AP Portfolio Rhetorical Devices- Alex Vetterlein
Questions and Answers
- 1.
The following sentence is an example of: Today I am going to the zoo and shopping and the mall and eating at a restaurant and watching movies with friends and will go to a party.
- A.
Antithesis
- B.
Asyndeton
- C.
Polysyndeton
- D.
Anaphora
Correct Answer
C. PolysyndetonExplanation
The sentence is an example of polysyndeton because it uses multiple coordinating conjunctions (and) to connect a series of phrases or clauses. The repetition of "and" creates a sense of accumulation and emphasizes the numerous activities the speaker plans to do.Rate this question:
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- 2.
The following excerpt from a speech written by Susan B. Anthony utilizes which rhetorical device: It was we, the people, not we, the white male citizens, nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed this Union. And we formed it, not to give the blessings or liberty, but to secure them; not to the half of ourselves and the half of our posterity, but to the whole people-women as well as men. And it is downright mockery to talk to women of their enjoyment of the blessings of liberty while they are denied the use of the only means of securing them provided by this democratic-republican government-the ballot.
- A.
Anaphora
- B.
Hyperbole
- C.
Polysyndeton
- D.
Alliteration
Correct Answer
A. AnaphoraExplanation
The correct answer is anaphora. This rhetorical device is used when a word or phrase is repeated at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. In the given excerpt, the phrase "we, the" is repeated multiple times, emphasizing the inclusivity of all people, regardless of gender or race. This repetition adds emphasis and power to the message being conveyed.Rate this question:
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- 3.
The following sentence uses which rhetorical device(s): Before going to the library today to study my brains out, I decided to go get a Starbuck's.
- A.
Simile and pun
- B.
Antithesis
- C.
Hyperbole and Metonomy
- D.
Hyperbole
Correct Answer
C. Hyperbole and MetonomyExplanation
The sentence uses hyperbole because the phrase "study my brains out" exaggerates the intensity or extent of studying. Additionally, it uses metonomy by referring to "Starbuck's" to represent getting a cup of coffee from the Starbucks coffee shop.Rate this question:
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- 4.
Bang! Crash! The lighting Flashed! is an example of:
- A.
Assonance
- B.
Simile
- C.
Hyperbole
- D.
Onomatopoeia
Correct Answer
D. OnomatopoeiaExplanation
The phrase "Bang! Crash! The lightning Flashed!" is an example of onomatopoeia because it uses words that imitate the sounds they represent. The words "Bang" and "Crash" mimic the loud noises associated with a sudden impact or collision, while "Flashed" suggests the visual effect of lightning. Onomatopoeia is a literary device used to create vivid sensory experiences for the reader by using words that sound like the noises they describe.Rate this question:
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- 5.
The following makes use of several rhetorical devices, except which one: We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.
- A.
Anaphora
- B.
Allusion
- C.
Metaphor
- D.
Irony
Correct Answer
D. IronyExplanation
The passage does not contain any ironic statements or situations. It is a call to action, emphasizing the urgency of the present moment and the need for immediate change. There is no contrasting between what is said and what is meant, which is a characteristic of irony. Instead, the passage uses repetition (anaphora) to emphasize the importance of the "now" and the need for justice. It also makes reference to the historical context (allusion) of racial segregation and the goal of achieving racial justice. Additionally, it uses figurative language (metaphor) to describe the transition from segregation to brotherhood.Rate this question:
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- 6.
The following is an example of: Betty Botter bought some butter, but, she said, the butter’s bitter; if I put it in my batter it will make my batter bitter, but a bit of better butter will make my batter better.
- A.
Alliteration
- B.
Assonance
- C.
Personification
- D.
Metaphor
Correct Answer
A. AlliterationExplanation
The given example is an example of alliteration because it contains the repetition of the initial consonant sounds in several words. The repetition of the "b" sound in "Betty Botter bought some butter" and "bit of better butter" creates a musical and rhythmic effect. Alliteration is a literary device commonly used in poetry and prose to create emphasis, rhythm, and musicality in the language.Rate this question:
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- 7.
