This set of English Grammar Exercises (MCQs) focuses on “Figures of Speech – Set 5”.
1. Which of the following sentences is an example for Antithesis?
a) My sister passed away in an accident
b) Mercury is the nearest planet to the sun
c) Let’s agree to disagree
d) Poaching of animals for sport is strictly forbidden
View Answer
Explanation: The sentence, ‘Let’s agree to disagree’ can be considered as an example for Antithesis. It has a contrast of words in the same sentence.
2. Identify the figure of speech in the below sentence.
Overhead projectors have become as old as the hills.
a) Apostrophe
b) Metaphor
c) Simile
d) Pun
View Answer
Explanation: The given sentence compares the outdated technology of overhead projectors to hills. The comparison is made with the help of the word ‘as’. Hence, the figure of speech is Simile.
3. Cricketers of New Zealand are commonly referred to as Black caps. It qualifies as an example for _______
a) Irony
b) Metonymy
c) Simile
d) Metaphor
View Answer
Explanation: New Zealand cricketers are designated with the name ‘Black caps’ referring to the color of the caps worn by the players. The figure of speech in such circumstances is Metonymy.
4. From the options, identify the figure of speech in the below sentence.
The Border-Gavaskar trophy is played between India and Australia.
a) Irony
b) Climax
c) Synecdoche
d) Antithesis
View Answer
Explanation: The eleven cricket players of India and Australia will play for the trophy. But, in the sentence, they are represented with the name of the whole country. Such statements are said to have the figure of speech ‘Synecdoche’.
5. Identify the sentence employing Metonymy.
a) The students are reading Dan Brown
b) Paul is no coward
c) Be cunning like a wolf
d) A famous actor is being invited to inaugurate the building
View Answer
Explanation: The sentence, ‘The students are reading Dan Brown’ means that the students are reading the books written by Dan Brown. Thus, it’s Metonymy as the author’s name is designated to his books in the sentence.
6. In the below narrative, the figure of speech employed is Climax.
Raj heard a squeaky sound coming from his roof last night. Trembled with fear, he opened the door to check on it. It turned out to be just a cat.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: The figure of speech in the narrative is Anticlimax. Because, the statements are arranged in the order of decreasing importance.
7. Which of the following figure of speech is based on Contrast?
a) Anticlimax
b) Litotes
c) Simile
d) Antithesis
View Answer
Explanation: Among the different figures of speech, Antithesis and Epigram are the ones based on contrast. The statement, ‘Man proposes, God disposes’ is an Antithesis.
8. Select the sentence which can be considered as an example for Climax.
a) She was waiting enthusiastically for the remake of this film
b) Joining the master’s program, he struggled in the beginning, but studied hard and finally graduated with distinction
c) John is a war-hero and a noble man
d) At the end, he shot himself
View Answer
Explanation: Climax is a figure of speech in which the ideas are arranged in the order of increasing importance. Thus, the sentence, ‘Joining the master’s program, he struggled in the beginning, but studied hard and finally graduated with distinction’ is the correct answer.
9. Select the figure of speech employed in the below sentence from the options.
Please bring the original copies tomorrow.
a) Oxymoron
b) Synecdoche
c) Metaphor
d) Apostrophe
View Answer
Explanation: The sentence has two contradictory qualities being predicted of the same thing (original copies). Thus, the figure of speech employed is Oxymoron.
10. The figure of speech in which the real meaning is the exact opposite of what is being conveyed is __________
a) Synecdoche
b) Euphemism
c) Irony
d) Pun
View Answer
Explanation: Irony or Sarcasm generally means conveying something in an humorous or sarcastic manner, that normally signifies the opposite.
11. Choose the correct figure of speech used in the below sentence.
I suppose you had a wonderful day.
a) Simile
b) Transferred Epithet
c) Climax
d) Metonymy
View Answer
Explanation: Here the adjective ‘wonderful’ describes the day as wonderful and not the Subject. Thus, the epithet is transferred from the Subject to the day. Hence, the figure of speech is Transferred Epithet.
12. Choose the sentence in which Pun is employed.
a) She danced like it’s the last day of her life
b) The sound from the guitar was unpleasant to hear
c) Library, having thousands of stories, is the tallest building in the University
d) Surya took years to achieve stardom
View Answer
Explanation: The building having the most number of storeys is considered to be the tallest one. The word ‘stories’ similar in sound to ‘storeys’ is being used to produce a ludicrous effect. Hence, the sentence qualifies as an example of Pun.
13. The figure of speech employed in the below sentence is Irony.
Sundaresan, a traffic constable was fined yesterday for signal jumping.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: The given sentence is indeed ironic because traffic constables are the ones who rein in on the signal offenders. But, in this case, the opposite of that has happened.
14. The figure of speech in which the author conveys a particular meaning through the negation of opposite is ____________
a) Simile
b) Litotes
c) Epigram
d) Irony
View Answer
Explanation: Consider the sentence, ‘Chennai is not an ordinary city’, wherein the meaning ‘Chennai is an extraordinary city’ is conveyed by the negation of the opposite. The figure of speech in such cases is ‘Litotes’.
15. The figure of speech in the given sentence is ___________
I have read this novel a million times.
a) Antithesis
b) Epigram
c) Hyperbole
d) Anticlimax
View Answer
Explanation: Instead of mentioning, ‘I have read this book many times’, the phrase ‘a million times’ is used to assert more emphasis through over-exaggeration. Hyperbole is the corresponding figure of speech.
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