Exaggeration In Persuasion And Humor

1. Advertisers often use exaggeration to:

Give exact scientific facts

Make products sound more exciting or powerful

Avoid attracting customers

Shorten their message

Over-the-top claims make products seem more appealing or memorable.

Explanation

Over-the-top claims make products seem more appealing or memorable.

2. Which slogan is MOST clearly exaggerated?

Our cereal has whole grains.

The best cereal in town.

A tasty cereal option.

This cereal will change your entire life forever.

No cereal literally changes your entire life forever; the claim is exaggerated.

Explanation

No cereal literally changes your entire life forever; the claim is exaggerated.

3. Exaggeration in comedy can highlight how ridiculous something is.

True

False

Comedians often push situations to extremes to show their absurdity.

Explanation

Comedians often push situations to extremes to show their absurdity.

4. Read the line: “My little brother is the loudest human being on the planet.” What is the writer really saying?

Their brother holds a world record

Their brother is somewhat quiet

Their brother is extremely loud

Their brother can’t speak

“Loudest on the planet” is exaggeration to stress that he’s very loud.

Explanation

“Loudest on the planet” is exaggeration to stress that he’s very loud.

5. In persuasive writing, exaggeration can be risky because:

Readers might enjoy it

It always proves your point

It can make your argument seem less believable if overused

It replaces evidence

Too much exaggeration can weaken credibility.

Explanation

Too much exaggeration can weaken credibility.

6. Political cartoons often use exaggeration to emphasize certain features or actions.

True

False

They exaggerate physical traits, attitudes, or actions to comment on issues.

Explanation

They exaggerate physical traits, attitudes, or actions to comment on issues.

7. Which sentence uses exaggeration to be funny?

The movie had a long runtime.

The movie was exactly two hours long.

That movie was so long I grew a beard just sitting there.

The movie ended at nine o’clock.

Growing a beard during a movie is an absurd overstatement.

Explanation

Growing a beard during a movie is an absurd overstatement.

8. A speaker says, “If we don’t recycle, the world will literally end tomorrow.” What’s the problem with this exaggeration in a serious speech?

It’s too short.

It undermines the seriousness by sounding unrealistic.

It uses the word “literally” correctly.

It’s completely accurate.

Overstating the timeline can make listeners doubt the message.

Explanation

Overstating the timeline can make listeners doubt the message.

9. Exaggeration can be used to criticize something by making its flaws look enormous.

True

False

That’s a common strategy in satire and social commentary.

Explanation

That’s a common strategy in satire and social commentary.

10. In which sentence is exaggeration used to show fear?

I was nervous about the speech.

I trembled slightly.

My legs turned into jelly and my heart was trying to escape my chest.

I read the speech twice.

The descriptions of jelly legs and escaping heart are exaggerated images of fear.

Explanation

The descriptions of jelly legs and escaping heart are exaggerated images of fear.

11. A comedian says, “I had so much homework this weekend that I forgot what the sun looks like.” This exaggeration suggests:

The comedian is a vampire

The comedian hates the sun

The homework load kept them inside most of the time

It rained all weekend

The joke implies they were stuck inside working.

Explanation

The joke implies they were stuck inside working.

12. Which sentence uses exaggeration to persuade someone not to do something?

If you skip this study session, you will definitely fail every test you ever take in your life.

If you skip this study session, you might miss some practice.

The study session is tomorrow.

We will review the material.

Failing every test for life is an exaggerated consequence.

Explanation

Failing every test for life is an exaggerated consequence.

13. Overall, exaggeration in persuasion and humor works best when:

The audience understands it is not literal

The audience is confused

It replaces all facts

It insults the audience

The effect depends on the audience recognizing the overstatement.

Explanation

The effect depends on the audience recognizing the overstatement.

14. Exaggeration should always be taken at face value in a serious research report.

True

False

Serious research writing generally avoids exaggeration; statements should be accurate.

Explanation

Serious research writing generally avoids exaggeration; statements should be accurate.

Exaggeration in Persuasion and Humor

1. Advertisers often use exaggeration to:

2.

What first name or nickname would you like us to use?

2. Which slogan is MOST clearly exaggerated?

3. Exaggeration in comedy can highlight how ridiculous something is.

4. Read the line: “My little brother is the loudest human being on the planet.” What is the writer really saying?

5. In persuasive writing, exaggeration can be risky because:

6. Political cartoons often use exaggeration to emphasize certain features or actions.

7. Which sentence uses exaggeration to be funny?

8. A speaker says, “If we don’t recycle, the world will literally end tomorrow.” What’s the problem with this exaggeration in a serious speech?

9. Exaggeration can be used to criticize something by making its flaws look enormous.

10. In which sentence is exaggeration used to show fear?

11. A comedian says, “I had so much homework this weekend that I forgot what the sun looks like.” This exaggeration suggests:

12. Which sentence uses exaggeration to persuade someone not to do something?

13. Overall, exaggeration in persuasion and humor works best when:

14. Exaggeration should always be taken at face value in a serious research report.