Literary and Informational Texts Flashcards

A poet describes grief as "a stone lodged behind the ribs." Which literary device is being used?

Answer: Metaphor

Grief is compared directly to a stone without using 'like' or 'as,' which is a metaphor.

An informational article opens by listing the rising costs of college tuition over ten years before arguing for reform. What is the purpose of this opening?

Answer: To establish context and build the case for the argument

Presenting the trend first gives readers the background needed to accept the argument that follows.

In a short story, the narrator knows the thoughts of every character. Which point of view is this?

Answer: Third-person omniscient

An all-knowing narrator with access to every character's thoughts is third-person omniscient.

A passage states, "The senator's plan, though well-intentioned, ignores basic economics." The phrase "though well-intentioned" primarily serves to:

Answer: Acknowledge a point before criticizing it

The concession acknowledges good intentions before the writer raises a criticism.

Two authors write about the same hurricane: one a personal diary entry, the other a government report. The diary is most likely to emphasize:

Answer: Subjective emotional experience

A personal diary focuses on the writer's own feelings and lived experience.

An essay repeats the phrase "We must act now" at the start of three consecutive paragraphs. This repetition is meant to:

Answer: Create emphasis and a sense of urgency

Repeating a phrase for rhetorical effect emphasizes the message and heightens urgency.

A reader infers that a character is nervous because the text says her hands trembled and she avoided eye contact. This conclusion is an example of:

Answer: An inference drawn from textual evidence

Drawing a conclusion from details rather than an explicit statement is making an inference.