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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What two things should a writer be open to translating into their characters and stories?
(a) Impossibility and the unknown.
(b) Possibility and insight.
(c) Possibility and the unknown.
(d) Impossibility and insight.

2. What word is used to describe the life ideally given to fictional characters?
(a) Colorful.
(b) Interesting.
(c) Vivid.
(d) Eventful.

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

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

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

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

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

8. According to the author, what is the purpose of fiction?
(a) To give a better understanding of human nature.
(b) To give a better understanding of human mistakes.
(c) To give a detailed analysis of human nature.
(d) To give a detailed analysis of human mistakes.

9. What kind of jeopardy can a character be placed in to evoke an emotional response from the reader?
(a) Physical or emotional, but unbelievable.
(b) Physical or emotional, but believable.
(c) Only physical and believable.
(d) Only emotional and unbelievable.

10. Which one of the following is not an example of how to vary the names of characters to distinguish them for the reader?
(a) Length.
(b) Number of syllables.
(c) Initials.
(d) Ending letters.

11. What do the two questions the author poses at the end of Chapter 2 add to a novel?
(a) Practical interest for the characters and events.
(b) Practical interest for the background of a character.
(c) Dramatic interest for the characters and events.
(d) Dramatic interest for the background of a character.

12. Which one of the following is not an example the author uses as a way to add emotional intensity to a character?
(a) Omens.
(b) Signs.
(c) Mistakes.
(d) Symbols.

13. What kind of story does the author use as an example of how a story can suggest characters?
(a) Murder.
(b) Natural disaster.
(c) Unwilling confinement.
(d) Space adventure.

14. What do walk-ons lend to a narrative?
(a) Questions.
(b) Depth.
(c) Unpredictability.
(d) Realism.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What must accompany self-sacrifice in an engaging character?

2. What will many experienced authors claim about their characters?

3. Which of the following is not an example of a minor character's function?

4. How many ways are there to know a character?

5. Which one of the following is not a powerful resource for finding characters listed by the author?

(see the answer keys)

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