Absolutely Phrased
Semisweet Semi's
VocabSchmocab
Nonfiction Terminology
Parallel Lives
100

Write down which portion of the sentence contains the absolute phrase:

Her arms folded across her chest, Professor Hill warned the class about the penalties of plagiarism.

Her arms folded across her chest

100

Add semicolons where necessary to the sentence below:

The defendant failed to check his rear-view mirror before changing lanes therefore he breached a duty owed to the plaintiff.

The defendant failed to check his rear-view mirror before changing lanes; therefore, he breached a duty owed to the plaintiff.

100

You might be ______ if you learned how different Truman's values were from those of most politicians today. Your surprise may lead you to _______ why so many politicians compare themselves to him.
a.) incoherent...query
b.) exonerated...expedite
c.) incredulous...query
d.) provoked...forgo
e.) incredulous...forgo

c.) incredulous...query
100
Name the Nonfiction Term:


Hey yo. 'Sup. You gonna go to da concert tonight? That singer is "lit" and "fire" a just a bit of "sus."

Colloquial Language/Diction

100

Being timid in public and _____ very little self-confidence, he is not a good salesman.

            A. because he has

            B. having

            C. since he had

B. having

200

Write down which portion of the sentence contains the absolute phrase:

The family devoured Aunt Lenora's carrot cake, their fingers scraping the leftover frosting from the plates.

their fingers scraping the leftover frosting from the plates.
200

Add semicolons where necessary:

Zach came to class breathless and overwhelmed he had just come from volleyball practice.

Zach came to class breathless and overwhelmed; he had just come from volleyball practice.

200

Chamberlain worked hard to develop his athletic _______. While his school buddies _______ enjoyed themselves on dates, Chamberlain put in extra hours of practice.
a.) blitheness...proficiently
b.) proficiency...blithely
c.) remission...blithely
d.) blitheness...intriniscally
e.) proficiency...precipitately

a.) proficiency...blithely

200

Name the Nonfiction Term:

Ignatius told me that his pet worm "kicked the bucket" a week ago.

Euphemism/Idiom

200

Following the complicated musical score was difficult not only for the soloist but also________.

            A. the conductor

            B. the conduction

            C. the person conducting

A. the conductor

300

Write down what the absolute phrase is in the sentence below:

The hawks circling above us, they were looking for their next catch.

The hawks circling above us.

300

Add semicolons where necessary:

He was very tired however he decided his class was too important to miss.

He was very tired; however, he decided his class was too important to miss.

300

At a concert, your first sight of the Beatles takes your breath away, as if you've just received the _______ of a blow.
a.) redress
b.) predecessor
c.) altercaction
d.) phalanx
e.) brunt

e.) brunt

300

Name the Nonfiction Term:

With care, with precision, with skill, she chucked an inedibly tough loaf of bread through the window.

Asyndeton/Anaphora/Parallelism

300

_________to San Francisco would be easier than driving there.

            A. Taking the train

            B. To take the train

            C. The train

A. Taking the train

400

Write down what the Absolute Phrase is in the sentence below:

Norton vowed never to marry again, his second marriage ending in despair.

his second marriage ending in despair.

400

Add semicolons where necessary:

The lunchroom was decorated with balloons, red, yellow, and black streamers, and glowin-the-dark stars.

The lunchroom was decorated with balloons; red, yellow, and black streamers; and glowin-the-dark stars.

400

The Vietnam War brought a wave of Vietnamese immigrants. Some were only ______ involved in the conflict and left before the killing began. They foresaw a slow, _______ communist takeover.
a.) coalition...invidious
b.) exodus...heinous
c.) peripherally..insidious
d.) bulwark...insidious
e.) coalition...heinous

c.) peripherally...insidious
400

Name the Nonfiction Term:

"Why, good evening. How do you do? Do you like the dance of which they call the macarena? I truly find it quite fascinating how many dogs you can see at the place they call the park. Anyway, it seems I am just rambling on and on...I must be going.

Elevated Language/Diction

400

He had neither the general background ________ the specific skills required for this job.

            A. nor

            B. nor has

            C. and does not have

A. nor

500
Write down what the Absolute Phrase is in the sentence below:


He rushed to get inside, his hair frozen from the cold weather.

his hair frozen from the cold weather.

500

Add semicolons where necessary:

It was the first of May, all the spring buds on the trees were starting to open.

It was the first of May; all the spring buds on the trees were starting to open.

500

People who remain in war-torn countries to help their families, instead of joining the mass _______ of emigrants, are often considered ________ because of their sacrifices.
a.) coalition...marytrs
b.) exodus...bulwarks
c.) coalition...bulwarks
d.) repression...martyrs
e.) exodus...martyrs

e.) exodus...martyrs
500

Name the Nonfiction Term:

The friendly feesh caught big boi bear in its mouth, and hopped back into the rushing river.

Alliteration

500

Several critics said that the play was well written, but poorly directed and _________.

            A. also it was acted badly

            B. it was badly acted

            C. badly acted

C. badly acted