Year 4 English · Reading poetry and plays aloud · Test yourself
Year 4 English Reading poetry and plays aloud: check-up and practice test questions
Part of the Year 4 English reading poetry and plays aloud chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Exercise 9Z Check-up
1
Which figure of speech is the sun yawns in stanza 3 of The Fog Comes In? Choose simile, metaphor or personification.
personification
Method. Test each choice against the line and the poem.
- Read the line with the word or figure in it. Decide what the line needs.
- Test the choice in the line. The sun cannot yawn, so the word gives it a human action.personification fits
- Reject the other choices. A simile would need like or as, and a metaphor would say the sun is something else.simile and metaphor do not fit
- Write the answer. personification
Check. personification fits the line. ✓
2
What is the rhyme scheme of stanza 3 of The Quiet Allotment?
ABAB
Method. Compare the spelling of the line endings.
- Write down the last word of each line. Rhyme depends on the spelling of the ending.1: bright, 2: hive, 3: light, 4: thrive
- Match the endings by their spelling. Lines whose endings are spelt the same way rhyme.lines 1 and 3 end in -ight (bright, light); lines 2 and 4 end in -ive (hive, thrive)
- Give each new ending a new letter. Use A for the first ending, B for the next new ending, and so on.ABAB
- Write the answer. ABAB
Check. Lines with the same ending spelling share a letter. ✓
3
How many strong beats are in line 1 of The Night Tram?
4
Method. Count the bold words in the line.
- Find the bold words. Each bold word is one strong beat.night, rattles, down, hill
- Count the bold words. Count one for each bold word, and do not count the words that are not bold.4 bold words
- Write the answer. 4
Check. The line has 4 strong beats. ✓
4
Which form has five lines and the rhyme scheme AABBA?
limerick
Method. Match the number of lines and the rhyme scheme to a form.
- Count the lines. Five lines match a limerick.5 lines
- Check the rhyme scheme. AABBA is the limerick scheme.AABBA
- Write the answer. limerick
Check. Five lines with AABBA make a limerick. ✓
5
Which form has no regular rhyme or rhythm?
free verse
Method. Think about the form that has no set pattern.
- Recall the definition. Free verse has no regular rhyme or rhythm.no regular pattern
- Name the form. A poem with no regular pattern is free verse.free verse
- Write the answer. free verse
Check. Free verse follows no regular pattern. ✓
6
What is a cast list? Answer in one short sentence.
Accept any answer that says it is a list of the characters in a play, with short descriptions. For example: a list of the characters in the play.
Method. A cast list comes at the start of a script.
- Find the cast list. The cast list names the characters.the characters
- Explain what it is. It is a list of the characters, often with a short description.a list of characters
- Write the answer. a list of the characters in the play
Check. The cast list names the characters. ✓
7
What does a stage direction tell the actor? Answer in one short sentence.
Accept any answer that says it tells the actor what to do, where to stand, or how to say a line, and is not spoken aloud. For example: it tells the actor what to do and is not said aloud.
Method. Think about what a direction is for.
- Find what it describes. A stage direction is in italics or brackets.italics or brackets
- Say what it tells the actor. It describes what to do, and it is not spoken aloud.an action, not words
- Write the answer. it tells the actor what to do and is not said aloud
Check. Stage directions guide the actor. ✓
8
Explain why the word hammers is a good word choice in line 2 of Storm Warning.
Accept any answer that says hammers is a heavy, harsh action, which makes the rain seem loud and strong. For example: hammers is a loud, heavy action, so the rain sounds harsh and strong.
Method. Think about what a hammer does.
- Think about the action. A hammer makes a loud, heavy knock.loud, heavy
- Connect it to the rain. The rain seems loud and strong because it hits the windows like a hammer.loud and strong
- Write the answer. hammers is a loud, heavy action, so the rain sounds harsh
Check. The word creates a sharp picture. ✓
9
Plan how you would perform line 1 of Storm Warning. Give one tone, one volume and one pace.
Accept any answer that gives a tone, volume and pace that fit an exciting or alarming line, such as a loud and quick reading. For example: tone exciting; volume loud; pace quick.
Method. Use the exclamation mark and the words of the line.
- Read the punctuation. Listen! has an exclamation mark, so the line needs energy.Listen!
- Choose the delivery. A loud, quick reading suits a thunder warning.loud, quick
- Write the answer. tone exciting; volume loud; pace quick
Check. The plan uses the punctuation. ✓
10
Explain how the bracket in a play line helps the actor. Use one example from The Storm Lamp.
Accept any answer that uses a bracket from the play and explains how it guides the actor. For example: SAM (relieved) tells the actor to say Come in, Mr Patel! with a sigh of relief.
Method. Find a bracket in the script and explain what it does.
- Find an example. SAM (relieved) is a direction for how to say the line.SAM (relieved)
- Explain the help. It tells the actor to speak with a feeling of relief.with relief
- Write the answer. SAM (relieved) tells the actor to say the line with relief
Check. The bracket guides the voice. ✓
Total 19 marks. Allow about 19 minutes.
Exercise 9X Practice test questions
1
FName the figure of speech in this line: The moon is a silver coin in the sky.[1 mark]
metaphor
Method. Check for like or as, then check whether one thing is said to be another.