The following is an example of :I'm going to take the wheels over to my grandma's house for dinner tonight.
- A.
Synechdoche
- B.
Metaphor
- C.
Simile
- D.
Irony
Correct Answer
A. SynechdocheExplanation
The given sentence is an example of synecdoche because it uses a part of something to refer to the whole. In this case, the word "wheels" is used to represent the entire car.Rate this question:
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- 8.
The following sentence contains which rhetorical device(s):I am so hot that my skin is crawling and I am about to melt.
- A.
Personification and Alliteration
- B.
Oxymoron and Hyperbole
- C.
Personification
- D.
Hyperbole and Personification
Correct Answer
D. Hyperbole and PersonificationExplanation
The sentence uses hyperbole by exaggerating the speaker's level of heat to the point of their skin crawling and melting. It also employs personification by attributing human characteristics to their skin, which is described as crawling.Rate this question:
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- 9.
The following quote uses which rhetorical device : "There's people on the street using guns and knives, taking drugs and each others lives."
- A.
Ellipsis
- B.
Chiasmus
- C.
Apposition
- D.
Syllepsis
Correct Answer
D. SyllepsisExplanation
The given quote uses the rhetorical device of syllepsis. Syllepsis is a figure of speech where a word is used in a sentence with two or more other words, but it only grammatically or logically applies to one of them. In this quote, the word "using" is applied to both "guns" and "drugs," but it logically applies to "guns" as an action, while "drugs" is used more metaphorically. This creates a clever play on words and adds emphasis to the different meanings of the word "using" in the sentence.Rate this question:
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- 10.
The following sentence contains which rhetorical device(s): The pot was a red as a tongue after eating a cherry flavored ring pop.
- A.
Hyperbole and Metaphor
- B.
Hyperbole
- C.
Imagery and Simile
- D.
Metaphor
Correct Answer
C. Imagery and SimileExplanation
The sentence uses imagery to create a vivid mental picture by comparing the color of the pot to the color of a tongue after eating a cherry flavored ring pop. It also uses a simile to make the comparison explicit by using the word "as." Therefore, the correct answer is imagery and simile.Rate this question:
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- 11.
The following quote from Romeo and Juliet is an example of: " Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man."
- A.
Paradox
- B.
Understatement
- C.
Sarcasm
- D.
Pun
Correct Answer
D. PunExplanation
The quote from Romeo and Juliet is an example of a pun. A pun is a play on words that exploits multiple meanings or similar sounds of different words for humorous or rhetorical effect. In this quote, the word "grave" has a double meaning - it can refer to both being serious or solemn, and also to a burial site. Therefore, the quote is a pun because it plays with the dual meaning of the word "grave" to create a clever and humorous statement.Rate this question:
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- 12.
"Jagoda, the blue-eyed girl from Poland, has an A+ in English class" Is an example of:
- A.
Antithesis
- B.
Sarcasm
- C.
Apposition
- D.
Metaphor
Correct Answer
C. AppositionExplanation
The given statement "Jagoda, the blue-eyed girl from Poland, has an A+ in English class" is an example of apposition. Apposition is a grammatical construction in which a noun or noun phrase is placed next to another noun or noun phrase to provide additional information or clarification. In this case, "the blue-eyed girl from Poland" is placed next to "Jagoda" to provide additional information about her.Rate this question:
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- 13.
"Nice perfume. Must you marinate in it?" Is an example of:
- A.
Personification
- B.
Understatement
- C.
Metaphor
- D.
Sarcasm
Correct Answer
D. SarcasmExplanation
The given statement, "Nice perfume. Must you marinate in it?" is an example of sarcasm. Sarcasm is a form of verbal irony where someone says something but means the opposite, often used to mock or ridicule someone or something. In this case, the speaker is complimenting the perfume but using a sarcastic tone to imply that the person is wearing too much of it.Rate this question:
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- 14.
"I was a researcher at Harvard University who documented that 32% of all babies born from teenage pregnancy suffer from Down Syndrome" Is an example of which Aristotelian Appeal (s)
- A.
Logos, Pathos
- B.
