






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






6. The recreation of regional spoken language






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






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






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






10. An inscription on a tombstone






11. Same beginning sound






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






13. The underlying message






14. Technical - specialized language






15. A direct comparison






16. Direct contrast or opposite






17. Words that create mental pictures






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






19. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






20. Events that take place before the story begins






21. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






22. Word order or organization






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






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






25. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






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






27. A formal speech praising one who has died






28. Change and growth of the character






29. A mistake in reasoning






30. Repetition of vowel sounds






31. Dictionary definition of a word






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






33. A story that functions on the symbolic level






34. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






35. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand






36. Emotional response of the reader






37. An unexpected outcome






38. A short witty statement






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






40. A formal - often pompous - speech






41. Using the same word or phrase for emphasis






42. Literary - historical - artistic reference






43. Exaggeration






44. 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.)






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






46. When the story begins






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






48. A political comment through the use of humor






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






50. A metaphor around which the entire story revolves






Can you answer 50 questions in 15 minutes?



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