Spring 2025 Rhetoric Term Review

Read the following sentence from a political speech: "Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends." Which literary device is used in the phrase "valley of despair"?

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Hyperbole

• Irony

Which of the following sentences best demonstrates a particular literary device? "The hurricane caused a bit of wind."

• Hyperbole

• Understatement

• Irony

• Simile

Consider the following excerpt: "Isn't it a bit odd that the fire station burned down?" Which device is primarily at play in this sentence?

• Hyperbole

• Irony

• Simile

• Pun

A student is writing an essay and wants to persuade the audience by appealing to their sense of logic and reason. Which rhetorical strategy should the student use?

• Pathos

• Logos

• Ethos

• Oxymoron

Read the following passage: "She was as busy as a bee, buzzing from task to task." Which figure of speech is used in this sentence?

• Metaphor

• Simile

• Oxymoron

• Chiasmus

In a literary analysis, a student notes the repeated use of the phrase "We shall fight" in a speech. Which rhetorical device is being used?

• Anaphora

• Chiasmus

• Pun

• Sarcasm

Which of the following best illustrates a particular rhetorical device? "Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country."

• Chiasmus

• Simile

• Hyperbole

• Rhetorical question

A character in a novel says, "Oh, great! Another homework assignment," after receiving a large stack of work. Which device is being used in this statement?

• Simile

• Sarcasm

• Understatement

• Metaphor

Which of the following sentences is an example of a rhetorical question?

• "How many times do I have to tell you to clean your room?"

• "The sun was a blazing ball of fire in the sky."

• "He is as fast as a cheetah."

• "The silence was deafening."

Read the following excerpt from a persuasive essay: "According to the National Institute of Health, regular exercise reduces the risk of chronic diseases by 30%." Which rhetorical appeal is primarily used in this sentence, and how does it strengthen the argument?

• Pathos; by appealing to emotions

• Logos; by providing logical evidence

• Ethos; by referencing a credible authority

• Irony; by highlighting contradictions