The comedy of the passage derives chiefly from

paradoxical inversions of conventional viewpoints

Vivian probably calls the quotation in lines 33-34 "vilely phrased" (line 35) because he

considers it a haughty and indirect way of saying something

The second of Vivian's two speeches repeats the argument of the first that

the failures of nature inspire people to create

Vivian's first words (lines 7-8) are surprising because Vivian

claims to enjoy having lost a capacity to enjoy

Vivian ridicules all of the following commonly accepted ideas about nature EXCEPT

nature is indifferent to human life

The primary rhetorical function of the sentence in lines 51-53 is to

introduce a digression from the central topic

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Multiple Choice #3 (Lit. Device Practice)

13 termsStudBud Administration17 plays

This passage is from Oscar Wilde's "The Decay of Lying." This was taken from the 1999 exam.

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Questions 13

Answers

1
The comedy of the passage derives chiefly from
the superficiality of Vivian's analysis
witty repartee between the two speakers
paradoxical inversions of conventional viewpoints
the triviality of the subject discussed
2
In lines 49-54, the speaker makes use of all of the following EXCEPT
analogy
irony
hyperbole
pathos
3
Vivian probably calls the quotation in lines 33-34 "vilely phrased" (line 35) because he
believes that the furniture in Oxford St. stores is shabby
considers himself a poor judge of style
considers it a haughty and indirect way of saying something
sees in it contradictions of his ideas about art and nature
4
We can infer that the art Vivian would value would be explained as all of the following EXCEPT
careful design
inventiveness
moral purpose
intellectual rigor
5
Vivian's view of nature might best be described as
anti-romantic
scientific
animistic
quasi-religious
6
The second of Vivian's two speeches repeats the argument of the first that
nature is uncomfortable
the failures of nature inspire people to create
nature is the primary source of human unhappiness
art has much to learn from nature
7
From the context, the reader can infer that "Morris' poorest workman" (line 31) is
a gardener
an impoverished artist
a furniture craftsman
a tailor
8
Vivian's first words (lines 7-8) are surprising because Vivian
thinks he has lost something that he obviously still posses
prevents Cyril from finishing his thought
claims to enjoy having lost a capacity to enjoy
implies that enjoying nature and smoking are not incongruous
9
Which of the following is the meaning of the word "nature" as it is used in the passage?
the pristine state of existance
The physical landscape
Kind, sort, or type
The force controlling a person's character
10
Which of the following does Vivian explicitly endorse?
thoughtfulness
poetry
education
egotism
11
Vivian ridicules all of the following commonly accepted ideas about nature EXCEPT
nature has variety and design
nature is enjoyable
nature is indifferent to human life
art reflects the beauty of nature
12
In line 55, the "great historic bulwark of our happiness" refers to English
strength
art
stupidity
education
13
The primary rhetorical function of the sentence in lines 51-53 is to
undermine a point previously made
introduce an exception to a general rule
distinguish between two categories
introduce a digression from the central topic

Multiple Choice #3 (Lit. Device Practice) Flashcards | StudBud