PSAT Reading and Writing Domain 2: Craft and Structure

In a passage discussing the role of technology in modern education, which of the following statements best captures the author's tone?

In a passage about a historical event, the author uses the phrase "a turning point" to describe a specific moment. What is the intended effect of this phrase on the reader?

Which of the following rhetorical devices is used when an author presents an exaggerated description of an event to create a humorous effect?

If an author writes, "The storm came in like a lion, fierce and unforgiving," which of the following literary techniques is being used?

In a story where the protagonist discovers an old diary, which of the following literary elements does the diary represent?

An author uses parallel structure to emphasize a point. Which of the following is an example of parallel structure?

If an author includes a scene that describes a character's nightmare, what might the author be trying to convey to the reader?

An author uses foreshadowing to hint at an event that will occur later in the story. Which of the following is an example of foreshadowing?

An author uses an unreliable narrator to tell a story. What is the primary purpose of using an unreliable narrator?

If an author describes a character as having "a heart of stone," which of the following rhetorical devices is being used?

An author uses anachronism in a historical novel. What does this term refer to?

In a passage describing a character's appearance, the author writes, "She moved with the grace of a swan." Which of the following literary devices is this?

An author uses dramatic irony to create tension in a play. What is dramatic irony?

In a speech, the speaker uses rhetorical questions. What is the primary purpose of using rhetorical questions in a speech?

In a literary analysis, a critic discusses the use of imagery to create a mood. What does imagery refer to in literature?