Nonfiction, Argument, and Rhetoric — High School English Literature practice questions

A question asked for effect, not to get an answer, is a:

1. leading question
2. thesis
3. counterclaim
4. rhetorical question

Answer: D — rhetorical question

D) Correct — It makes the audience think. A) Pushes toward a specific answer in a survey or interview. B) Is the main claim. C) Is an opposing argument.

Which is a primary source about the Civil War?

1. A 2010 history textbook
2. A documentary about the war made in 1990
3. An encyclopedia entry
4. A soldier's letter written in 1863

Answer: D — A soldier's letter written in 1863

D) Correct — Primary sources come from the time or a participant. A) Is a secondary source. B) Is a secondary source. C) Is a tertiary source.

"Either you support this law or you don't care about children." This is a:

1. straw man
2. red herring
3. false dilemma
4. appeal to authority

Answer: C — false dilemma

C) Correct — It presents only two options when more exist. A) Distorts the other side's argument. B) Changes the subject. D) Relies on an expert's status.

"Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country" mainly uses:

1. antithesis
2. hyperbole
3. anaphora
4. understatement

Answer: A — antithesis

A) Correct — It sets contrasting ideas in parallel structure. B) Is exaggeration. C) Repeats words at the start of clauses. D) Downplays something.

The rhetorical situation includes:

1. only the speaker's main claim and thesis
2. rhyme, meter, and stanza
3. plot, setting, and theme
4. speaker, audience, purpose, and context

Answer: D — speaker, audience, purpose, and context

D) Correct — All shape how a message is crafted. A) Leaves out audience and context. B) Are poetic elements. C) Are fiction elements.

A speaker mentions her 20 years as a nurse to argue about health policy. She is appealing to:

1. pathos
2. logos
3. ethos
4. kairos

Answer: C — ethos

C) Correct — Ethos builds credibility. A) Appeals to emotion. B) Appeals to logic and evidence. D) Is timeliness.

"Everyone is buying these shoes, so you should too." This is a:

1. bandwagon appeal
2. logos appeal
3. ethos appeal
4. slippery slope

Answer: A — bandwagon appeal

A) Correct — Popularity is not proof. B) Would use evidence. C) Would use credibility. D) Predicts a chain of results.

Citing statistics and studies to support a claim appeals to:

1. pathos
2. ethos
3. logos
4. hyperbole

Answer: C — logos

C) Correct — Logos uses reasoning and evidence. A) Uses emotion. B) Uses credibility. D) Is exaggeration.

"You can't trust his plan; he failed math in high school." This is:

1. a straw man fallacy
2. a slippery slope
3. an ad hominem fallacy
4. a valid appeal to logos

Answer: C — an ad hominem fallacy

C) Correct — It attacks the person, not the argument. A) Distorts the opposing argument. B) Predicts a chain of disasters. D) Is not about the plan's merits.

What is anaphora?

Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses (e.g., 'I have a dream...').