Chiasmus, zeugma, metonymy and other named devices

Grade 11 Reading Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   From an invented speech at a town's reopened pool

   “We will swim in the morning, we will swim at noon, and we will swim until the lifeguards whistle us home.”

2. 1.

   Ari is labeling the device and its effect in the frame. Which label and effect fit the sentence?

   • Asyndeton: leaving out “and” makes the day sound rushed and breathless.
   • Anaphora: the repeated “we will swim” builds a rising, joyful promise.
   • Anaphora: the repeated “we will swim” slows the speech to show the town's doubt.
   • Epistrophe: the repeated word at the end of each clause stresses swimming itself.
3. 2.

   Four sentences from an invented library newsletter. Luz needs an example of zeugma for a class handout. Which sentence uses zeugma?

   • Open the doors, open the shelves, open the reading room to the town.
   • The new librarian opened the doors at nine and the windows at noon.
   • The front desk answered our questions about the new hours before we asked them.
   • The new librarian opened the doors at nine and, by noon, the town's eyes to what a library could be.

4. Use this

   An invented principal wants the last line of a graduation speech to stick in listeners' minds by turning one idea around. Plain line: You should keep learning after school ends.

5. 3.

   Tala is choosing a closing line for the principal. Which version uses the device that turns the idea around?

   • After you graduate, please make sure that you keep on learning.
   • Keep learning, keep reading, keep asking, long after school ends.
   • School taught you to learn; now let learning be your school.
   • School taught you to learn; now let learning teach you more.
6. 4.

   “Flour flew, ovens roared, bells rang, customers waited.” Jun is labeling the device and its effect in the frame. Which label and effect fit the sentence?

   • Asyndeton: with no “and” between the clauses, the morning feels fast and crowded.
   • Polysyndeton: the repeated “and” makes each task feel heavy and slow.
   • Asyndeton: with no “and” between the clauses, the morning feels calm and orderly.
   • Anaphora: each clause opens with the same word to show the bakery's routine.
7. 5.

   Four sentences from an invented trail crew's newsletter. Pia needs an example of synecdoche for a class handout. Which sentence uses synecdoche?

   • The trail crew needs twelve more volunteers before the snow comes.
   • The trail crew needs a dozen more strong backs before the snow comes.
   • The trail crew heard from the Ranger Station that the north path will close.
   • Trail, stay open until the snow comes; we have work to finish.

8. Use this

   An invented writer wants a sentence about moving day to make the chores feel endless. Plain line: We packed boxes, carried them, cleaned the rooms and returned the keys.

9. 6.

   Bo is choosing a version for the writer. Which version uses the device that makes the chores feel endless?

   • We packed boxes, and carried them, cleaned the rooms, returned the keys that day.
   • Packed, carried, cleaned, returned: moving day was done.
   • We packed boxes and carried them and cleaned the rooms and returned the keys.
   • We packed boxes, carried them, cleaned the rooms and returned the keys.
10. 7.

    Four sentences from an invented account of a paper boat race on a river. Zee needs an example of apostrophe for a class handout. Which sentence uses apostrophe?

    • We hope the river carries the paper boats safely past the old mill.
    • The river carried the paper boats patiently past the old mill.
    • River, carry these paper boats safely past the old mill and on toward the sea.
    • The boats, the banks, the bridges, the bells: the whole river sang that morning.

11. Use this

    An invented columnist wants a light, witty line about a long rehearsal. Plain lines: The conductor raised the baton. The conductor also raised everyone's hopes.

12. 8.

    Kira is choosing a version for the columnist. Which version uses the device that gives the line its wit?

    • Raise the baton, raise the music, raise our hopes.
    • The conductor raised the baton and raised the music stand.
    • The conductor raised the baton, and everyone grew more hopeful.
    • The conductor raised the baton and, with it, everyone's hopes.
13. 9.

    “The pen of a careful reporter can change a town more than a loud meeting can.” Ren is labeling the device and its effect in the frame. Which label and effect fit the sentence?

    • Metonymy: “the pen” stands for writing, so reporters seem weaker than meetings.
    • Apostrophe: the editorial speaks to the pen, so readers feel its power.
    • Metonymy: “the pen” stands for writing, so careful words seem stronger than noise.
    • Synecdoche: “the pen,” a part of the reporter, stands for the whole person.
14. 10.

    Four sentences from an invented hiking club's guide. Esme needs an example of chiasmus for a class handout. Which sentence uses chiasmus?

    • Use the map on the walk, and fix the map if it turns out to be wrong.
    • The map was neat and dry, but the walk was long and muddy.
    • Let the map guide the walk, and let the walk correct the map.
    • Map in hand, boots laced, water packed, we set out.