Free Year 8 English Practice Test (10 Questions)

1. Act now, before it's too late! Which technique creates urgency?

an imperative a simile onomatopoeia a metaphor

Answer: An imperative (a command: Act now) pushes the reader to do something.

2. What does the word home usually connote?

warmth and safety danger speed anger

Answer: Connotations are associations: home suggests warmth and safety.

3. Which sentence is in the active voice?

The dog chased the cat. The cat was chased by the dog. The cat was chased. The cat had been chased.

Answer: In the active voice the doer comes first: The dog chased the cat.

4. What is a soliloquy?

a speech by a character alone on stage a conversation between two characters a song in a play the stage directions

Answer: A soliloquy is a speech by a character alone on stage, revealing their thoughts.

5. What is the tone of Sadly, the match was cancelled.?

disappointed excited angry humorous

Answer: Sadly sets a disappointed tone.

6. Which slogan uses the rule of three?

It's fast, fun and free! It's fast! Free stuff. Come along.

Answer: Three linked ideas: It's fast, fun and free!

7. Which punctuation mark can show a sudden interruption?

a dash a full stop a colon an apostrophe

Answer: a dash can mark an abrupt break: I was just about to – oh no!

8. Why might a writer use a statistic in persuasive writing?

to make the argument seem reliable to confuse the reader to describe a setting to introduce a character

Answer: Facts and figures make the argument seem reliable.

9. Which sentence uses direct address?

You deserve better. They deserve better. It was raining. I walked home.

Answer: Speaking straight to the reader with you: You deserve better.

10. Which word is a synonym of persuade?

convince ignore describe explain

Answer: convince means to persuade.

About this test

Year 8 English moves towards analysis: tone, connotation, persuasive techniques and dramatic terms such as soliloquy. These are the skills GCSE English Language and Literature both reward.

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