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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What kind of narrative should a storyteller use?
(a) Effective and engaging.
(b) Effective and involved.
(c) Effective and condensed.
(d) Effective and poetic.

2. How will the story itself suggest characters?
(a) According to what needs to happen, but not how it needs to take place.
(b) According to the beginning of a story.
(c) According to what needs to happen and how it needs to take place.
(d) According to the ending of a story.

3. What must a writer define in creative writing?
(a) Style and point of view, but not tone.
(b) Style, tone, and point of view.
(c) Tone and point of view, but not style.
(d) Style and tone, but not point of view.

4. In a story where character is the primary focus, how many characters need to be fully developed?
(a) At least half of them.
(b) Very few of them.
(c) Not all of them.
(d) None of them.

5. What do the readers and creators of a contemporary narrative believe about in-depth characterization?
(a) It is neither expected nor necessary.
(b) It is expected, but not necessary.
(c) It is necessary, but not expected.
(d) It is both expected and necessary.

6. What part of a character's name provides a clear starting point for defining that character's context?
(a) The middle name.
(b) The first name.
(c) The reason they were given the name.
(d) The last name.

7. What balance must be met when creating an endearing character?
(a) The balance between a leader and a follower.
(b) The balance between right and wrong.
(c) The balance between victimization and courage.
(d) The balance between loss and hope.

8. In an event-driven narrative, what is the goal of the characters?
(a) To avoid an intolerable situation.
(b) To change an intolerable situation.
(c) To hide an intolerable situation.
(d) To prevent an intolerable situation.

9. What does the author think can also provide ideas for additional characters?
(a) The pasts of central characters.
(b) The future of supporting characters.
(c) The future of central characters.
(d) The pasts of supporting characters.

10. What is the first way a writer can engage the reader?
(a) Creating an initial impression that does not appear strong or weak at first.
(b) Creating a strong initial impression.
(c) Creating a weak initial impression that improves slowly.
(d) Creating a weak initial impression that improves quickly.

11. When an idea is the primary focus, what is the role of the characters?
(a) They define the plot in some way.
(b) Complex plot functionaries.
(c) Simple plot functionaries.
(d) They define the plot completely.

12. What type of physical appearance can make a character more engaging?
(a) Appealing and subtle.
(b) Appealing and blatant.
(c) Appealing, but vague.
(d) Appealing and specific.

13. According to the quote that ends Chapter 3, where does the author believe a writer can find wonderful stories?
(a) Any landscape on earth.
(b) Very few landscapes on earth.
(c) Most landscapes on earth.
(d) No landscapes on earth.

14. What will a writer discover when they take their eyes off of the main character?
(a) What is far away.
(b) Who is nearby.
(c) Who is far away.
(d) What is nearby.

15. What place can writers use as inspiration for their characters?
(a) Observation, but not memory.
(b) Observation and another person's memory.
(c) Memory, but not observation.
(d) Observation and memory.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does the author describe what it means to "raise the stakes"?

2. What type of vocabulary creates a negative response to a character?

3. According to the author, what is an engaging narrative never about?

4. Which one of the following is not an example of how to vary the names of characters to distinguish them for the reader?

5. What two things should a writer be open to translating into their characters and stories?

(see the answer keys)

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