英语修辞学试卷

英语修辞学试卷
2004 试卷 [自己标了答案，部分翻书确认过，并标了书页]
I. Fill in each blank with an appropriate word or phrase.(10%)
1. When we say "Jim look like his brother Billy" we are making an ordinary literal comparison but when we say "Jim and Billy are as like as two peas" we are using a ___simile__
2. Metonymy is a very useful and effective rhetorical device, for it compresses much into a single word or short noun phrase, e.g.
She sets a good table. (Meaning: She provides good __delicious
dishes__.)
3.In the sentence "Cloth es are fit the man and the times, “Fit the man" is used in a literal sense, whereas "fit the times" is a figurative expression, meaning "to be___fashion___".
4. When the instructor says "This thesis leaves much to be desired", he expresses his
dissatisfaction with quiet understatement, meaning:"the thesis is very __imperfect__." 5. The advertisement "Quality breeds success" can be regarded as a brilliant parody of the proverb "Familiarity breeds
_contempt___."
6. Parody, Reverse, and Regression are all open figures of speech,
i.e. __they___ can be created when necessary. On the other hand, however,misuse or oversue should always be guarded against. 7."We must all hang together, or we shall hang separately" is a famouse pun by Benjamin Franklin, in which the word "hang" has double meanings.
8. Rhetoric originated in Speaking, Aristotle, in the 4th century BC, first defined rhetoiic as __art__ of persuasion, by means of argumentation. P1
9. Grammar maps out the possible; rhetoric narrows the possible down to the desirable and effective.
10. Apart from the huge number, the English words are characterized
by their creativeness in formation and flexibility in meaning and usage, which cause difficulties iin word choice. II. Determine whether the following statements are correct or not by marking in each bracket with
T of F (10%)
1. Creativity refers mainly to producing original ideas, which constitutes the essence of an essay. Original ideas cannot come off-hand; they are result of extensive and thoroughgoing studies and careful consideration. New forms may have a sense of creativity, too but they must sever the need of the expression of ideas. (T) Same as 05’test
2. Most students really do recognize the need to improve their
writing skills. Their attitude is usually a kind of resigned willingness, for they must already know and agree with Samuel Johnson's words: "what
is written effort is in general read without pleasure." (F) P194 (“没有经过努力写出的文章，阅读起来一点也不会觉得愉快” - Samuel Johnson “What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure.” - Samuel Johnson
3. The beginning, the body and the ending are the three organic
parts of an essay. As the saying goes,” Well begun is half done", the
first paragraph should be long enough ( P182 should be “good”) to gr ab the reader's attention. Proper beginnings, no matter what its length is, can not only arouse the reader's interest in the subject but also tell the reader what the whole piece of writing will be about. (F)
4. The most significant assumption of the traditional view of figurative language is that such language is deviant and requires special cognitive processes to be understood. Whereas literal language can be understood via normal cognitive mechanisms, listeners must recognize the
deviant nature of a figurative utterance before determining its no literal meaning. (T) Same as 05’ test
5. Coherece is an essential virtue in expository writing, in which everything is tied together clearly and logically so as to help your reader to follow your ideas. These four points are necessary to achieve coherence: a) use some logical method of organization; b) structure your sentences in such a way that the sequence in which they are arranged links them to each other; c) use transitional devices to connect sentences and paragraphs; and d) never repeat a word or phrase (P163 repeat a key word or phrase) to remind your reader of the important points of your essay. (F)
6. In many cases, words may fail to communicate clearly for reasons other than that they are difficult or specialized. Sometimes we fail to use words accurately, select not the proper one but one somewhat like it. The trick in avoiding errors of
this sort is not to submit a paper until you have checked every word whose meaning you have doubt about. (T) P147
7. The first quality of good writing is economy. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short or that he avoid all details, but that every word tell. (T) P121 8. When a writer must summarize a large body of facts within a limited space, he has to write in a general way because the writer's primary concern is to survey briefly the available facts and explain their significance. The important thing in such cases is to choose specific (general) expressions that accurately summarize the specific details examined, giving the reader some basic idea. (F) P113
9. Good writing does not belabor the obvious, does not use six words where four will do. And no phoniness either -- we like the writer who is blunt, who comes right to the point and (rather than) talks on and on most fluently like a witness at a Senate hearing. (F) P122
10. It would be strange if someone said to you, "I have used arithmetic to prove my opinion", or "I have faith that two plus two equals four." Equally strange would be the claim that someone is open-minded and fair but prejudiced. To be successful as a critical thinker and convincing writer, one must understand opinion, belief, faith, and prejudice. (T)
III. Multple Choices (10%)
1. This famous novel has _C__ in its wonderful description of the heroine. I mention this without fear of offending the author, for obviously no writer is ___. (C) P49
A. mistakes/infallible
B. the flaw/without blunders
C. a flaw/free from faults
D. some problems/never wrong
2. With the development of the modern printing industry in the 19th century, rhetoric came to be understood as ___. (A) P1
A. the ability to write or speak well usually in an ornate,showy manner
B. "the art of speaking with propriety, elegance, and force"
C. the choice of words and phrases, the seletion of sentence patterns, organizing paragraphs and whole pieces of writing in such a way that ideas are expressed most clearly, most accurately and most appropiately so as to achieve the best results in communication
D. the three traditional aesthetic criteria -- "logos"."pathos", and "ethos" in practice today. 3.A good speaker varies his speed of delivery to match the significance of his oratory. Slow speed is appropriate for the important ideas, but the less weighty materical should be disposed of rather speedily. It is important that with variety of material there should be variety of ___. ( D)
A. volume
B. pitch
C.timbre
D. tempo
4.Which of the following should NOT be used to fill in the blank of the statement? (B) The rhetorical question is a question ___B_.
