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Theme statements versus topics

10th grade (Year 11 in England) · 16 questions · Common Core: RL.9-10.2 · England: GCSE English Literature (themes), GCSE English Language Paper 1 Q4

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Score/ 16

  1. Question 1

    Which choice is a THEME statement rather than just a topic?

    • A. Courage is not the absence of fear but acting despite it.
    • B. bravery in war
    • C. courage
    • D. fear

The Last Lap

Ruby had trained for the school relay every morning since September, running laps of the park while her breath made clouds in the cold air. She was the fastest in her class, and everyone expected her team to win. On the day of the race, the team's second runner, Theo, tripped on the bend and dropped the baton. By the time he scrambled up, two teams were far ahead. Ruby, waiting for the last leg, felt her heart sink. When the baton finally reached her, she ran harder than she ever had. She passed one runner. The finish line rushed towards her. The crowd was roaring. Then, a metre from the tape, the leader dipped her shoulder and won by a hand's width. Theo couldn't look at anyone. Ruby walked over, still panting, and held out the silver ribbon. "Second place," she said, "and that comeback was the best part of the whole race." Later, the team hung the ribbon on the classroom wall, right next to the first-place trophy from the year before. Somehow it seemed brighter.

  1. Question 2

    Read "The Last Lap". Which statement best expresses a theme of the story?

    • A. Relay races are dangerous.
    • B. How we respond to setbacks can matter more than winning.
    • C. Training every morning is boring.
    • D. The fastest runner always wins.

  1. Question 3

    Nadia lies to her friends about having an expensive phone. The lie grows until she is afraid to invite anyone home. When she finally tells the truth, her friends simply laugh and say they never cared. Which statement best expresses the theme?

    • A. Friends always laugh at you.
    • B. Nadia needs a new phone.
    • C. Phones are expensive.
    • D. Lies meant to impress others can trap us more than the truth ever would.

  2. Question 4

    Which choice is a THEME statement rather than just a topic?

    • A. childhood
    • B. Growing up often means letting go of childhood certainties.
    • C. becoming a teenager
    • D. growing up

The Last Lap

Ruby had trained for the school relay every morning since September, running laps of the park while her breath made clouds in the cold air. She was the fastest in her class, and everyone expected her team to win. On the day of the race, the team's second runner, Theo, tripped on the bend and dropped the baton. By the time he scrambled up, two teams were far ahead. Ruby, waiting for the last leg, felt her heart sink. When the baton finally reached her, she ran harder than she ever had. She passed one runner. The finish line rushed towards her. The crowd was roaring. Then, a metre from the tape, the leader dipped her shoulder and won by a hand's width. Theo couldn't look at anyone. Ruby walked over, still panting, and held out the silver ribbon. "Second place," she said, "and that comeback was the best part of the whole race." Later, the team hung the ribbon on the classroom wall, right next to the first-place trophy from the year before. Somehow it seemed brighter.

  1. Question 5

    Read "The Last Lap". Which statement best expresses a theme of the story?

    • A. The fastest runner always wins.
    • B. Training every morning is boring.
    • C. Relay races are dangerous.
    • D. How we respond to setbacks can matter more than winning.

  1. Question 6

    Nadia lies to her friends about having an expensive phone. The lie grows until she is afraid to invite anyone home. When she finally tells the truth, her friends simply laugh and say they never cared. Which statement best expresses the theme?

    • A. Nadia needs a new phone.
    • B. Lies meant to impress others can trap us more than the truth ever would.
    • C. Friends always laugh at you.
    • D. Phones are expensive.

  2. Question 7

    Which choice is a THEME statement rather than just a topic?

    • A. Small acts of kindness can change a whole community.
    • B. kindness
    • C. helping neighbours
    • D. community

The Last Lap

Ruby had trained for the school relay every morning since September, running laps of the park while her breath made clouds in the cold air. She was the fastest in her class, and everyone expected her team to win. On the day of the race, the team's second runner, Theo, tripped on the bend and dropped the baton. By the time he scrambled up, two teams were far ahead. Ruby, waiting for the last leg, felt her heart sink. When the baton finally reached her, she ran harder than she ever had. She passed one runner. The finish line rushed towards her. The crowd was roaring. Then, a metre from the tape, the leader dipped her shoulder and won by a hand's width. Theo couldn't look at anyone. Ruby walked over, still panting, and held out the silver ribbon. "Second place," she said, "and that comeback was the best part of the whole race." Later, the team hung the ribbon on the classroom wall, right next to the first-place trophy from the year before. Somehow it seemed brighter.

  1. Question 8

    Read "The Last Lap". Which statement best expresses a theme of the story?

    • A. Training every morning is boring.
    • B. How we respond to setbacks can matter more than winning.
    • C. The fastest runner always wins.
    • D. Relay races are dangerous.

