Persuasive Writing questions

By Interwoven Maths

Persuasive Writing question collection

Review Persuasive Writing questions for English, with correct answers shown and coverage across rhetorical devices; audience and purpose; structuring arguments.

Back to Persuasive Writing practice Back to English

Question 1

Which technique asks the reader a direct question for effect?
  1. Rhetorical question
  2. Simile
  3. Allusion
  4. Enjambment

Question 2

In persuasive writing, what is using "you" called?
  1. Direct address
  2. Passive voice
  3. Third person summary
  4. Chronology

Question 3

Which sentence uses a rule of three?
  1. It is fair, safe and sensible.
  2. It is fair and safe.
  3. It is fair.
  4. It is safe but fair.

Question 4

What are words chosen to trigger strong feelings called?
  1. Emotive language
  2. Technical terms
  3. Stage directions
  4. Neutral register

Question 5

Which is the best formal opening for a letter?
  1. Dear Sir or Madam,
  2. Hi Alex,
  3. Hello there,
  4. Good morning everyone,

Question 6

What does an imperative verb express?
  1. A command
  2. A possibility
  3. An uncertainty
  4. A comparison

Question 7

What is the main effect of repeating a key phrase?
  1. It emphasises the message
  2. It qualifies the message
  3. It introduces a counterargument
  4. It provides evidence for the message

Question 8

Which phrase introduces a counterargument?
  1. Others might argue that...
  2. My main point is that...
  3. In addition...
  4. To conclude...

Question 9

What is the main purpose of statistics in persuasive writing?
  1. To support claims with evidence
  2. To acknowledge an opposing view
  3. To create an emotional anecdote
  4. To issue a direct command

Question 10

Which line is most persuasive?
  1. Act now to protect our community.
  2. Our community may change eventually.
  3. Some people have different views.
  4. This issue could perhaps matter.

Question 11

What is an anecdote in persuasive writing?
  1. A brief personal account
  2. A set of numerical data
  3. A specialist's judgement
  4. A quotation from a report

Question 12

Which sentence uses direct address?
  1. You can make a real difference today.
  2. People can make differences.
  3. Differences were made.
  4. A difference was possible.

Question 13

What should a formal register avoid?
  1. Slang
  2. Clear connectives
  3. Precise vocabulary
  4. Logical structure

Question 14

Which connective adds a reason?
  1. because
  2. however
  3. meanwhile
  4. nevertheless

Question 15

Which technique appeals most directly to logic?
  1. Facts and statistics
  2. Emotive language
  3. A personal anecdote
  4. A rhetorical question

Question 16

Which source provides direct subject expertise?
  1. A quotation from a relevant expert
  2. An official set of recent statistics
  3. A first-hand account from a witness
  4. A detailed example from a case study

Question 17

What should a persuasive conclusion usually include?
  1. A clear call to action
  2. A detailed new argument
  3. A neutral list of sources
  4. A full history of the issue

Question 18

Which phrase signals certainty?
  1. There is no doubt that...
  2. It may be that...
  3. There is a chance that...
  4. It seems possible that...

Question 19

What is an effect of parallel sentence structure?
  1. It makes points clear and memorable
  2. It makes the argument sound uncertain
  3. It signals a change to informal register
  4. It supplies evidence for each point

Question 20

What does audience awareness mean in a speech?
  1. Adapting language for the listeners
  2. Adapting evidence for the conclusion
  3. Adapting paragraph order for the writer
  4. Adapting punctuation for the topic

Question 21

Which sentence uses an inclusive pronoun?
  1. We all deserve a safer community.
  2. The council should decide.
  3. They might notice later.
  4. It happened yesterday.

Question 22

Which modal verb expresses necessity?
  1. must
  2. might
  3. could
  4. would

Question 23

What is antithesis?
  1. A contrast between opposing ideas
  2. A repeated vowel sound
  3. A direct address to the reader
  4. A list of three items

Question 24

Which sentence uses a formal register?
  1. I urge the council to reconsider this decision.
  2. This decision is totally wild!
  3. You have to fix it ASAP.
  4. Hi, just a quick one.

Question 25

What is a concession in a persuasive argument?
  1. Acknowledging an opposing point before replying
  2. Repeating a claim without evidence
  3. Addressing the reader by name
  4. Ending with a command

Question 26

Which sentence uses antithesis?
  1. This is not a luxury; it is a necessity.
  2. This is needed because it is necessary.
  3. This problem is very, very serious.
  4. You should act now.

Question 27

What makes evidence relevant to an argument?
  1. It directly supports the claim
  2. It comes from the longest source
  3. It uses the most technical language
  4. It agrees with every reader

Question 28

Which sentence uses anaphora?
  1. We demand fairness; we demand safety; we demand change.
  2. We demand fairness, safety and change.
  3. Fairness and safety should bring change.
  4. Demanding change may improve fairness.

Question 29

What is anaphora?
  1. Repetition at the start of successive clauses
  2. Contrast between opposing ideas
  3. A question asked for effect
  4. A list of three related ideas

Question 30

What is an overgeneralisation?
  1. A claim applied to every case
  2. A claim limited by evidence
  3. A quotation from a source
  4. A formal sign-off

About this topic

Review Persuasive Writing questions for English, with correct answers shown and coverage across rhetorical devices; audience and purpose; structuring arguments.

This topic covers

Example question types