A. to which no real answer is expected because only one obvious
reply can be made -- and that reply will either support or restate the writer's point P75
B.that does not require the reader to answer but it used for certain rhetorical purposes
C. which appears at the beginning of a paragraph marking the topic, and then transitional devices are employed to lead
the reader to the answer P71
D. fairly common in persuasive writing and in argumentation because they offer a way to writers to emphasize the validity of their viewpoint P75
5.One of the following statements is NOT appropriate for filling the blank. As an attribute of language, vagueness is originated in people's understanding and interpretation of the objective world, which may be used ___. (B)
A.when words or expressions that have fuzzy boundaries find their
way in one's speech or writing, e.g. adjectives like "strong" and "weak", adverbs like "fast" and "slow"
B. when vagues terms are employed to avoid emphasis
C. when one is suddenly at a loss about expressing something in an exact way
D. when one finds it unnecessary of unwise to be very accurate IV. Rewrite each of the following statements as required. (20%)
1. Smith is an elected official and some elected officials are
bribe-takers. Make a complete syllogism on the basis of the above statement"
Major premise: Some elected officials are bribe-takers.
Minor premise: Smith is an elected official.
Conclusion: Smith might be a bribe-taker.
2. My daugher is also old and she can't work as a maid any more.
Avoid using the terms "old: and "maid" (佣人maid/servant->domestic help/day help/live-in help;)
with the help of Euphemism:
My daughter is also elderly and she can’t work as a domestic help any more.
3. A hundred and fifty years ago, even the educated young men and women could only make a living through knowledge in four professions including clergyman and teacher. Turn the specific expressions into vagues ones:
A century ago, even the educated young people could only make a
living through knowledge in a few professions. P150
4. On hearing that may close friend had kicked the bucket, I wrote a letter to his family to express my sorrows and sympathies and promise to help their stupid son.
Change the vulgar terms "kick the bucker"(meaning: die) and the "stupid" into some polite ones: On hearing that may close friend had passed away, I wrote a letter to his family to express my sorrow and sympathies and promise to help their mentally retarded/mental deficiency son.
5.The campaign was successful and costly, and the victory was sweet.
Make the statement more coherent and more economical:
The campaign was costly, but the victory was sweet.
6. There are more than half a million shareholders who have invested in the project. It is they and the bank that expect to profit.
Rewrite the sentences without useing "THERE" and "IT" patterns: More than half shareholders have invested in the project.They and the bank expect to profit.
7. The tunnel, which was drilled for twenty-three miles, runs through a bed of solid chalk under the English Channel.
Change the "WHICH" clause into a phrase"
The twenty-three miles tunnel runs through a bed of solid chalk under the English Channel.
8. I enjoy listening to music, which makes me feel relaxed and brightens my mood. Add a few more sentences in order to start an "exposition":
I find music more and more important in my daily life. In the morning, music helps brighten me up and at night, music makes me feel still energetic.
Once I was very much depressed as a result of my failure in the mid-term test. I was wondering what to do. Then I turned to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and felt greatly encouraged. “I must take my destiny into my own hands, too,” I though.
9. The weather here was bad last weekend.
Make the statement more impressive with some details:
It was stormy/rainy last weekend
10. David has been called back to teach at the high school after ten year retirement due to a colleague's illness.
Change the position of the misplaced modifier so as to achieve accuracy:
Due to colleague’s illness, David has been called back to teach at the high school after ten year retirement.
V. Improve each of the following statements by making any changes necessary.(20%) 1. Many institutions of higher education recognize the need for youth at the threshold of maturity to confront the choices of life's endeavor and thus require students to select a field of concentration.
2. John is of the opinion that the romance and beauty of the river will return back one pollution of the water is got rid of altogether.
John thinks that the romance and beauty of the river will return once they get rid of the water pollution.
3. When a letter starts with "My dear Frank, awfully nice to get your note yesterday", it usually ends with "Yours respectfully"/"Respectfully yours"; and if a letter begins with "Dear Sir, it is an informal letter, and in consequence of this, the ending should be "My regards to your wife", of
"Yours affectionately".
