Sample Quizzes For Preparation: Using A Range of Appropriate Linguistic Elements And Literary Features

AS Level English Language – Quiz

Topic: Linguistic Elements and Literary Features (Imagery, Rhetorical Devices, Evaluative Lexis)

Question 1

Which of the following best defines evaluative lexis?
A. Words used to compare lengths and quantities
B. Words that express judgments or assessments
C. Words that describe sensory experiences
D. Words that connect paragraphs together

Question 2

Which sentence contains a metaphor?
A. Her face was like the moon.
B. The moon shone brightly in the night sky.
C. Her eyes were stars lighting the darkness.
D. Her smile was as bright as the sun.

Question 3

What is the purpose of using a rhetorical question in argumentative writing?
A. To seek information from the reader
B. To distract the reader
C. To provoke thought and persuade without expecting a reply
D. To conclude a paragraph logically

Question 4

Which of the following is a correct example of anaphora?
A. Life is hard, life is real, life is unpredictable.
B. The rain poured; the wind blew; the thunder struck.
C. We shall fight. We shall win. We shall rise.
D. All that glitters is not gold.

Question 5

Identify the literary device in the sentence: “The trees whispered secrets to the moon.”
A. Simile
B. Alliteration
C. Personification
D. Hyperbole

Question 6

Which of the following would be most appropriate in critical writing?
A. “This scene was sooo good!”
B. “That moment was totally epic!”
C. “The scene was highly effective in reinforcing the theme of isolation.”
D. “I loved it because it was emotional!”

Question 7

What is the effect of using inclusive pronouns in persuasive writing?
A. It distances the writer from the issue
B. It confuses the audience
C. It creates a shared identity with the reader
D. It makes the writing formal and distant

Question 8

Which of the following is an example of evaluative lexis?
A. Blue, round, soft
B. Excellent, flawed, inadequate
C. Running, jumping, flying
D. However, furthermore, nevertheless

Question 9

What does the “rule of three” aim to do in writing?
A. Create rhythm and make ideas memorable
B. Lengthen the sentence
C. Add complex vocabulary
D. Reduce word count

Question 10

Which device is used in the phrase “a blanket of fog”?
A. Simile
B. Personification
C. Metaphor
D. Hyperbole

Question 11

Which of the following best defines hyperbole?
A. A subtle hint or indirect reference
B. The use of exaggeration for effect
C. A statement with opposite meanings
D. A balanced comparison

Question 12

Which of the following is a sensory image?
A. The soldier was brave.
B. The cake smelled of cinnamon and vanilla.
C. The teacher explained the theory.
D. The answer was correct.

Question 13

What is a key difference between simile and metaphor?
A. Simile uses comparison, metaphor does not
B. Simile is figurative, metaphor is literal
C. Simile uses “like” or “as”, metaphor does not
D. Simile is only used in poetry

Question 14

Why might a writer use hedging language in a critical essay?
A. To appear indecisive
B. To insult the reader
C. To show uncertainty and avoid overgeneralisation
D. To exaggerate their claims

Question 15

Which is an example of alliteration?
A. He was late to the debate.
B. The sly snake slithered silently.
C. The teacher wrote quickly.
D. She felt cold and tired.

Question 16

In what context is imagery most commonly used?
A. Scientific report
B. Descriptive writing
C. Legal document
D. Informative news article

Question 17

Which of the following best describes personification?
A. Assigning human traits to non-human objects
B. Comparing two things using “as”
C. Repeating a word or phrase
D. Listing three similar things

Question 18

What is the effect of using emotive language?
A. It encourages logical reasoning
B. It evokes an emotional reaction
C. It makes the writing boring
D. It lengthens the text unnecessarily

Question 19

Which of these would weaken the tone of critical writing?
A. “The author skillfully uses ambiguity.”
B. “It could be argued that this scene lacks coherence.”
C. “That bit was kinda cool!”
D. “This reinforces the text’s dystopian tone.”

Question 20

Which literary device is found in: “Her words cut deeper than a knife”?
A. Alliteration
B. Metaphor
C. Simile
D. Personification

Question 21

“We fight for freedom. We fight for justice. We fight for peace.” This is an example of:
A. Emotive language
B. Triplet
C. Anaphora
D. Simile

Question 22

Which sentence shows appropriate tone for formal critical analysis?
A. “The plot twist was wild, seriously.”
B. “The storyline was alright, I guess.”
C. “The twist enhances the narrative complexity.”
D. “The plot was cool.”

Question 23

Which feature helps to connect ideas between paragraphs?
A. Rhyme
B. Alliteration
C. Discourse markers
D. Metaphor

Question 24

Which word is likely part of evaluative lexis?
A. Incredible
B. Running
C. Triangle
D. Quickly

Question 25

In persuasive writing, the phrase “How long must we wait?” is an example of:
A. Direct question
B. Irony
C. Rhetorical question
D. Evaluative lexis

Question 26

Which sentence uses sensory imagery most effectively?
A. I felt sad.
B. The silence was cold and suffocating.
C. She was confused.
D. He ran fast.

Question 27

Which rhetorical device emphasizes urgency and unity?
A. Emotive language
B. Inclusive pronouns
C. Metaphor
D. Complex syntax

Question 28

Which of these would be a poor stylistic choice in formal argumentative writing?
A. “This essay explores…”
B. “The evidence suggests…”
C. “LOL this part was wild.”
D. “It could be concluded that…”

Question 29

What is the most likely reason to use figurative language in description?
A. To confuse the reader
B. To make the writing more vivid
C. To lengthen the paragraph
D. To include technical terms

Question 30

Which statement uses hedging language?
A. “This proves the author is wrong.”
B. “The author is clearly biased.”
C. “It appears the author may have intended ambiguity.”
D. “There is no doubt about the meaning.”

Answer Key and Explanations