This set of English Grammar Exercises (MCQs) focuses on “Figures of Speech – Set 3”.
1. Select the figure of speech employed in the below sentence from the options.
Alan brought the donkey thinking that he might get a kick out of it.
a) Pun
b) Synecdoche
c) Epigram
d) Apostrophe
View Answer
Explanation: The word ‘kick’ in the sentence has two meanings. One refers to an enthusiastic feeling and the other refers to the actual kick. Hence, the sentence employs Pun.
2. The figure of speech in the below sentence is Litotes.
Kane comes from a no mean city.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: ‘No mean’ city means a very celebrated one. Thus, by means of negation of the opposite, a positive meaning is conveyed. Hence, Litotes is the figure of speech.
3. The figure of speech in which an over exaggeration is done to assert more emphasis is _________
a) Simile
b) Euphemism
c) Hyperbole
d) Pun
View Answer
Explanation: Hyperbole involves exaggerating the statements for the purpose of making it more emphatic. For example, ‘I haven’t been to a movie in a million years’.
4. Select the sentence which can be considered as an example for Anticlimax.
a) My mom is a great cook and a brilliant artist
b) Hari lost his brother, car and his belongings in the flood that ravaged the city
c) I am a fool to have believed in you
d) Joseph won a medal, memento and a cash award of Rs. 10 lakhs
View Answer
Explanation: In the sentence, ‘Hari lost his brother, car and his belongings in the flood that ravaged the city’, his possessions are stated in the order of decreasing importance. Hence, the sentence employs Anticlimax.
5. Choose the correct figure of speech used in the below sentence.
Do you seriously want me to baby sit my 21-year old brother?
a) Simile
b) Interrogation
c) Antithesis
d) Metonymy
View Answer
Explanation: The sentence refers to a question that is asked not for the sake of getting an answer, but to state a point more effectively. Hence, the figure of speech ‘Interrogation’ is used here.
6. Choose the sentence in which Irony is employed.
a) He is considered to be socially inept
b) Sheldon is the topper of the University
c) Kamlesh being a pilot still has fear of heights
d) He wants to become an Air Force officer
View Answer
Explanation: The sentence, ‘Kamlesh being a pilot still has fear of heights’ is ironic because a pilot’s job is to operate the flights at a very high altitude and yet he claims to be afraid of heights.
7. Select the figure of speech which is based on construction of the ideas within the sentence.
a) Simile
b) Climax
c) Metaphor
d) Hyperbole
View Answer
Explanation: Climax is based on the construction of the sentence. Here, the ideas are arranged in the order of increasing importance.
8. The figure of speech in the given sentence is ___________
The best brains of MIT were put together to solve the problem.
a) Irony
b) Epigram
c) Synecdoche
d) Anticlimax
View Answer
Explanation: The phrase ‘best brains’ refers to the intelligent students of MIT. Thus, a part (an organ) of the student is mentioned to refer to the whole. The corresponding figure of speech is Synecdoche.
9. Metaphor is the figure of speech in the below sentence.
Every morning, my alarm clock yells at me sharp at 6 a.m.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: In the given sentence, an inanimate object, ‘clock’ is described as of having life. Thus, the correct figure of speech is Personification.
10. Which of the following sentences is an example for Euphemism?
a) Life is a dream
b) Live like there is no tomorrow
c) The Doctor passed away today morning due to prolonged illness
d) Raja bought a brand new bike
View Answer
Explanation: In the sentence, ‘The Doctor passed away today morning due to prolonged illness’, the terms ‘passed away’ acts as a substitute to the unpleasant word ‘death’. Thus, it can be considered as an example for Euphemism.
11. Identify the figure of speech in the below sentence.
John Milton has said that, ‘It is better to reign in hell, than to serve in heaven’.
a) Antithesis
b) Metaphor
c) Metonymy
d) Transferred Epithet
View Answer
Explanation: The given sentence has a contrasting set of emotions through the mentioning of phrases, ‘reigning in hell’ and ‘serving in heaven’. Thus, the sentence employs Antithesis.
12. A sentence having a striking opposition or a contrast of words is said to be employing _________
a) Climax
b) Epigram
c) Antithesis
d) Irony
View Answer
Explanation: Consider this famous quote of Brutus, ‘Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more’ which employs an opposition of sentiments in the same sentence. Such statements are said to be employing Antithesis.
13. Identify the sentence employing Exclamation.
a) What a fine morning!
b) I believe congratulations are in order
c) The Bill has been tabled in the House
d) Don’t you dare disobey me
View Answer
Explanation: The sentence, ‘What a fine morning!’ employs the figure of speech ‘Exclamation’, wherein the exclamation mark is used to draw greater attention.
14. From the options, identify the figure of speech in the below sentence.
The President addressed the members of the House on the first day of assembly.
a) Irony
b) Personification
c) Metonymy
d) Antithesis
View Answer
Explanation: ‘The House’ is a collective name designated to the members of the Lok Sabha. Such sentences are said to employ Metonymy.
15. Which of the following figure of speech is considered as an ‘Implied Simile’?
a) Pun
b) Personification
c) Oxymoron
d) Metaphor
View Answer
Explanation: Metaphor is considered as an implied Simile, wherein the comparison words such as ‘like’ and ‘as’ are not included in the sentence.
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