HiSET Language Arts Reading Practice Test 3 Flashcards

In literature, when an author reveals a character's personality through their actions and dialogue rather than directly stating it, this technique is called:

Answer: Indirect characterization

Indirect characterization is the technique of revealing a character's traits through their words, actions, thoughts, and how others react to them, rather than telling the reader directly.

A passage states: 'The unemployment rate rose sharply, consumer spending dropped, and businesses reported record losses.' What is the main idea of this passage?

Answer: The economy is experiencing a serious downturn

All three details — rising unemployment, reduced spending, and business losses — are indicators of an economic downturn. The main idea synthesizes all these details into one central point.

The word 'benevolent' most nearly means:

Answer: Well-meaning and kind

Benevolent comes from Latin roots meaning 'good will.' It describes someone who is well-meaning, generous, and charitable toward others.

Which literary device is used in the sentence: 'The wind whispered through the trees'?

Answer: Personification

Personification gives human qualities to non-human things. Wind cannot literally whisper — that is a human action being attributed to an inanimate natural force.

An author writes an essay arguing that public transportation funding should be increased. This type of writing is best described as:

Answer: Argumentative/persuasive

Argumentative or persuasive writing aims to convince the reader of a particular viewpoint or course of action. The author is taking a position and supporting it with reasons.

In a news article, the paragraph that contains the most important information and answers who, what, when, where, and why is called the:

Answer: Lead (lede)

The lead (or lede) is the opening paragraph of a news article. It summarizes the key facts: who, what, when, where, and why — providing the most essential information first.