Figurative Language/Literary Devices
Even after reading the directions a thousand times, the ancient vending machine refused to surrender its treasure.
Hyperbole
A car commercial shows a family happily driving down a scenic road in a shiny new vehicle. The voiceover says, “This is the car that will bring your family closer together, creating memories that will last a lifetime.”
What persuasive technique is being used in this advertisement?
Appeal to emotion/pathos
A story that is not true or made up
Fiction
First, Maya planted tomato seeds in small cups by her window. A week later, tiny green sprouts appeared. After several more weeks, she moved the plants into her garden outside. By the end of the summer, the tomato plants were full of ripe tomatoes.
Chronological order
Despite failing the audition twice, Maya remained tenacious, practicing her lines every night and refusing to give up. Her determination paid off when she finally earned the lead role in the school play.
Which three words are synonyms for tenacious as it is used in the paragraph above?
Unrelenting
Dynamic
Persistent
Determined
Energetic
Creative
Resolute
unrelenting, persistent, determined
I'm going to have to bite the bullet and show my mom my report card.
Idiom
A charity organization website states, “Over 1 million children in need were helped by your generous donations last year alone. Imagine what we could accomplish together this year if everyone just gave $10.”
What persuasive technique or logical fallacy is being used in this statement?
Bandwagon; appeal to emotion/pathos
A true story written about yourself about one particular time in your life.
Memoir
Unlike traditional books, e-books can be downloaded instantly and stored on a single device. However, many readers still prefer printed books because they enjoy turning physical pages and writing notes in the margins. Both formats allow people to read and enjoy stories, but each offers a different reading experience.
Compare and Contrast
Despite the warnings etched into the ancient stone and the village elders’ cautious whispers, Eli made the audacious choice to enter the abandoned observatory alone. Shadows coiled around the rusted stairwell as he ascended, not with recklessness, but with the fierce conviction that discovery was worth the risk.
Which three words are synonyms for audacious as it is used in the paragraph above?
Indignant
Courageous
Faceted
Assertive
Bold
Ambiguous
Fervent
assertive, bold, courageous
As the final moments of the game ticked away, the stadium was filled with a deafening silence, as the fans anxiously waited for the referee’s decision on the controversial play.
Oxymoron
A politician says, “As the leader who successfully passed healthcare reform in this state, I am the best choice to make further improvements in our healthcare system.”
What persuasive technique is being used in this statement?
Appeal to authority/ethos
A story that took place in Germany during WWII with made up characters.
Historical Fiction
Because heavy rain flooded the roads overnight, several schools in the area opened two hours late. As a result, many students arrived after the normal start time, and buses had to take alternate routes to avoid flooded areas.
Cause and Effect
At the annual costume party, Marissa’s outfit was the talk of the evening. She arrived dressed as a medieval knight with an outlandish twist—a neon green suit of armor adorned with glittering feathers and LED lights. The other guests couldn’t help but laugh and marvel at her bold, unconventional creation.
Which three words are antonyms for outlandish as it is used in the paragraph above?
Dynamic
Commonplace
Bizarre
Predictable
Average
Unique
Expensive
commonplace, predictable, average
After hours of researching the history of ancient civilizations, I realized I had gone down the rabbit hole and was now reading about obscure lost languages no one had spoken in centuries.
Allusion
A phone company advertisement states:
“Our new battery lasts 18 hours longer than the leading competitor’s battery and charges to 80% in only 30 minutes. Independent tests showed a 35% improvement in overall performance.”
Which persuasive appeal is primarily being used?
Appeal to logic/logos
A story about someone's trip to Mars and their encounter with aliens.
Science Fiction
The school cafeteria was producing large amounts of plastic waste each day from disposable utensils and trays. To solve the problem, the school introduced reusable trays and metal silverware. Within a few months, the amount of cafeteria trash decreased significantly.
Problem and solution
After hours of relentless debate, during which every argument she presented was met with calm but unwavering logic, Naomi finally began to capitulate, realizing that her resistance was no longer grounded in reason but in pride.
In this sentence, the word capitulate means:
A. Argue more forcefully
B. Give in or surrender
C. Change the subject quickly
D. Leave without permission
B. Give in or surrender
The golden hues of the setting sun spilled across the sky, painting the clouds in shades of pink and orange, while the cool evening breeze blew through the tall grass, carrying the scent of fresh earth.
Imagery
A student running for class president says:
“Don’t vote for Marcus for student council president. He failed math last year, so he obviously isn’t smart enough to lead the school.”
Which logical fallacy is being used?
Ad hominem
Pecos Bill was raised by coyotes, used a rattle snake as a lasso, and could shoot the stars out of the sky.
Tall Tale
First, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Next, crack two eggs into a bowl and whisk them together. Then, pour the eggs into a heated pan and stir gently until fully cooked. Finally, serve the scrambled eggs while they are still warm.
Sequence or process
The root brev means short. Based on this information, what is the most likely meaning of the word brevity in the sentence below?
"Despite the seriousness of the meeting, the CEO appreciated the brevity of the report and praised its clarity."
The brief and concise nature