GCSE English Language quiz

Choose one answer for each question, then press Check my answers. You will see each result in words, with a short explanation. Every example sentence was written for this quiz.

Set 1: terminology and techniques

Question 1. Which term describes giving human qualities to something that is not human? A. Onomatopoeia B. Personification C. Alliteration D. Hyperbole

Question 2. Her kettle screamed for attention. Which technique is used? A. Simile B. Rhetorical question C. Personification D. Anaphora

Question 3. Crash, bang, clatter went the bins. Which technique is most obvious? A. Onomatopoeia B. Pathetic fallacy C. Oxymoron D. Direct address

Question 4. Her smile was as bright as a new coin. What is this? A. Metaphor B. Oxymoron C. Simile D. Euphemism

Question 5. Rain hammered the window as Mara read the letter. What does the weather most likely do here? A. Mirror her mood (pathetic fallacy) B. Give a statistic C. Address the reader directly D. Show a flashback

Question 6. A writer begins with a whole street, then narrows to one lit window, then one face. What structural feature is this? A. Antithesis B. Shift in focus from wide to narrow C. Semantic field D. Contraction

Question 7. What is a semantic field? A. A group of words linked by one topic B. A list of three C. A type of rhyme D. A sentence without a verb

Question 8. A deafening silence. Which technique does the phrase use? A. Simile B. Oxymoron C. Alliteration D. Hyperbole only

Question 9. We will wait. We will watch. We will win. Which technique is used? A. Anaphora B. Sibilance C. Euphemism D. Irony

Question 10. Who among us wants to see another park paved over? What is this? A. A statistic B. An anecdote C. A rhetorical question D. A flashback

Question 11. I've told you a million times. Which technique does this show? A. Hyperbole B. Understatement C. Onomatopoeia D. Symbolism

Question 12. Which of these is an opinion rather than a fact? A. Bus fares rose on 1 September. B. Our library opens at nine. C. Public transport is far too expensive. D. Our school has four floors.

Set 2: punctuation and grammar

Question 1. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? A. Its a long walk, but the dog loves it. B. It's a long walk, but the dog loves it. C. Its' a long walk, but the dog loves it. D. It's a long walk but, the dog loves it.

Question 2. Several girls each own books. Which phrase shows the books belong to them? A. the girl's books B. the girls books C. the girls' books D. the girls's books

Question 3. Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly? A. Although I was tired; I kept going. B. I was tired; I had been up since five. C. I bought; apples, pears and plums. D. She said; hello.

Question 4. Which is a comma splice? A. Our bus was late, so we walked home. B. Our bus was late; we walked home. C. Our bus was late, we walked home. D. Our bus was late. We walked home.

Question 5. Which sentence uses a colon correctly? A. She packed: a torch, a map and a flask. B. She packed three things: a torch, a map and a flask. C. She packed three things, a torch: a map and a flask. D. She: packed three things.

Question 6. Which line of speech is punctuated correctly? A. "Wait for me", called Ravi. B. "Wait for me," called Ravi. C. "Wait for me." called Ravi. D. "Wait for me," Called Ravi.

Question 7. My brother, who is ten, loves chess. What do the commas around who is ten do? A. Show a list B. Mark extra information that can be removed C. Join two main clauses D. Show missing letters

Question 8. Each of the pupils ___ a pencil. Which word fits? A. have B. has C. are having D. were

Question 9. ___ going to be late if we do not leave now. Which word fits? A. Their B. There C. They're D. Theyre

Question 10. If it rains, we will stay in. What type of sentence is this? A. Simple B. Complex C. Minor D. Exclamatory only

Question 11. Which opening suits a formal letter to a local council about litter? A. Hey, so, litter is rubbish lol. B. I am writing to raise concern about litter on Mill Lane. C. You lot need to sort this out. D. Listen up, council people.

Question 12. Which of these is a minor sentence? A. Silence. B. Silence fell. C. Silence fell over the room. D. There was silence.

Revise the terms in the glossary or read the revision guide.

Part of the GCSE English Language revision set: the revision guide and glossary of key terms.

GCSE English Language quiz

Set 1: terminology and techniques

Set 2: punctuation and grammar

Sources

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