CLOSE READING QUIZ- PART 1
1. Give two reasons why exclamation marks are used. (2)
2. (a) What are you being asked to do if you are asked to “quote” from a text? (1)
(b) What marks of punctuation should surround a quotation? (1)
3. (a) Explain what repetition is. (1)
(b) Write a sentence where the word “small” is repeated. (2)
4. (a) What is an adjective? (1)
(b) Give an example of one. (1)
5. What is a setting? (1)
6. Write down three different tones. (3)
7. (a) What is a verb? (1)
(b) Write down a verb. (1)
8. (a) What is rhyme? (1)
(b) Give an example of a rhyming couplet. (2)
9. Explain the difference between an autobiography and a biography. (2)
10. Explain what a conclusion is and where you would find one in a text. (2)
11. (a) What is dialogue? (1)
(b)What punctuation marks should surround dialogue? (1)
12. (a) What is a colon? (1)
(b) Give one reason why colons are used. (1)
CLOSE READING QUIZ- PART 2
1. (a) What is a noun? (1)
(b) Give an example of a noun. (1)
2. (a) Write down a definition of fiction. (1)
(b) Give an example of a fiction book. (1)
3. Give a reason why semi-colons are used. (1)
4. Write down four different moods. (4)
5. (a)What is non-fiction? (1)
(b)Give an example of a non-fiction text. (1)
6. What is a fact? (1)
7. (a) What is onomatopoeia? (1)
(b) Write a sentence that has three onomatopoeic words in it. (3)
8. Roughly, how many words are in an expression? (1)
9. Give four examples of figurative language. (4)
10. Give three examples of punctuation that may be found in a sentence. (3)
11. If there are many words or phrases linked together using commas, it is said to be a what? (1)
12. What is a rhetorical question? (1)
13. (a)What is alliteration? (1)
(b)Write down a sentence that uses alliteration on the letter “s” three times. (3)
Standard Grade Close Reading support sheet
Exam Question types:
Link words and phrases
When a writer completes a piece of writing it is important that each of the points they make link together. One point should logically follow on from the next.
Words that are used to link ideas together are known as CONJUNCTIONS.
This help sheet will provide you with some useful words that can be used to link parts of information for different reasons.
Quite often the exam papers will ask to identify the link word(s) used and sometimes you may be required to say why the link word(s) are used.
If you know all of these you should be able to answer the questions easily!
Have a look at the following example which has been worked out for you. The extract is taken from a book called “Yaxley’s Cat”. A mum and her two children are in a cottage which needs quite a bit of tidying up and her young son, who is quite practical, has succeeded in getting an old water pump to work:
“Timothy, who was practical like his Dad, had discovered a drum of paraffin in a lean-to, filled the oil lamps and got them going. He used more paraffin, in a careful calculating way that brought her out in a cold sweat, to get the fire in the kitchen range going. He had also got the water pump over the sink to work. At first it had only made disgusting wheezing sounds, but Tim had poured water down it from a butt in the garden, calling it “priming the pump” very professionally. At first it had pumped evil rusty red stuff, but now it ran clear, though Rose had visions of outbreaks of cholera and typhoid, and hurried dashes to the hospital in Norwich, and how would you ever get an ambulance up that path, but if you boiled water…Now he was winding up all the clocks and really getting them ticking.”
Question:
Look at the sentence beginning, “At first it had pumped evil rusty red stuff…” (line 6). Show how the writer creates an impression of uneasy thoughts rushing through Rose’s mind by his use of sentence structure. (2 – 1 – 0)
Answer:
The sentence repeatedly uses the link words “and” and “but” to show that Rose foresees a long list of possible problems ahead. The use of these link words show that she is worried and is becoming upset by the never-ending possibilities.
Standard Grade Close Reading support sheet
Types of Texts
In the Close Reading papers you will be asked to read and answer questions on a piece of text. The texts you will be faced with will fall into two types:
- FICTION
and
- NON – FICTION
You will find it easier to understand these different types of writing if you are familiar with the features of each.
Fiction texts
Extracts from fiction texts are probably the most common type of passage used in the Close Reading examination.
Fictional texts are stories which have been invented so will have all the features of imaginative writing. The piece of text could be taken from a novel or a short story.
Here are some key features of these texts:
- The setting of the story will be made clear early on in the passage
- There will be characters – probably 1 or 2 main ones
- There will be a main theme explored in the passage
- The main theme will relate to the character(s)
- Something will happen to the characters or the extract will lead up to something happening
- The story is usually (but not always) written in first person
- Language will be used imaginatively
All the skills you have been using to discuss literature texts throughout S3 and S4 will be put to good use in the Close Reading part of the examination. You will have read lots of fiction texts in class over the last two years, keep reading as much as you can on the run up to the exam. Think about what techniques the writer has used to put across his or her ideas.
Non – Fiction Texts
Non – Fiction texts include newspaper articles, magazine articles, information leaflets, travel writing, diaries and autobiographies. Any of these could be the type of text in your Close Reading exam.
Non – Fiction texts, no matter what the genre, all have one thing in common: they are based on facts- things that have actually happened or are true.
Take a look at the key features of some non-fiction texts:
- Present information and ideas about a topic
- Present a point of view about the topic
- Layout may include headlines, subheadings, columns, pictures
- The main idea is introduced early on in the passage and then developed in the following paragraphs
- The style of writing will be straightforward and factual, especially in newspaper articles
- If it is an extract from an autobiography or a diary, it will be a personal piece of writing recording thoughts and feelings about life experiences and will use more imaginative language.
- If it is a piece of travel writing, a place will be described in detail and the writer’s feelings about that place will be made clear.
Non – fiction texts are all around us in the form of newspapers, magazines, advertisements, junk mail – the list is endless! Read as much as you can so that you can become familiar with this type of writing. When you are reading, think about the techniques the writer has used to put across their information in an interesting way.
Now that you have revised the features of different types of writing, you’re ready to test how much you can remember by completing the following test.
Fill in the blanks.
Close Reading: Types of text test!
1. The texts in your Close Reading exam. Will be either fiction or non-fiction. Three different types of non-fiction writing are______,
______
and ______.
2. What are the key features of a piece of non-fiction text?
A non-fiction text will present______about a topic.
A non – fiction text will be written in a ______and
______style.
The author might put across his or her______.
Especially in newspapers and magazines, the layouts might
include ______,
______
and ______.
3. Fiction texts in the Close Reading exam. Will be extracts
from______or ______.
4. What are the key features of fiction texts?
The story will describe 1 or 2 main ______.
A ______will be explored throughout the story.
The style of writing will be______.