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Descriptive and narrative techniques

8th grade (Year 9 in England) · 16 questions · Common Core: W.8.3.D, W.8.3.B · England: GCSE English Language Paper 1 Q5, 11+ English (creative writing)

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Score/ 16

1
Question 1
A story opening needs to hook the reader. Which opening is most engaging?
- A. One day I woke up and had breakfast.
- B. Nobody had opened the attic door in forty years — until Tuesday.
- C. This is a story about a girl.
- D. Once there was a house. It was a house.
2
Question 2
Plain: The forest was scary. Which revision best SHOWS rather than tells?
- A. The forest was scary and frightening.
- B. Twisted branches clawed at the sky, and somewhere in the dark a twig snapped.
- C. The forest was very, very scary.
- D. I thought the forest was really scary.
3
Question 3
Plain: He walked into the room. Which revision uses the most precise verb?
- A. He went into the room.
- B. He walked into the room quickly slowly.
- C. He did walk into the room.
- D. He crept into the room.
4
Question 4
Plain: The forest was scary. Which revision best SHOWS rather than tells?
- A. The forest was very, very scary.
- B. I thought the forest was really scary.
- C. Twisted branches clawed at the sky, and somewhere in the dark a twig snapped.
- D. The forest was scary and frightening.
5
Question 5
A story opening needs to hook the reader. Which opening is most engaging?
- A. Nobody had opened the attic door in forty years — until Tuesday.
- B. Once there was a house. It was a house.
- C. This is a story about a girl.
- D. One day I woke up and had breakfast.
6
Question 6
Plain: Mum was angry. Which revision best SHOWS rather than tells?
- A. Mum felt anger.
- B. Mum was cross and angry.
- C. Mum's lips pressed into a thin line, and she set her mug down a little too hard.
- D. Mum was very angry indeed.
7
Question 7
Plain: The beach was nice. Which revision uses the senses most effectively?
- A. The beach was really nice.
- B. Warm sand sifted between my toes as gulls cried above the salty breeze.
- C. It was a very nice, good beach.
- D. The beach was a nice place to go.
8
Question 8
Plain: The forest was scary. Which revision best SHOWS rather than tells?
- A. The forest was very, very scary.
- B. The forest was scary and frightening.
- C. I thought the forest was really scary.
- D. Twisted branches clawed at the sky, and somewhere in the dark a twig snapped.
9
Question 9
Plain: The beach was nice. Which revision uses the senses most effectively?
- A. It was a very nice, good beach.
- B. The beach was a nice place to go.
- C. Warm sand sifted between my toes as gulls cried above the salty breeze.
- D. The beach was really nice.
10
Question 10
Plain: He walked into the room. Which revision uses the most precise verb?
- A. He crept into the room.
- B. He did walk into the room.
- C. He went into the room.
- D. He walked into the room quickly slowly.
11
Question 11
Plain: He walked into the room. Which revision uses the most precise verb?
- A. He did walk into the room.
- B. He went into the room.
- C. He crept into the room.
- D. He walked into the room quickly slowly.
12
Question 12
A story opening needs to hook the reader. Which opening is most engaging?
- A. Once there was a house. It was a house.
- B. This is a story about a girl.
- C. One day I woke up and had breakfast.
- D. Nobody had opened the attic door in forty years — until Tuesday.
13
Question 13
Plain: The forest was scary. Which revision best SHOWS rather than tells?
- A. Twisted branches clawed at the sky, and somewhere in the dark a twig snapped.
- B. The forest was scary and frightening.
- C. I thought the forest was really scary.
- D. The forest was very, very scary.
14
Question 14
Plain: He walked into the room. Which revision uses the most precise verb?
- A. He did walk into the room.
- B. He went into the room.
- C. He walked into the room quickly slowly.
- D. He crept into the room.
15
Question 15
Plain: The beach was nice. Which revision uses the senses most effectively?
- A. The beach was a nice place to go.
- B. The beach was really nice.
- C. It was a very nice, good beach.
- D. Warm sand sifted between my toes as gulls cried above the salty breeze.
16
Question 16
Plain: The forest was scary. Which revision best SHOWS rather than tells?
- A. The forest was scary and frightening.
- B. Twisted branches clawed at the sky, and somewhere in the dark a twig snapped.
- C. I thought the forest was really scary.
- D. The forest was very, very scary.

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Answer key: Descriptive and narrative techniques

1. B. Nobody had opened the attic door in forty years — until Tuesday.
2. B. Twisted branches clawed at the sky, and somewhere in the dark a twig snapped.
3. D. He crept into the room.
4. C. Twisted branches clawed at the sky, and somewhere in the dark a twig snapped.
5. A. Nobody had opened the attic door in forty years — until Tuesday.
6. C. Mum's lips pressed into a thin line, and she set her mug down a little too hard.
7. B. Warm sand sifted between my toes as gulls cried above the salty breeze.
8. D. Twisted branches clawed at the sky, and somewhere in the dark a twig snapped.
9. C. Warm sand sifted between my toes as gulls cried above the salty breeze.
10. A. He crept into the room.
11. C. He crept into the room.
12. D. Nobody had opened the attic door in forty years — until Tuesday.
13. A. Twisted branches clawed at the sky, and somewhere in the dark a twig snapped.
14. D. He crept into the room.
15. D. Warm sand sifted between my toes as gulls cried above the salty breeze.
16. B. Twisted branches clawed at the sky, and somewhere in the dark a twig snapped.