Recognizing Litotes In Context

1. Which line contains litotes?

The exam wasn’t easy.

The exam was extremely hard.

The exam took two hours.

The exam was cancelled.

“Wasn’t easy” understates difficulty, which is a common feature of litotes.

Explanation

“Wasn’t easy” understates difficulty, which is a common feature of litotes.

2. “That meal wasn’t the worst I’ve had.” suggests:

The meal was decent or good.

The meal was awful.

The meal was unfinished.

The meal was expensive.

This litotes downplays praise to suggest the meal was acceptable or good.

Explanation

This litotes downplays praise to suggest the meal was acceptable or good.

3. Litotes can make praise sound modest or restrained.

True

False

Litotes often soften praise by expressing it indirectly.

Explanation

Litotes often soften praise by expressing it indirectly.

4. “He’s no stranger to hard work.” means:

He works hard often.

He never works.

He dislikes work.

He’s unemployed.

By denying unfamiliarity, the phrase suggests experience with hard work.

Explanation

By denying unfamiliarity, the phrase suggests experience with hard work.

5. “The performance wasn’t half bad.” means:

It was pretty good.

It was terrible.

It was long.

It was confusing.

This litotes understates praise to suggest the performance was good.

Explanation

This litotes understates praise to suggest the performance was good.

6. Which line does NOT show litotes?

She’s not unhappy about the result.

He’s no amateur when it comes to music.

She’s as bright as the sun.

He’s not without hope.

This sentence uses a simile, not understatement or negation.

Explanation

This sentence uses a simile, not understatement or negation.

7. “The news wasn’t great, but it wasn’t the end of the world either.” shows litotes because:

It downplays bad news.

It exaggerates feelings.

It’s literal.

It uses rhyme.

The phrase softens the negative impact of the news.

Explanation

The phrase softens the negative impact of the news.

8. “I can’t say it’s my favorite.” means:

I don’t like it much.

I love it.

I can’t talk about it.

I’ve never seen it.

This litotes indirectly expresses mild dislike.

Explanation

This litotes indirectly expresses mild dislike.

9. Litotes is the opposite of hyperbole.

True

False

Hyperbole exaggerates, while litotes deliberately understates.

Explanation

Hyperbole exaggerates, while litotes deliberately understates.

10. “She’s not entirely wrong” means:

She’s somewhat right.

She’s lying.

She’s confused.

She’s angry.

The phrase suggests partial agreement through understatement.

Explanation

The phrase suggests partial agreement through understatement.

11. “He’s not without talent” means:

He has some talent.

He has no talent.

He’s rude.

He’s lazy.

Denying the absence of talent suggests ability.

Explanation

Denying the absence of talent suggests ability.

12. “You’re not fooling anyone” means:

Everyone can see the truth.

You are clever.

You fooled everyone.

You’re funny.

This phrase indirectly states that deception has failed.

Explanation

This phrase indirectly states that deception has failed.

13. Litotes often adds what tone to writing?

Modest or understated tone

Angry tone

Arrogant tone

Emotional tone

Litotes create a restrained, modest tone through understatement.

Explanation

Litotes create a restrained, modest tone through understatement.

Recognizing Litotes in Context

1. Which line contains litotes?

2.

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

2. “That meal wasn’t the worst I’ve had.” suggests:

3. Litotes can make praise sound modest or restrained.

4. “He’s no stranger to hard work.” means:

5. “The performance wasn’t half bad.” means:

6. Which line does NOT show litotes?

7. “The news wasn’t great, but it wasn’t the end of the world either.” shows litotes because:

8. “I can’t say it’s my favorite.” means:

9. Litotes is the opposite of hyperbole.

10. “She’s not entirely wrong” means:

11. “He’s not without talent” means:

12. “You’re not fooling anyone” means:

13. Litotes often adds what tone to writing?