Ethos, Pathos , Logos
- C.
Ethos, Logos
- D.
Pathos
Correct Answer
C. Ethos, LogosExplanation
This statement can be categorized as an example of Ethos and Logos. Ethos refers to the credibility and authority of the speaker, in this case, a researcher at Harvard University. The mention of their affiliation adds credibility to the claim. Logos refers to the logical reasoning and evidence provided. The statement presents a statistic, stating that 32% of babies born from teenage pregnancy suffer from Down Syndrome, which is a logical appeal backed by research.Rate this question:
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- 15.
During the last lap of the race, the girl ran with intense speed. Her coach then rewarded her with joyful praise. She then went home and found her mother drunk on the broken sofa.
- A.
Anaphora
- B.
Inverted Sentence Structure
- C.
Asyndeton
- D.
Parallel Structure
Correct Answer
D. Parallel StructureExplanation
The correct answer is Parallel Structure. This is because the sentence structure in the given passage follows a parallel pattern. The repetition of the subject-verb-object pattern in each sentence creates a parallel structure. The girl ran, the coach praised, and the mother was drunk on the sofa. This parallelism helps to create balance and rhythm in the passage.Rate this question:
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- 16.
While Mary Daly says she stands for feminist and individualistic rights, and is against the aggressive beliefs of the male-dominated society, she also subtly hints that she wants to exterminate the male population. Her contradicting ideas can be represented as
- A.
Sarcasm
- B.
Scholarly Diction
- C.
Irony
- D.
Rhetorical Questions
Correct Answer
C. IronyExplanation
Mary Daly's contradicting ideas, where she claims to support feminist and individualistic rights while also subtly suggesting the extermination of the male population, can be seen as irony. Irony is the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal or expected meaning. In this case, Daly's statements and beliefs are ironic because they contradict each other, highlighting the inconsistency in her stance on gender issues.Rate this question:
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- 17.
What type of Rhetorical Device is being used: The twisting trout twinkled below.
- A.
Consonance
- B.
Personification
- C.
Assonance
- D.
Alliteration
Correct Answer
D. AlliterationExplanation
The given sentence "The twisting trout twinkled below" is an example of alliteration. Alliteration is a rhetorical device that involves the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words in close proximity. In this sentence, the "t" sound is repeated in the words "twisting," "trout," and "twinkled." This repetition creates a musical and rhythmic effect, making the sentence more memorable and engaging to the reader.Rate this question:
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- 18.
"The quarterback tossed the pigskin. " What rhetorical device does this utillize?
- A.
Metonymy
- B.
Oxymoron
- C.
Synecdoche
- D.
Simile
Correct Answer
A. MetonymyExplanation
The sentence "The quarterback tossed the pigskin" utilizes metonymy. Metonymy is a figure of speech where a word or phrase is substituted with another word or phrase that is closely associated with it. In this case, "pigskin" is used as a substitute for a football, which is made from pigskin material.Rate this question:
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- 19.
"Let a man acknowledge obligations to his family, his country, and his God." This is an example of
- A.
Syllepsis
- B.
Climax
- C.
Antithesis
- D.
Polyptoton
Correct Answer
B. ClimaxExplanation
The statement "Let a man acknowledge obligations to his family, his country, and his God" is an example of climax. Climax is a figure of speech where words, phrases, or clauses are arranged in order of increasing importance or emphasis. In this statement, the obligations are listed in ascending order of significance, starting with the family, then the country, and finally, God. This arrangement creates a sense of building intensity and importance, making it a clear example of climax.Rate this question:
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- 20.
"Sink or Swim, Fly or Fall, Live or Die" is an example of:
- A.
Juxtaposition
- B.
Polysyndeton
- C.
Anaphora
- D.
Antithesis
Correct Answer
D. AntithesisExplanation
The phrase "Sink or Swim, Fly or Fall, Live or Die" presents contrasting ideas in parallel structure, emphasizing the opposition between the two options. This use of contrasting words and ideas is characteristic of antithesis, which creates a strong rhetorical effect by highlighting the stark differences between two opposing concepts.Rate this question:
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