Lesson WS-4

WS-4 Rhetorical devices: rhetorical questions, antithesis and parenthesis Quiz: AQA English Language, Unit 3

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson WS-4, Rhetorical devices: rhetorical questions, antithesis and parenthesis: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA GCSE English Language (8700), Unit 3: Assessment objectives, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which device is a rhetorical question?

    • A question asked for effect, where the expected answer is obvious and no reply is actually required
    • A question placed in a table, such as a survey question with a box for the respondent to tick
    • A question about the grammar of a sentence, asked to check whether the reader understands the rules
    • A question that the writer genuinely wants the reader to answer by writing their reply in full

  2. What is an antithesis?

    • A contrast of two opposing ideas, often placed in balanced phrases to sharpen a point
    • An inserted phrase that adds extra information and is marked off with brackets or dashes
    • A repetition of the same word at the start of successive lines to build rhythm and emphasis
    • A comparison that uses the word 'like' or 'as' to link two unrelated things for effect

  3. Which sentence is an example of antithesis?

    • The school was large, with many classrooms, a hall and a library at the far end
    • The river ran fast, and the boats ran faster as they reached the bend in the path
    • It was a small step for one person, but a giant leap for the whole of humanity
    • The teacher, who had taught for thirty years, retired at the end of the summer term

  4. What is parenthesis in writing?

    • An inserted word or phrase set off by brackets, dashes or commas that adds extra information
    • A series of questions asked one after another so that the reader is forced to think about the topic
    • A short statement that contradicts an earlier one in order to show that the writer has changed mind
    • A repeated word placed at the end of successive clauses to create a strong pattern of closure

  5. Which sentence uses parenthesis correctly for effect?

    • The council's decision made after months of debate will change the lives of everyone in the street and
    • The council's decision is made after months of debate and will change the lives of everyone in the street
    • The council's decision, made, after months of debate will change the lives of everyone in the street
    • The council's decision, made after months of debate, will change the lives of everyone in the street

  6. Which rhetorical question best builds an argument for a healthier school canteen?

    • Who designed the canteen tables and how long have they been in use since they were first installed?
    • When did the canteen first open and how many staff does it employ across the whole of the school year?
    • Why should children be offered chips every day when fresh fruit costs the school very little to provide?
    • Why are there three windows in the canteen and what is the colour of the chairs in the dining hall?

  7. Which of these is an example of antithesis from a persuasive speech?

    • We have met the council, we have written the letters, and we will return again next month
    • We ask for a new building, a larger playground, and a well-stocked library in the centre of town
    • We do not ask for luxury; we ask only for the fair chance that every child deserves to take
    • We have children, pets and gardens, and we all live on the same quiet street by the river

  8. What is the effect of placing a parenthesis in a sentence about a famous city?

    • It removes the need for a verb in the main clause, so that the sentence becomes a list of nouns
    • It makes the sentence a command, so that the reader is told to visit the city immediately
    • It turns the sentence into a question, so that the reader must answer it before reading further
    • It adds a sudden, extra detail that interrupts the flow and draws attention to the aside

  9. Which device combines a contrast of ideas with balanced structure?

    • Antithesis, which uses parallel phrases to set opposing ideas against each other
    • Ellipsis, which leaves out words that the reader is expected to supply from the context
    • Anaphora, which repeats a word at the start of successive clauses to build momentum
    • Personification, which gives human qualities to an object or idea to make it feel alive

  10. A writer asks: 'Who among us would stay silent?' What is the purpose?

    • To give the reader a list of names of people who have stayed silent during recent events
    • To provoke agreement from the reader, implying that staying silent is not an acceptable choice
    • To mark the end of a section, with no effect on the reader's response to the argument
    • To ask a genuine question that the writer hopes the reader will answer in a short written reply

  11. Which feature is parenthesis rather than a simple list?

    • A series of adjectives placed before a noun to describe its size, shape and colour clearly
    • A clause set between dashes that adds a comment on the main subject without changing its meaning
    • Three nouns separated by commas, each of which names a different item in the same category
    • A set of verbs placed one after another to describe a series of actions taken by a character

  12. What is the most likely purpose of using antithesis in a conclusion?

    • To repeat the first paragraph word for word so that the reader recognises the structure
    • To leave the reader with a memorable contrast that sums up the central argument clearly
    • To introduce an entirely new topic that has not been mentioned at all in the rest of the essay
    • To ask the reader to research the topic further, without offering any view of the writer's own

  13. Which of these sentences uses a rhetorical question to challenge the reader?

    • Our parks have grass, benches and paths, and each of them is kept open for public use daily
    • There are twelve parks in the district, and the council has published a list of their names
    • Are we really prepared to let our parks decay while we argue over a few spare pounds?
    • The parks were designed in the 1930s and remain popular with families across the local area

  14. Which is the correct use of brackets for parenthesis?

    • The village which was once (a busy port) now attracts walkers who come to enjoy the coastal paths)
    • The village (which was once a busy port now attracts walkers who come to enjoy the coastal paths
    • The village (which was once a busy port) now attracts walkers who come to enjoy the coastal paths.
    • The village (which was once a busy port) now attracts walkers who come to enjoy the coastal paths

  15. Which sentence uses antithesis to contrast action and inaction?

    • We would act if it were convenient, but we have many other things that need our attention
    • We cannot afford to wait; we must act now, not in some vague future that never arrives
    • We can wait for a while and then perhaps act later, if the weather and budget allow it
    • We will consider the matter, we will discuss it, and we will write a report about it all

  16. Which of these is NOT a rhetorical device?

    • A table of figures in an appendix, which presents data without any persuasive intent at all
    • A parenthesis, which inserts an extra detail into a sentence to emphasise or qualify the point
    • A rhetorical question, which is asked for effect and implies an obvious answer to the reader
    • An antithesis, which places two contrasting ideas side by side in balanced phrases for effect

  17. What is the effect of a rhetorical question placed at the start of a speech?

    • It confuses the audience about the topic, so they stop listening and wonder what the point is
    • It engages the audience immediately by making them think about the issue before the argument begins
    • It ends the speech early, because the audience will assume the speaker has already said everything
    • It bores the audience, since the answer is always obvious and there is no reason to keep listening

  18. Which sentence uses parenthesis to add a comment without breaking the main sentence?

    • The bridge was built, in 1890, and so still carries thousands of cars across the river each day
    • The bridge, which was built in 1890, still carries thousands of cars across the river each day
    • The bridge, was built in 1890 and still carries, thousands of cars across the river each day
    • The bridge which was built in 1890 still carries thousands of cars across the river each day now

  19. Which is the best combination of rhetorical devices for a persuasive closing paragraph?

    • A set of instructions followed by a numbered list showing the reader how to complete a simple task
    • A description of the weather followed by a neutral summary of the main points from the whole essay
    • A long list of statistics followed by a footnote that refers the reader to the original source report
    • A short antithesis followed by a rhetorical question that invites the reader to agree with the writer

  20. Which description best defines a rhetorical device in writing?

    • A technique used deliberately to create a particular effect on the reader or listener
    • A tool for measuring the length of a sentence, used by teachers to assess the writing level
    • A spelling error that a writer makes accidentally, which should be corrected before submission
    • A fixed format used by all newspapers, which every writer must follow exactly in each article

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