- Check for like or as. The line has no like or as.no like or as
- Check the comparison. The moon is said to be a coin, so one thing is another.moon = coin
- Write the answer. metaphor
Check. A metaphor says one thing is another. ✓
2
FWrite the rhyme scheme of these four lines: The bell rings out to call us in. / The children leave the field and run. / The gate is shut, the day is done, / and we are happy, every one.[1 mark]
ABCC
Method. Write the end word of each line, then match the spelling of the endings.
- Write the end words. The end words are in, run, done and one.in, run, done, one
- Match the endings. Done and one both end in -one, so lines 3 and 4 match.lines 3 and 4 (-one)
- Give the letters in order. In is A, run is B, done is C, one is C again.A B C C
- Write the answer. ABCC
Check. Lines 3 and 4 share the ending -one. ✓
3
FHow many strong beats are in this line? Each bold word is one beat: Mum rolls the dough and sings a song.[1 mark]
4
Method. Count the bold words.
- Find the bold words. Mum, dough, sings and song are in bold.Mum, dough, sings, song
- Count them. Each bold word is one strong beat.4 bold words
- Write the answer. 4
Check. Four bold words make four beats. ✓
4
PSExplain the effect of the word pounced in this sentence: The cat pounced on the mouse.[2 marks]
Accept any answer that says pounced is a sudden, quick action, so the reader feels the cat moves fast and the moment is exciting. For example: it shows a quick, sudden movement, so the moment feels exciting.
Method. Think about the picture the word makes.
- Think about the word. Pounced is a sudden, quick action.sudden, quick
- Explain the effect. The reader feels the cat move fast, so the moment seems exciting.exciting moment
- Write the answer. a sudden, quick action that makes the moment exciting
Check. The word creates a quick picture. ✓
5
FCopy the simile from this line, and say what it compares: His smile was as bright as the morning sun.[2 marks]
Accept any answer that copies as bright as the morning sun, and says it compares his smile with the sun. For example: as bright as the morning sun; it compares his smile with the sun.
Method. Find like or as, then name the two things compared.
- Find as. The simile starts with as, and compares two things.as bright as the morning sun
- Name the two things. The smile is compared with the morning sun.smile and sun
- Write the answer. as bright as the morning sun; it compares his smile with the sun
Check. The comparison uses as. ✓
6
FCount the syllables in this haiku line: moon o-ver the pond.[2 marks]
5
Method. Count the parts that the hyphens show.
- Split the words. moon / o-ver / the / pond.moon / o-ver / the / pond
- Count the parts. One, two, one and one.1 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 5
- Write the answer. 5
Check. The line has five syllables. ✓
7
FRead this stage direction: (Mia hides behind the curtain.) Who does the action?[1 mark]
Mia
Method. Find the subject of the direction.
- Find the action. Hides behind the curtain is an action.hides
- Name the actor. Mia is the person who hides.Mia
- Write the answer. Mia
Check. Mia is the character who hides. ✓
8
PSPlan how you would read this line aloud: Stop! Listen! Give one tone, one volume and one pace, and explain your choice from the marks in the line.[3 marks]
Accept any answer that gives a tone, a volume and a pace that fit an urgent warning, and explains the choice from the exclamation marks. For example: tone urgent; volume loud; pace quick, because each exclamation mark asks for energy.
Method. Use the exclamation marks to plan the delivery.
- Read the marks. Each line ends with an exclamation mark, so the voice needs energy.Stop! / Listen!
- Choose the delivery. Urgent tone, loud volume and quick pace match a warning.urgent, loud, quick
- Write the answer. tone urgent; volume loud; pace quick, because of the exclamation marks
Check. The plan uses the marks. ✓
9
RWrite four lines of your own in the rhyme scheme AABB, about a rainy day. Lines 1 and 2 must end in the same spelling, and lines 3 and 4 must end in the same spelling.[3 marks]
Accept any four lines where lines 1 and 2 end in the same spelling pattern, and lines 3 and 4 end in a different pattern that also matches. For example: The rain falls grey on roof and street, / and puddles gather at our feet. / We sit indoors and read a book, / and watch the drops run down the brook.
Method. Write two rhyming pairs, and check the spelling of each ending.
- Write the first pair. Street and feet both end in -eet.street, feet: -eet
- Write the second pair. Book and brook both end in -ook.book, brook: -ook
- Write the answer. street and feet (AA), book and brook (BB)
Check. Each pair ends in the same spelling. ✓
10
RExplain how the words the sun yawns in this line add personification, and say how this affects the reader: Then the sun yawns and stretches out.[3 marks]
Accept any answer that names personification, because the sun is given human actions, and explains that the sun seems sleepy or the morning feels lazy. For example: it is personification, because a sun cannot yawn; it makes the morning seem sleepy and calm.
Method. Name the figure, then explain the effect.
- Name the figure. Yawns and stretches are human actions given to the sun.personification
- Explain the effect. The sun seems sleepy, so the morning feels slow, calm and welcoming to the reader.sleepy, calm morning
- Write the answer. personification, because the sun yawns and stretches, which makes the morning seem sleepy and calm
Check. The human actions give the sun a sleepy character. ✓