Level 3 Exam-Pattern Test — Style & Rhetoric
8 Questions • 15 min • Chapter MCQ
15:00
Question 1 of 8
Identify the device: 'Fair is foul, and foul is fair.'
anaphora
chiasmus / antimetabole
epistrophe
tricolon
Explanation: The reversed word order is chiasmus/antimetabole.
Question 2 of 8
Which revision is most concise without losing meaning? 'It is absolutely essential and necessary that we act in a timely manner.'
We must act promptly.
It is necessary that we act in a timely way essentially.
We absolutely must act timely and necessary.
Acting promptly is essential and necessary.
Explanation: Cuts redundancy ('essential and necessary') and wordiness.
Question 3 of 8
Which sentence shows effective variety after three short ones? 'He waited. He hoped. He prayed. ___'
He waited again.
And still, through the long and silent hours of that endless night, no answer came.
He prayed again.
He hoped more.
Explanation: A long, building sentence contrasts with the short ones for effect.
Question 4 of 8
Which is a redundancy to be cut?
a brief summary
advance planning
Both A and B are redundant
careful analysis
Explanation: A summary is brief; planning is in advance — both redundant.
Question 5 of 8
Choose the most rhetorically effective ending.
So we should probably try to do something about it maybe.
The time to act is now — not tomorrow, not someday, but now.
We could think about acting eventually.
Action might be considered at some point.
Explanation: Parallel structure and emphatic repetition drive the point home.
Question 6 of 8
Identify the figure: 'The more I learn, the less I know.'
chiasmus/antithesis
anaphora
tricolon
epistrophe
Explanation: Balanced, contrasting (antithetical) structure.
Question 7 of 8
Which sentence best avoids monotony?
The dog ran. The dog barked. The dog jumped. The dog sat.
Barking and jumping, the dog ran across the yard before finally sitting, exhausted.
The dog the dog the dog ran barked jumped.
Ran the dog. Barked the dog. Jumped.
Explanation: Combines actions with variety and a clear subject.
Question 8 of 8
Make persuasive with anaphora: combine 'We must educate. We must empower. We must include.'
We must educate, empower, and include.
We must educate; we must empower; we must include.
Both A and B are acceptable; B keeps the anaphora for stronger effect.
Educate, empower, include we must.
Explanation: Repeating 'We must' (anaphora) heightens the rhetorical force.