Test Your English: A Quiz For 10th Grade

1. The creation of a fictional character is called..

Personification

Narrative

Characterisation

Autobiography

Characterisation is the correct answer because it refers to the process of creating and developing a fictional character. It involves giving the character distinct traits, motivations, and behaviors that make them believable and relatable to the audience. Through characterisation, authors can bring their characters to life and make them integral to the narrative. This process includes describing the character's physical appearance, personality, background, and relationships with other characters.

Explanation

Characterisation is the correct answer because it refers to the process of creating and developing a fictional character. It involves giving the character distinct traits, motivations, and behaviors that make them believable and relatable to the audience. Through characterisation, authors can bring their characters to life and make them integral to the narrative. This process includes describing the character's physical appearance, personality, background, and relationships with other characters.

2. 'This was Slim, the jerkline skinner. His hatchet face was ageless. He might have been thirty-five or fifty. His ear heard more than was said to him, and his slow speech had overtones not of thought, but of understanding beyond thought.' - In this passage from Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck portrays Slim as wise. Which words convey this impression?

This was Slim, the jerkline skinner

His hatchet face was ageless

His ear heard more than was said to him, his speech had overtones of [...] understanding beyond thought

He might have been thirty-five or fifty

The words "His ear heard more than was said to him" and "his speech had overtones of understanding beyond thought" convey the impression that Slim is wise. These phrases suggest that he is perceptive and able to understand things that are not explicitly stated. This indicates a deeper level of understanding and wisdom.

Explanation

The words "His ear heard more than was said to him" and "his speech had overtones of understanding beyond thought" convey the impression that Slim is wise. These phrases suggest that he is perceptive and able to understand things that are not explicitly stated. This indicates a deeper level of understanding and wisdom.

3. Characterisation can be accomplished through...

Dialogue

Description of the character

Telling the reader how other characters judge or respond to the character

All the above

Characterisation can be accomplished through dialogue, as it allows the readers to directly hear the character's thoughts, feelings, and personality traits. Description of the character helps to create a visual image of the character in the reader's mind, providing details about their appearance, behavior, and mannerisms. Additionally, showing how other characters judge or respond to the character gives insight into their relationships, social standing, and the impact they have on others. Therefore, all of these methods contribute to the process of characterisation.

Explanation

Characterisation can be accomplished through dialogue, as it allows the readers to directly hear the character's thoughts, feelings, and personality traits. Description of the character helps to create a visual image of the character in the reader's mind, providing details about their appearance, behavior, and mannerisms. Additionally, showing how other characters judge or respond to the character gives insight into their relationships, social standing, and the impact they have on others. Therefore, all of these methods contribute to the process of characterisation.

4. 'I learned early on that if you tell people what you see at low tide they'll think you're exaggerating or lying when you're actually just explaining strange and wonderful things as clearly as you can.' - This is the first sentence from Jim Lynch's book, The Highest Tide. Which of the following is true?

The book has a first-person narrator

The book has a second-person narrator

The book has a third-person, limited narrator

The book has an omniscient narrator

The given quote indicates that the narrator is sharing their personal experience and perspective, suggesting that the book has a first-person narrator.

Explanation

The given quote indicates that the narrator is sharing their personal experience and perspective, suggesting that the book has a first-person narrator.

5. 'BIRLING: Yes, my dear, I know - I'm talking too much. But you youngsters just remember what I said. We can't let these Bernard Shaws and H.G. Wellses do all the talking. We hardheaded practical business men must say something sometime. And we don't guess - we've had experience - and we know.' - Which of the following is true of this character from J.B. Priestley's play, An Inspector Calls?

Mr. Birling defers in his opinion to respectable men such as H.G. Wells and George Bernard Shaw

Mr. Birling doesn't care about the younger generation

Mr. Birling sees himself as a man of the world, whose knowledge comes from experience

Mr. Birling respects thinkers and theorists

In the given passage, Mr. Birling states that "We hardheaded practical business men must say something sometime. And we don't guess - we've had experience - and we know." This indicates that Mr. Birling sees himself as a man of the world and believes that his knowledge comes from practical experience rather than the ideas of thinkers and theorists like H.G. Wells and George Bernard Shaw. Therefore, the correct answer is that Mr. Birling sees himself as a man of the world, whose knowledge comes from experience.

Explanation

In the given passage, Mr. Birling states that "We hardheaded practical business men must say something sometime. And we don't guess - we've had experience - and we know." This indicates that Mr. Birling sees himself as a man of the world and believes that his knowledge comes from practical experience rather than the ideas of thinkers and theorists like H.G. Wells and George Bernard Shaw. Therefore, the correct answer is that Mr. Birling sees himself as a man of the world, whose knowledge comes from experience.

6. After hearing her former acquaintance, Benedick, declare that he loves no one, Beatrice replies: 'A dear happiness to women: they would else have been troubled with a pernicious suitor. I thank God, and my cold blood, I am of your humor for that: I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow, than a man swear he loves me.' - Which of the following is NOT true of this character from William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing?

Beatrice appears to dislike Benedick

Beatrice is most likely to spend her time wishing for a husband

Beatrice has no plans to fall in love with anyone

Beatrice is not afraid to express strong opinions

The given statement states that Beatrice is most likely to spend her time wishing for a husband, which is not true. In the given quote, Beatrice clearly expresses her disdain for men who declare their love for her. She states that she would rather hear her dog bark at a crow than hear a man swear he loves her. This shows that Beatrice is not interested in finding a husband and is content with her independence. Therefore, the statement that Beatrice is most likely to spend her time wishing for a husband is not true.

