litmus test (noun)

1. Using the fall of the Berlin Wall as a litmus test, historians analyze the overall success of the Cold War strategies.

2. For a comedian, the audience's reaction to a silly knock-knock joke can be a litmus test of their comedic skills.

3. The portrayal of character emotions is a litmus test for the quality and popularity of an anime show.

4. The moral dilemmas faced by characters in a sci-fi novel can serve as a litmus test for the reader's own beliefs and values.

1. In the novel, the litmus test for the protagonist's loyalty to her family is revealed when she is faced with a difficult choice.

2. In the sci-fi story, the discovery of an alien artifact becomes the litmus test for humanity's ability to handle advanced technology.

3. Wearing a traditional outfit from her culture has become a litmus test for authenticity in the fashion industry.

4. In ancient mythology, completing a series of challenging tasks was often the litmus test to prove one's worthiness to be a hero.