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Rhetoric and Persuasion Quiz

Total questions: 25

Worksheet time: 14mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which rhetorical appeal relies on the credibility, authority, or character of the speaker?

a)

Ethos

b)

Pathos

c)

Logos

d)

Kairos

2.

A speaker uses statistics from a government study to support their claim. Which appeal are they primarily using?

a)

Ethos

b)

Pathos

c)

Logos

d)

Ad Hominem

3.

Which of these is the best example of Pathos?

a)

A doctor explaining a diagnosis based on medical tests.

b)

An advertisement showing a sad, lonely puppy waiting at a shelter.

c)

A lawyer citing previous court cases to argue a point.

d)

A scientist presenting a peer-reviewed paper on climate change.

4.

When a speaker says, 'As a veteran who served for twenty years, I know the importance of national security,' they are using:

a)

Logos

b)

Pathos

c)

Ethos

d)

False Dichotomy

5.

When an author's tone is 'objective and analytical,' which appeal are they most likely emphasizing?

a)

Pathos

b)

Logos

c)

Fear-mongering

d)

Slippery Slope

6.

What is the definition of a 'Logical Fallacy'?

a)

A strong, undeniable fact used in an argument.

b)

A failure in reasoning that renders an argument invalid.

c)

The use of repetition to make a point more memorable.

d)

An appeal to the audience's sense of timing.

7.

If a speaker says, 'Either we pass this law today, or our country will descend into total chaos tomorrow,' which fallacy are they using?

a)

Slippery Slope

b)

False Dichotomy

c)

Ad Hominem

d)

Circular Reasoning

8.

Charles Lindbergh's claim that small 'defensive measures' would inevitably lead to 'total war' is an example of which fallacy?

a)

Slippery Slope

b)

False Dichotomy

c)

Ethos

d)

Hasty Generalization

9.

What does the term 'Fear-mongering' mean?

a)

Using facts to warn the public about a real danger.

b)

The act of spreading exaggerated or false alarms to influence an audience.

c)

A type of parallelism that uses scary words.

d)

Attacking an opponent's character to make them afraid.

10.

If an argument attacks the person making the claim rather than the claim itself, it is known as:

a)

Ad Hominem

b)

Slippery Slope

c)

Logos

d)

Parallelism

11.

Which term describes the division of a complex issue into only two, usually opposite, parts?

a)

Dichotomy

b)

Parallelism

c)

Fallacy

d)

Rhetoric

12.

In his 'Four Freedoms' speech, FDR repeats 'everywhere in the world' four times. This is an example of:

a)

Slippery Slope

b)

Parallelism

c)

Ad Hominem

d)

False Dichotomy

13.

Why is the 'Fireman' analogy for FDR and the 'Fortress' analogy for Lindbergh useful in rhetorical analysis?

a)

They provide a visual way to understand the core purpose of their arguments.

b)

They are examples of Ad Hominem attacks.

c)

They prove that both speakers were using the Slippery Slope fallacy.

d)

They show that rhetoric only works if you use images.

14.

Which of these is most likely to be found in a 'Toxicology Report' of a speech?

a)

Strong use of parallelism.

b)

A Slippery Slope fallacy.

c)

Clear citations of facts.

d)

An appeal to shared values.

15.

An environmentalist shares a personal story about how a local park fire affected their family to get people to donate. This is primarily:

a)

Logos

b)

Ethos

c)

Pathos

d)

Ad Hominem

16.

Read the following quote from Mary McLeod Bethune:

"Here my race has been afforded [the] opportunity to advance from a people 80 percent illiterate to a people 80 percent literate; from abject poverty to the ownership and operation of a million farms and 750,000 homes; from total disfranchisement to participation in government; from the status of chattels to recognized contributors to the American culture."

What rhetorical appeal best applies to this passage?

a)

Logos

b)

Pathos

c)

Ethos

17.

Combining ethos, pathos, and logos in persuasive writing:

a)

Confuses the audience.

b)

Makes the argument one-sided.

c)

Strengthens the overall argument.

d)

Is generally discouraged.

18.

A speaker discussing their qualifications before presenting their argument is using:

a)

Pathos

b)

Logos

c)

Ethos

d)

Ego

19.

Read the following quote from Martin Luther King Jr.:

"When you suddenly find your tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six-year-old daughter why she can’t go to the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television, and see tears welling up in her eyes when she is told that Funtown is closed to colored children, and see ominous clouds of inferiority beginning to form in her little mental sky… then you will understand why we find it difficult to wait.."

What rhetorical appeal best applies to this passage?

a)

Logos

b)

Pathos

c)

Ethos

20.

An advertisement that uses a celebrity endorsement is primarily using which type of appeal?

a)

Ethos

b)

Pathos

c)

Logos

d)

Ego

21.

Which rhetorical appeal is least likely to be based on factual evidence?

a)

Ethos

b)

Pathos

c)

Logos

d)

None of the above

22.

A non-profit organization's fundraising letter that shares stories of how donations have changed lives is primarily using:

a)

Ethos

b)

Pathos

c)

Logos

d)

Ego

23.

Which rhetorical appeal is best suited for a scientific audience?

a)

Ethos

b)

Pathos

c)

Logos

d)

Kairos

24.

An effective persuasive message should:

a)

Only use pathos to connect with the audience on an emotional level.

b)

Rely solely on the speaker's credibility (ethos).

c)

Incorporate a balance of ethos, pathos, and logos.

d)

Use complex language to demonstrate intelligence.

25.

Read the following quote from John F. Kennedy:

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty."

What rhetorical appeal best applies to this passage?

a)

Logos

b)

Pathos

c)

Ethos