wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Rhetorical Device Review

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 10mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

"What is popular is not always right; what is right is not always popular!"

a)

anadiplosis

b)

antimetabole

c)

analogy

d)

asyndeton

2.

What is an obvious, intended exaggeration? An example is as follows: "His snores were louder than a freight train" or "I've told you a million times."

a)

understatement

b)

hyperbole

c)

anticlimax

d)

analogy

3.

A statement that says less than it means; often used for comedic effect. Example: "I have to have this operation. It isn't very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain."

a)

antithesis

b)

understatement

c)

hyperbole

d)

anticlimax

4.

Repetition at the beginning of a series of clauses, phrases, sentences or lines. Example: "We demand truth. We demand justice. We demand equality."

a)

anadiplosis

b)

epanalepsis

c)

epistrophe

d)

anaphora

5.

A mild or pleasant term used in place of an unpleasant or offensive one. Example: "certified pre-owned car" instead of "used car."

a)

jargon

b)

metonymy

c)

euphemism

d)

antonomasia

6.

What is the repetition at the end of a line? Example "See no evil. Hear no evil. Speak no evil."

a)

anadiplosis

b)

epanalepsis

c)

epistrophe

d)

anaphora

7.

What is a brief reference to a famous person or event - often from literature, history, Greek mythology, or the Bible? Can help to simplify complex ideas. Example: "He was a real Romeo with the ladies."

a)

parable

b)

allusion

c)

parody

d)

anecdote

8.

What is the definition of an apostrophe as a literary device?

a)

The projection of characteristics that normally belong only to humans onto inanimate objects, animals, deities, or forces of nature.

b)

A figure of speech in which a speaker directly addresses an absent person or personified quality, object, or idea.

c)

The repetition of the same word or words at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or sentences.

d)

A punctuation mark ( ’ ) used to indicate either possession (e.g., Harry's book ; boys' coats ) or the omission of letters or numbers (e.g., can't ; he's ; class of ’99 ).

9.

Syllogism is...

a)

an argument based on 2 minor premises and a conclusion

b)

an argument based on a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion

c)

an argument based on 2 premises with no concrete conclusion

d)

an argument based on 2 major premises and a conclusion

10.

If someone purchased a new car and announced, "I just bought a new set of wheels!" that is an example of...

a)

synecdoche

b)

hyperbole

c)

antonomasia

d)

epistrophe

11.

An analogy is...

a)

a comparison between 2 things for explanation or clarification purposes

b)

a figure of speech that utilizes symbolism

c)

an extreme exaggertion

d)

a false narrative

12.

"...government created of the people, by the people, for the people.." is an example of...

a)

epistrophe

b)

chiasmus

c)

anaphora

d)

anadiplosis

13.

When former President Obama said, "We cannot have a plan for Wall Street...we must also help Main Street..." that was an example of...

a)

hyperbole

b)

pun

c)

onomatopoeia

d)

metonymy

14.

“The scent of lilacs filled the room with a purple haze.”

a)

synesthesia

b)

apostrophe

c)

zeugma

d)

malapropism

15.

William Bradford writes about the pilgrim's voyage: "after long beating at see they fell with that land which is called Cape Cod [and] they were not a little joyful" to finally be on land. "...not a little joyful" is an example of...

a)

hyperbole

b)

malapropism

c)

litotes

d)

zeugma

16.

"When he came to pick me up, I opened my door and my heart to him."

a)

paralipsis

b)

aposiopesis

c)

synesthesia

d)

zeugma

17.

"We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts." This contains a...

a)

biblical allusion

b)

mythological allusion

c)

popular culture allusion

d)

Shakespearean allusion

18.

"I'm not going to mention that you never do the dishes."

a)

aposiopesis

b)

paralipsis

c)

onomatopoeia

d)

asyndeton

19.

a short amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.

a)

parable

b)

aphorism

c)

anecdote

d)

paradox

20.

"In moments of crisis I size up the situation in a flash, set my teeth, contract my muscles, take a firm grip on myself and, without a tremor, always do the wrong thing."

a)

anticlimax

b)

hyperbole

c)

litotes

d)

paradox