When a letter begins with “My dear Frank, awfully nice to get you known”, it usually ends with “Cheerio for now!/Your friends with
love”; as if a letter begins with “Dear Sir”, it is a formal letter, and in consequence of this, the ending should be “Yours Sincerely!”.
4. I got up early at the request of my mother in spite of the fact that it was a fine Monday morning. Mother told me that there was always traffic jam Monday morning. Our car was a bit old and could hardly run fast, so we need to buy a new one. Slow birds should fly ahead, as the saying goes.
I got up early Monday morning, Mom told me that there was always heavy traffic on Mondays, and as our car was a bit old and couldn’t run fast, we’d better start earlier than usual.
5. At last the hard-working housewife was ready to watch her
favorite television program, and before fifteen minutes were up she was sould asleep in her chair and before she realized what the matter was
the 6:30 A.M. alarm was going off and it was time for her to start another day of hard work
At last the hard-working housewife was ready to watch her favorite television program, but within fifteen minutes/in a matter of 15 minutes she is sound asleep in her chair and before she realizes it the 6:30 A.M. alarm is going off. It is time to start another day.
VI. Answer the following questions. (30%)
1. Can you write three sentences about an old female to express favorable, unfavorable and neutral meanings repectively?
Favorable: She’s a dear old soul.
Unfavorable: She’s an old witch.
Neutral: She’s an old woman.
2. What are the following labels stand for?
fml--formal
Am E—American English
fig--figurative
esp.-- especially
tech— Technical
3. Explain how the following sentences is ambiguous?
Speaking English clearly is important.
It’s clear that speaking English is important.
It’s important to speak English clearly.
4. What do your think of the use of the phrase "open spaces" in the passage?
Across this country one sees deep holes in the ground where man has mined, oil rigs working day and night, and open spaces which were once circles of vegetation and cradles of trees. In his passage, the connotative meanings of “open spaces” are inappropriate because the expression usually connotes desirable freedom and solitude while the context requires more negative overtones; therefore, expression like “barren ground”, “emptiness”, “deserts” and
“wasteland” all suit the context.
5. What does propriety mean in rhetoric?
Propriety refers to the appropriate choice of words, sentence
patterns and the appropriate arrangement of paragraphs and the whole piece of writing according to the needs of effective communication.
6. Can you equate "economy" with "clarity"? Why?
A writer’s style can be different and the length of a piece of
writing can be varied, but the principle of economy is something every writer should follow, for wordiness doesn’t only
undermine economy, but also affect clarity.
Practicing sentence economy doesn’t mean that you should strip your sentences down to the bare minimum, as you might in composing a telegram or writing a classified advertisement. The shortest words and simplest constructions are not always the most economical; for they may fail to convey your exact or complete meaning.
天天打混也是要毕业的——毕业季
2005
1. Grammar is the law of the language, considered as language;
rhetoric is the art of the language, considered as thought. Grammar
tells what is correct; rhetoric tells what is effective and pleasing.
2. Rhetoric originated in speaking. Aristotle, in the 4th century BC, first defined rhetoric as the art of persuasion by means of argumentation.
3. The purpose of seeking sentence variety is to avoid monotony is one’s speech or writing so as to achieve the most satisfactory result
in communication.
4. Metonymy is very useful and effective rhetorical device, for it compresses much into a single word or short noun phrase, e.g.
Mom sets a good table. (Meaning: She provides good delicious dishes).
5. In the phrase “a dress that fits the girls and the times,”
“fits the girls” is used in a literal sense meaning “it suits them”, whereas “fits the times” is a figurative expression meaning “to be modern and fashionable.”
6. The sentence “A friend in need is a friend to be avoided” can
be regarded as a parody of the
proverb “A friend in need is a friend indeed.”
7. Apart from the huge number, the English words are characterized
by their creativeness in
formation and flexibility in meaning and usage, which causes
problems/difficulties in word choice.
8. Simile and metaphor are both open figures of speech, i.e. new
ones can be created when necessary. On the other hand, however, misuse
or overuse should always be guarded against.
9. Joel Sherzer said: “A pun is a form of speech play in which a
word or phrase unexpectedly and
simultaneously combines two unrelated meanings.” e.g.
- What coat is finished without buttons and put on wet?
- Paint.
10. Their talk continued on their three days’ horseback journey,
and finally they arrived at the town hall and an agreement.
T/F
1. The most significant assumption of the traditional view of figurative language is that such language is deviant and requires
special cognitive processes to be understood. Whereas literal language can be understood via normal cognitive mechanisms, listeners must recognize the deviant nature of a figurative utterance before
determining its nonliteral meaning. (T)
2. Creativity refers mainly to producing original ideas, which constitutes the essence of an essay. Original ideas cannot come off-hand; they are the result of extensive and thoroughgoing studies and careful consideration. New forms may have a sense of creativity, too, but they are secondary in comparison with ideas and they must serve the need of the expression of ideas. (T)
***2006 test attached***。