Free Literary Terms and Devices MCQs with Answers
330 Literary Terms and Devices MCQs from English Literature, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.
Last updated
330 questions · page 7 of 17
- A. Smog
- B. UNESCO
- C. Buzz
- D. Edit
Explanation: Smog combines parts of “smoke” and “fog,” so it is a portmanteau or blend.
Correct answer: Smog- A. Compounding
- B. Acronym
- C. Re__duplicates
- D. Conversion
Explanation: UNESCO and RADAR are made from the initial letters of longer expressions and are pronounced as words, which is the defining feature of…
Correct answer: Acronym- A. Compounding
- B. Portmanteau
- C. Derivation
- D. Backformation
Explanation: Backformation creates a shorter word by removing an element mistakenly understood as a suffix: “edit” developed from “editor,” and…
Correct answer: Backformation- A. Compounding
- B. Portmanteau
- C. Derivation
- D. Backformation
Explanation: A portmanteau blends parts of two words: “smog” combines smoke and fog, while “motel” combines motor and hotel.
Correct answer: Portmanteau- A. Compounding
- B. Portmanteau
- C. Derivation
- D. Backformation.
Explanation: Backformation forms a new word by removing a supposed suffix from an existing word, as in “edit” from “editor.” It is therefore…
Correct answer: Backformation.- A. Portmanteau
- B. Onomatopoeia
- C. Clipping
- D. Met analysis
Explanation: Metanalysis, or rebracketing, changes the perceived structure of adjoining sounds or words, such as transferring a consonant across a word…
Correct answer: Met analysis- A. Compounding
- B. Portmanteau
- C. Derivation
- D. Backformation.
Explanation: A portmanteau is formed by blending segments of two existing words, as in brunch from breakfast and lunch.
Correct answer: Portmanteau- A. Lateral plosion
- B. Alveolar plosion
- C. Nasal plosion
- D. Incomplete plosion.Language Resources
Explanation: In middle, /d/ is followed by the lateral consonant /l/, so the released air escapes along the sides of the tongue, producing lateral…
Correct answer: Lateral plosion- A. Bilabial plosion
- B. Alveolar plosion
- C. Nasal plosion
- D. Incomplete plosion.
Explanation: In topmost, /p/ is followed by the bilabial nasal /m/, so the air is released through the nose, producing nasal plosion.
Correct answer: Nasal plosion- A. /p/ & /b/
- B. /m/ & /v/
- C. /t/ &/d/
- D. /k/ & /g/
Explanation: The velar plosives are /k/ and /g/, produced by raising the back of the tongue against the soft palate.
Correct answer: /k/ & /g/- A. /p/ & /b/
- B. /m/ & /v/
- C. /t/ &/d/
- D. /k/ & /g/
Explanation: /p/ and /b/ are bilabial plosives because both lips close to stop and then release the airflow.
Correct answer: /p/ & /b/- A. The position of the lips
- B. The part of the tongue that is raised
- C. The height to which the tongue is raised
- D. All the abovE.
Explanation: Half-close and half-open describe the vertical height of the tongue in the mouth: the tongue is raised more for half-close vowels and…
Correct answer: The height to which the tongue is raised- A. The position of the lips
- B. The part of the tongue that is raised
- C. The height to which the tongue is raised
- D. All the above.
Explanation: Close and open vowels are distinguished by the height of the tongue, or the degree of opening in the mouth.
Correct answer: The height to which the tongue is raised- A. The position of the lips
- B. The part of the tongue that is raised
- C. The height to which the tongue is raised
- D. All the abovE.
Explanation: High and low vowels refer to how high the tongue is raised during articulation.
Correct answer: The height to which the tongue is raised- A. The position of the lips
- B. The part of the tongue that is raised
- C. The height to which the tongue is raised
- D. All the abovE.
Explanation: Front and back vowels are classified by which part of the tongue is raised: the front for front vowels and the back for back vowels.
Correct answer: The part of the tongue that is raised- A. Round vowels & unrounded vowels
- B. Front vowels & back vowels
- C. High vowels & low vowels
- D. Tense vowels &lax vowels
Explanation: Tense and lax vowels are distinguished by the state or muscular tension of the tongue during articulation.
Correct answer: Tense vowels &lax vowels- A. Round vowels & unrounded vowels
- B. Front vowels & back vowels
- C. High vowels & low vowels
- D. Tense vowels &lax vowels
Explanation: When the front, central, or back part of the tongue is raised, vowels are classified as front, central, or back vowels.
Correct answer: Front vowels & back vowels- A. Complementary distribution
- B. Contrastive distribution
- C. Non__complementary distribution
- D. None of the abovE.
Explanation: Sounds in complementary distribution occur in mutually exclusive environments and do not create a difference in meaning, as with many…
Correct answer: Complementary distribution- A. Standard English
- B. Received Pronunciation
- C. Standard pronunciation
- D. Recognized pronunciation
Explanation: Received Pronunciation, or RP, was the traditional prestige pronunciation associated with educated speakers and public-school usage in…
Correct answer: Received Pronunciation- A. Monosyllabic
- B. Disyllabic
- C. Try syllabic
- D. Polysyllabic
Explanation: Examination has more than three syllables, commonly pronounced ex-am-i-na-tion, so it is polysyllabic.
Correct answer: Polysyllabic