Which term means the repeated use of sounds, words, or ideas for effect and emphasis?

• A. Alliteration
• B. Imagery
• C. Repetition
• D. Onomatopoeia

Answer: (D)

The idea being tested is recognizing a device that uses repetition to add emphasis or rhythm. Repetition means repeating any element—sounds, words, phrases, or ideas—so readers notice and feel the emphasis. That matches the description exactly, because it isn’t limited to repeating just sounds or just at the start of lines; it can repeat words or ideas throughout to reinforce meaning or create a memorable effect.

In this set, the other terms describe specific kinds of repetition or different techniques. Onomatopoeia is about words that imitate sounds, not about repeating for emphasis. Imagery focuses on vivid sensory details to paint a picture in the reader’s mind. Alliteration repeats initial consonant sounds, which is a particular form of repetition but not the broader idea of repeating elements for emphasis across a passage. So the best fit for the given description is repetition.