Reviewing and refining narrative writing | Starter Quiz | Oak National Academy

What is the error in this sentence? "He could here the river." ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire')

• the tense

• the punctuation

• the spelling

• the sentence structure

Answer explanation

This sentence uses the wrong 'here'. It should read "He could hear the river." Making errors like this is common and nothing to worry about. The important thing is to reread your work and correct any errors you spot.

Match these words to their definitions. ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire')

• decrepit

• a tired exhausted appearance

• lament

• worn out, ruined

• haggard

• a powerful expression of grief

Answer explanation

Using a range of sophisticated vocabulary in your writing is a great way to engage your reader. If appropriate, try to use one or more of these words in your next piece of writing!

In a story which follows the five part narrative structure, what is the focus of the rising action? ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire')

• how the story ends

• the development of plot and character

• the most dramatic or intense moment of the story

• establishing characters and setting

• the aftermath of the climax

Answer explanation

The five part narrative structure is a great way to think about the plot and characters of the story you want to write. The rising action is part 2 of 5 and is where you start to develop your characters and plot.

In a story which follows the five part narrative structure, what is the focus of the climax? ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire')

• how the story ends

• the development of plot and character

• the most dramatic or intense moment of the story

• establishing characters and setting

• the aftermath of the climax

Answer explanation

The five part narrative structure is a great way to think about the plot and characters of the story you want to write. The climax is part 3 of 5. It is often the most dramatic moment, and the fate of certain characters changes after it.

Which sentence is punctuated correctly? ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire')

• Carefully, he started to prepare his disguise,

• Carefully he started to prepare his disguise.

• Carefully he, started to prepare his disguise.

• Carefully, he started to prepare his disguise.

• Carefully he started, to prepare his disguise,

Answer explanation

Using an adverb at the beginning of a sentence is a nice way to vary your sentence structure. Here, 'carefully' is the adverb. After the adverb comes a comma.

Which sentence is punctuated correctly? ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire')

• Swinging his arms to warm up he started, to size up his opponent.

• Swinging his arms to warm up, he started to size up his opponent.

• Swinging, his arms to warm up he started to size up his opponent.

• Swinging his arms to warm up he started to size up his opponent.

• Swinging his arms to warm up he started to size up his opponent

Answer explanation

This is a complex sentence with the subordinate clause at the beginning ("Swinging his arms to warm up" doesn’t make sense by itself and is therefore the subordinate clause). Therefore, the comma goes after the end of the subordinate clause.