Multiple Choice Questions
Meaning of Words or Phrases
As it used in line 2, the word x can be best understood to mean . . . In line 7, the word x employs all of the following EXCEPT . . . The phrase xyz is best understood to mean . . .
Other questions
Techniques - The phrase "silent scream" is an example of . . . Style - The style of the passage may be best described as . . . Structure - The last paragraph of the passage is related to the first chiefly by . . . Diction - The speaker's anger is suggested by all of the following words EXCEPT . . .
key
the correct answer.
Grammar
In the opening clause, the word "which" refers to . . . In line 12, the antecedent of "it" is . . . The subject of the long sentence that makes up the third paragraph is . . .
Figurative Language
The comparison in lines 1-3 compares . . . The analogy of the second paragraph compares . . . The phrase xyz is best read as a metaphor relating to . . . The purpose of the astronomy metaphor in line 9 is to . . .
item
The entire question
Rhetoric
The rhetorical purpose of lines 1-6 is to . . . The argument of the passage can be best described as progressing from . . . Which of the following best describes the function of the last sentence? The effect of shifting from past to present tense in the third paragraph is . . . The happiness of the speaker is conveyed primarily by the use of . . .
Tone
of whole, of paragraph, of sentence The tone of the passage may be best described as . . . In discussing x in the second paragraph, the speaker adopts a tone of . . .
Content
of whole; of one paragraph; of one sentence The main subject of the passage is The primary distinction made in the first paragraph is between . . . According to lines 3-7, which of the following is chief . . . In the third paragraph, the author is chiefly concerned with . . .
stem
part of the item that asks the question (e.g. "The tone of the question is best described as . . .")
options
the five answer choices.
distractors
the incorrect answer choices.