  1. Question 9

    Two rival bakeries spend years trying to ruin each other. When a flood destroys both, the owners share one oven to keep the town fed, and discover they make better bread together. Which statement best expresses the theme?

    • A. Floods are dangerous.
    • B. Bread is important.
    • C. Bakers wake up early.
    • D. Crisis can turn rivals into partners.

  2. Question 10

    Which choice is a THEME statement rather than just a topic?

    • A. power and greed
    • B. ambition
    • C. a king who wants more
    • D. Ambition can destroy the very things it was meant to protect.

The Last Lap

Ruby had trained for the school relay every morning since September, running laps of the park while her breath made clouds in the cold air. She was the fastest in her class, and everyone expected her team to win. On the day of the race, the team's second runner, Theo, tripped on the bend and dropped the baton. By the time he scrambled up, two teams were far ahead. Ruby, waiting for the last leg, felt her heart sink. When the baton finally reached her, she ran harder than she ever had. She passed one runner. The finish line rushed towards her. The crowd was roaring. Then, a metre from the tape, the leader dipped her shoulder and won by a hand's width. Theo couldn't look at anyone. Ruby walked over, still panting, and held out the silver ribbon. "Second place," she said, "and that comeback was the best part of the whole race." Later, the team hung the ribbon on the classroom wall, right next to the first-place trophy from the year before. Somehow it seemed brighter.

  1. Question 11

    Read "The Last Lap". Which statement best expresses a theme of the story?

    • A. Training every morning is boring.
    • B. Relay races are dangerous.
    • C. How we respond to setbacks can matter more than winning.
    • D. The fastest runner always wins.

  1. Question 12

    Mila posts only her best moments online and feels worse each time she compares her life with others'. After a week offline, she notices small joys she had been missing. Which statement best expresses the theme?

    • A. Mila likes photography.
    • B. A week is seven days long.
    • C. Constant comparison can blind us to the good things in our own lives.
    • D. Social media is a website.

  2. Question 13

    Which choice is a THEME statement rather than just a topic?

    • A. community
    • B. Small acts of kindness can change a whole community.
    • C. helping neighbours
    • D. kindness

The Last Lap

Ruby had trained for the school relay every morning since September, running laps of the park while her breath made clouds in the cold air. She was the fastest in her class, and everyone expected her team to win. On the day of the race, the team's second runner, Theo, tripped on the bend and dropped the baton. By the time he scrambled up, two teams were far ahead. Ruby, waiting for the last leg, felt her heart sink. When the baton finally reached her, she ran harder than she ever had. She passed one runner. The finish line rushed towards her. The crowd was roaring. Then, a metre from the tape, the leader dipped her shoulder and won by a hand's width. Theo couldn't look at anyone. Ruby walked over, still panting, and held out the silver ribbon. "Second place," she said, "and that comeback was the best part of the whole race." Later, the team hung the ribbon on the classroom wall, right next to the first-place trophy from the year before. Somehow it seemed brighter.

  1. Question 14

    Read "The Last Lap". Which statement best expresses a theme of the story?

    • A. The fastest runner always wins.
    • B. Training every morning is boring.
    • C. Relay races are dangerous.
    • D. How we respond to setbacks can matter more than winning.

  1. Question 15

    Kai spends months building a perfect robot for the competition but refuses all help. It breaks the night before. His sister, whom he had ignored, stays up with him to fix it, and they finish just in time. Which statement best expresses the theme?

    • A. Accepting help from others can be a strength, not a weakness.
    • B. Sisters are annoying.
    • C. Competitions are stressful.
    • D. Robots are difficult to build.

  2. Question 16

    Which choice is a THEME statement rather than just a topic?

    • A. Small acts of kindness can change a whole community.
    • B. helping neighbours
    • C. community
    • D. kindness

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  1. Courage is not the absence of fear but acting despite it.
  2. How we respond to setbacks can matter more than winning.
  3. Lies meant to impress others can trap us more than the truth ever would.
  4. Growing up often means letting go of childhood certainties.
  5. How we respond to setbacks can matter more than winning.
  6. Lies meant to impress others can trap us more than the truth ever would.
  7. Small acts of kindness can change a whole community.
  8. How we respond to setbacks can matter more than winning.
  9. Crisis can turn rivals into partners.
  10. Ambition can destroy the very things it was meant to protect.
  11. How we respond to setbacks can matter more than winning.
  12. Constant comparison can blind us to the good things in our own lives.
  13. Small acts of kindness can change a whole community.
  14. How we respond to setbacks can matter more than winning.
  15. Accepting help from others can be a strength, not a weakness.
  16. Small acts of kindness can change a whole community.