Explanation

The given statement states that Beatrice is most likely to spend her time wishing for a husband, which is not true. In the given quote, Beatrice clearly expresses her disdain for men who declare their love for her. She states that she would rather hear her dog bark at a crow than hear a man swear he loves her. This shows that Beatrice is not interested in finding a husband and is content with her independence. Therefore, the statement that Beatrice is most likely to spend her time wishing for a husband is not true.

7. 'BIRLING: And look at the way the auto-mobile's making headway - bigger and faster all the time. And then ships. Why, a friend of mine went over this new liner last week - the Titanic - she sails next week - forty-six thousand eight hundred tons - forty-six thousand eight hundred tons - New York in five days - and every luxury - and unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable. That's what you've go to keep your eye on, facts like that, progress like that - and not a few German officers talking nonsense and a few scaremongers here making a fuss about nothing.' - Considering your knowledge of Mr. Birling from the quotation in question eight, what does this speech tell us about his character?

Mr. Birling is involved in ship-building

Mr. Birling has a ticket for the Titanic's maiden voyage

Mr. Birling is anti-progress

Mr. Birling is not remotely as practical and knowledgeable as he likes to think

The speech suggests that Mr. Birling is not as practical and knowledgeable as he believes himself to be. He dismisses concerns about the German officers and scaremongers, focusing instead on the progress of technology and the luxury of the Titanic. However, his belief that the Titanic is unsinkable shows a lack of awareness and practicality, as the ship famously sank on its maiden voyage. This reveals Mr. Birling's overconfidence and his tendency to overlook important details, undermining his supposed expertise.

Explanation

The speech suggests that Mr. Birling is not as practical and knowledgeable as he believes himself to be. He dismisses concerns about the German officers and scaremongers, focusing instead on the progress of technology and the luxury of the Titanic. However, his belief that the Titanic is unsinkable shows a lack of awareness and practicality, as the ship famously sank on its maiden voyage. This reveals Mr. Birling's overconfidence and his tendency to overlook important details, undermining his supposed expertise.

8. 'She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper. When she was discontented she fancied herself nervous.' - What do these lines from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudicetell the reader about Mrs. Bennet?

Mrs. Bennet has a nervous condition, but is patient

Mrs. Bennet is cruel and moody

Mrs. Bennet is egotistical and clever

Mrs. Bennet is not terribly bright and also lacks self-awareness

The given lines from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice suggest that Mrs. Bennet is not very intelligent and lacks self-awareness. She is described as having a mean understanding and little information, indicating her lack of knowledge and understanding. Additionally, her uncertain temper and tendency to fancy herself nervous when she is discontented imply her lack of self-awareness and emotional stability.

Explanation

The given lines from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice suggest that Mrs. Bennet is not very intelligent and lacks self-awareness. She is described as having a mean understanding and little information, indicating her lack of knowledge and understanding. Additionally, her uncertain temper and tendency to fancy herself nervous when she is discontented imply her lack of self-awareness and emotional stability.

9. 'Coleridge received the Person from Porlock / And ever after called him a curse, / They why did he hurry to let him in? / He could have hid in the house. / It was not right of Coleridge in fact it was wrong / (But often we all do wrong) / As the truth of it is I think he was already stuck / With Kubla Khan. / He was weeping and wailing: I am finished, finished, / I shall never write another word of it, / When along comes the Person from Porlock / And takes the blame for it.' - How does Stevie Smith characterize Coleridge in these lines from her poem, 'Thoughts about the Person from Porlock'?

As someone who always hid away from visitors

As someone who prefers to lay the blame for his own failings on others

As someone who didn't mind being interrupted

All of the above

In these lines, Stevie Smith characterizes Coleridge as someone who prefers to lay the blame for his own failings on others. The poem suggests that Coleridge was already struggling with his writing and feeling defeated when the Person from Porlock arrived. Instead of taking responsibility for his own inability to continue writing, he blames the interruption for his failure. This characterization implies that Coleridge is not willing to accept his own shortcomings and would rather shift the blame onto others.

Explanation

In these lines, Stevie Smith characterizes Coleridge as someone who prefers to lay the blame for his own failings on others. The poem suggests that Coleridge was already struggling with his writing and feeling defeated when the Person from Porlock arrived. Instead of taking responsibility for his own inability to continue writing, he blames the interruption for his failure. This characterization implies that Coleridge is not willing to accept his own shortcomings and would rather shift the blame onto others.

10. Reread the sentence in question five. What does it tell us about the protagonist?

The protagonist is very clever, but people often think she is lying about the things she has seen

The protagonist is most likely a fisherman

The protagonist is knowledgeable about the seashore, but is not always trusted by others

The protagonist is easily-angered

The sentence in question states that the protagonist is very clever, but people often think she is lying about the things she has seen. This suggests that the protagonist has knowledge about the seashore and its surroundings, but her credibility is doubted by others. Therefore, the correct answer is that the protagonist is knowledgeable about the seashore, but is not always trusted by others.

Explanation

The sentence in question states that the protagonist is very clever, but people often think she is lying about the things she has seen. This suggests that the protagonist has knowledge about the seashore and its surroundings, but her credibility is doubted by others. Therefore, the correct answer is that the protagonist is knowledgeable about the seashore, but is not always trusted by others.