Grammar & Writing
A student writes: “I like pizza, I eat it every day.” What is the issue with this sentence?
A) Fragment
B) Comma splice
C) Run-on
D) Parallel structure
B) Comma splice
Explain:
A comma splice is when you use only a comma to connect two complete sentences (also called independent clauses). This is considered an error in formal writing because a comma isn't strong enough to join two full sentences on its own, like saying "I ate the waffle, it was delicious".
In a story, a storm is described as “angry clouds battering the town.” Which literary device is this?
Personification
A speech says, “I have served this community for 20 years and have always put honesty first.” Which appeal is the speaker using?
Ethos
A story begins with a character’s childhood and then flashes forward to their adult life. Which literary technique is used?
Flashback
A student writes: “The teacher’s kind words made everyone feel hopeful and motivated.” Which word best describes the teacher’s attitude?
A) Apathetic
B) Optimistic
C) Ambiguous
D) Inept
B) Optimistic
Explain:
A) Apathetic – Showing little or no emotion or interest.
B) Optimistic – Expecting the best; hopeful.
C) Ambiguous – Open to more than one interpretation; unclear.
D) Inept – Lacking skill or ability; clumsy.
In her essay, a student writes: “She likes to swim, to run, and to bike.” This demonstrates correct:
A) Parallel structure
B) Fragment revision
C) Subject-verb agreement
D) Active voice
A) Parallel structure
A character thinks, “I can’t believe I studied all night and still failed!” but others know the character actually didn’t study at all. What is this an example of?
Dramatic irony
In a speech, the speaker repeats, “We will fight for freedom, we will fight for justice, we will fight for peace.” Which technique is this?
A) Parallelism
B) Anaphora
C) Antithesis
D) Hyperbole
B) Anaphora
Explain:
where a word or phrase is deliberately repeated at the beginning of successive clauses, sentences, or lines. It is used to create emphasis, add rhythm, and make a passage more memorable and emotionally impactful.
After reading a paragraph about deforestation, a student concludes the author’s main point is that humans are destroying forests. This is an example of:
A) Summarizing
B) Identifying theme
C) Inferring
D) Finding bias
C) Inferring
A reporter gives an honest, straightforward interview. Which word best describes the reporter’s tone?
A) Secretive
B) Confused
C) Candid
D) Joyful
C) Candid
Explain:
A) Secretive – Keeping things hidden; not open.
B) Confused – Unable to think clearly; puzzled.
C) Candid – Honest and straightforward.
D) Joyful – Feeling or showing great happiness.
A student writes: “Because the teacher was late.” How could this fragment be fixed?
A) Remove it
B) Change it to passive voice
C) Add a subject and verb to complete the thought
D) Add an adjective
C) Add a subject and verb to complete the thought
In a poem, the author writes: “The world is a stage.” Which device is being used?
Metaphor
A politician says: “We can choose a future of hope, or we can continue down a path of despair.” What rhetorical device is being used?
A) Antithesis
B) Anaphora
C) Parallelism
D) Pathos
A) Antithesis
Explain:
a person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else.
A story is told by someone outside of the story, but they only know the thoughts of one character. Which point of view is this?
A) First-person
B) Third-person omniscient
C) Third-person limited
D) Second-person
C) Third-person limited
A student reads a speech full of persuasive techniques but not much factual evidence. Which word describes it?
A) Rhetoric
B) Hyperbole
C) Ambiguous
D) Ethos
A) Rhetoric
“The ball was thrown by Jake” is an example of:
A) Passive voice
B) Active voice
C) Parallel structure
D) Fragment
A) Passive voice
Passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject of the sentence receives the action of the verb instead of performing it.
A story describes the world as a “tiny giant” in the plot. What device is this an example of?
A) Paradox
B) Oxymoron
C) Hyperbole
D) Allusion
E) Metaphor
Oxymoron
"Some critics say raising taxes will harm small businesses, but research shows that the additional revenue will fund education and infrastructure that actually help local economies grow."
Which rhetorical strategy is the speaker using?
A) Pathos
B) Ethos
C) Logos with counterclaim and refutation
D) Anaphora
C) Logos with counterclaim and refutation
Explain:
The speaker is using logos (logic/evidence) and directly addressing a counterclaim with refutation.
A story shows a series of events: a man loses his job, struggles to pay bills, then finds a new career opportunity. Which text structure is this?
A) Chronological
B) Cause and effect
C) Compare and contrast
D) Problem and solution
A) Chronological
A poem ends with an unclear conclusion, open to multiple interpretations. Which word best describes it?
A) Ambiguous
B) Clear
C) Joyful
D) Hostile
A) Ambiguous
Explain:
A) Ambiguous – Open to more than one interpretation; unclear.
B) Clear – Easy to understand; not confusing.
C) Joyful – Full of happiness or delight.
D) Hostile – Unfriendly or antagonistic.
Which sentence is correct?
A) The list of books are on the table.
B) The team of players is winning.
C) The pair of shoes were lost.
D) The group of students are excited.
B) The team of players is winning.
Explain: In this sentence, the subject is "team," which is a singular collective noun. In American English, collective nouns are typically treated as singular units, so they take a singular verb, "is."
"When he smiles at me it becomes my kryptonite":
Is an example of which literary device?
Allusion
In a speech about climate change, the speaker repeatedly says:
"We must act today. We must act boldly. We must act together."
At the same time, they emphasize their experience as a scientist to convince the audience.
Which combination of rhetorical devices is being used here?
A) Pathos and Hyperbole
B) Anaphora and Ethos
C) Parallelism and Logos
D) Antithesis and Pathos
B) Anaphora and Ethos
Explain:
The repeated phrase is anaphora, and referencing their experience establishes ethos (credibility).
A novel repeatedly refers to the color red whenever a character is in danger. This recurring idea is called a:
A) Theme
B) Tone
C) Symbol
D) Motif
D) Motif
A scientist conducts experiments carefully and relies on measurable evidence. Which word describes their approach?
A) Capricious
B) Speculative
C) Whimsical
D) Empirical
D) Empirical
Explain:
A) Capricious – Unpredictable or changeable.
B) Speculative – Based on guesswork or theory, not facts.
C) Whimsical – Playfully fanciful or imaginative.
D) Empirical – Based on observation or experience.