Sample Quizzes For Preparation: Writing Techniques For Narrative Writing
O Level and IGCSE English Language
Narrative Writing Techniques – Quiz
1. What is the main purpose of narrative writing?
A. To present factual information
B. To argue a point logically
C. To entertain or tell a story
D. To compare and contrast viewpoints
2. Which element introduces characters and setting in a narrative?
A. Climax
B. Resolution
C. Rising action
D. Exposition
3. What narrative technique is used when an object represents an idea?
A. Metaphor
B. Hyperbole
C. Symbolism
D. Irony
4. Which is an example of indirect characterisation?
A. He was angry.
B. He clenched his fists and scowled.
C. He is tall and strong.
D. He said he was tired.
5. What is the role of dialogue in narrative writing?
A. To summarise the entire story
B. To create rhyming schemes
C. To describe landscapes
D. To reveal character and advance the plot
6. Which sentence uses personification?
A. The door creaked loudly.
B. The wind danced through the trees.
C. The engine roared to life.
D. She walked quickly.
7. What point of view uses “I” and gives personal insight?
A. Second-person
B. Third-person limited
C. Third-person omniscient
D. First-person
8. Which sentence builds suspense through pace?
A. He ran. He tripped. He fell.
B. He ran carefully.
C. He strolled along slowly.
D. He jogged in the park.
9. Which element is NOT part of typical narrative structure?
A. Climax
B. Bibliography
C. Resolution
D. Rising action
10. Which of the following best defines “climax” in narrative writing?
A. The introduction of characters
B. The emotional resolution
C. The turning point of the story
D. A setting description
11. What is “anaphora”?
A. Use of long complex sentences
B. Repetition at the end of sentences
C. Repetition at the beginning of sentences
D. Dialogue between two characters
12. Which is an example of a simile?
A. She is a lion in battle.
B. Her smile is sunshine.
C. He ran like the wind.
D. The sky wept for her.
13. Why are short sentences useful in narratives?
A. They make stories boring
B. They help introduce new characters
C. They increase tension or speed
D. They are used for academic tone
14. Which narrative feature helps readers see, hear, and feel the setting?
A. Chronological structure
B. Internal dialogue
C. Sensory description
D. Formal register
15. What does “show, don’t tell” mean in narrative writing?
A. Use only dialogue
B. Use more narration than action
C. Describe events through actions and senses
D. Write in third-person always
16. Which option best shows foreshadowing?
A. The clouds gathered ominously overhead.
B. She opened the door.
C. He liked breakfast.
D. They played football.
17. Which element defines the atmosphere or emotional feeling of a scene?
A. Tone
B. Theme
C. Mood
D. Narration
18. What is the term for a misleading clue given to the reader?
A. Irony
B. Red herring
C. Symbolism
D. Allegory
19. What does the STEAL acronym stand for in characterisation?
A. Style, Tone, Emotion, Action, Language
B. Speech, Thought, Effect, Action, Looks
C. Story, Theme, Event, Action, Logic
D. Setting, Tension, Emotion, Angle, Line
20. Which is the best example of setting impacting plot?
A. The desert heat slowed their escape.
B. He wore a red shirt.
C. The book was on the table.
D. She walked to school.
21. What is meant by “verisimilitude”?
A. Adding unrealistic characters
B. Including random events
C. Creating a believable, realistic world
D. Using only facts
22. What tense is most common in narrative writing?
A. Present perfect
B. Future continuous
C. Past simple
D. Past perfect continuous
23. What kind of ending leaves questions unanswered?
A. Moral ending
B. Twist ending
C. Circular ending
D. Open ending
24. What does “chronological structure” mean?
A. Events are told backwards
B. Events follow the order they occurred
C. Events happen out of order
D. Events are all told in flashback
25. What best creates dramatic irony?
A. Reader knows less than the character
B. Reader and character know the same thing
C. Character knows less than the reader
D. Everyone is equally aware
26. What is a flashback used for in narrative writing?
A. To confuse the reader
B. To introduce factual reports
C. To reveal past events for context
D. To list historical dates
27. Which punctuation is often used to build suspense?
A. Comma
B. Semicolon
C. Ellipsis
D. Parentheses
28. How does dialogue reveal character?
A. Through grammar
B. Through punctuation
C. Through what and how they speak
D. Through formatting
29. What is the emotional tone in “She screamed, punched the wall, and collapsed in sobs”?
A. Calm
B. Excited
C. Joyful
D. Distressed
30. What is a “twist ending”?
A. When the story ends exactly as expected
B. When there is no plot
C. When the ending contradicts reader expectations
D. When the story never ends
Marking Key and Explanations
- C – Narrative writing is meant to tell a story or entertain.
- D – Exposition introduces characters and setting.
- C – Symbolism involves using objects to represent ideas.
- B – Shows character through actions, not just stating.
- D – Dialogue advances the plot and reveals personality.
- B – Wind “dancing” is personification.
- D – First-person uses “I” and gives internal perspective.
- A – Short, quick sentences create urgency.
- B – Bibliography is not part of a story structure.
- C – The climax is the turning point of conflict.
- C – Anaphora is repetition at the start of sentences.
- C – A simile uses “like” or “as”.
- C – Short sentences help control pacing.
- C – Sensory details build immersive settings.
- C – “Show” uses imagery and action, not direct statements.
- A – Foreboding weather foreshadows something dark.
- C – Mood is the emotional feel of the scene.
- B – Red herring misleads the reader.
- B – STEAL = Speech, Thought, Effect, Action, Looks.
- A – Weather impacts character decisions and tension.
- C – Verisimilitude means realism in fiction.
- C – Past simple is most common in narratives.
- D – Open endings leave questions.
- B – Chronological means time-ordered.
- C – Reader knows more than the character = dramatic irony.
- C – Flashbacks show past events for context.
- C – Ellipses (…) add mystery or pause.
- C – What characters say and how shows personality.
- D – Her actions show emotional distress.
- C – A twist ending surprises the reader.