The Composer's Secret - Fiction vs. Nonfiction (Grade 7)
Passage
•
English
•
7th Grade
•
Practice Problem
•
Medium
Angela Lock
Used 2+ times
FREE Resource
8 questions
Show all answers
1.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
30 sec • 1 pt
The passage reveals that the characters are working on a 'music history project.' How does the author present this fact in a way that is characteristic of a fictional story?
By stating it in a chapter heading or a caption.
By including it naturally in the characters' dialogue and thoughts.
By showing a picture of their official project assignment.
By listing it in a table of contents at the beginning of the story.
Answer explanation
Fiction reveals background information through character interactions and internal thoughts ('Their music history project felt like a dead end') rather than using nonfiction text features like headings or captions, which are designed for direct information delivery.
2.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
30 sec • 1 pt
The note contains the riddle, 'Where the artist sees, the musician hears. The silence holds the key.' In a nonfiction guide, a clue might just say 'The key is in the clock.' What is the main effect of using a riddle in this fictional story?
To provide clear, factual instructions for finding the symphony.
To create a sense of mystery and challenge for the characters and reader.
To prove that the composer Wallace Vance was also a good poet.
To give the exact location of the lost symphony without any confusion.
Answer explanation
Fictional stories, especially suspense, use devices like riddles to build intrigue and engage the reader emotionally. A nonfiction text would prioritize clarity and directness, while this story prioritizes creating a mysterious atmosphere.
3.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
30 sec • 1 pt
The author describes the book Margo finds as a 'heavy, leather-bound volume with no call number.' What is the primary purpose of including these details in a suspense story?
To give the librarian information to catalog the book correctly.
To make the book seem mysterious, important, and out of place.
To explain the library's budget for acquiring new books.
To describe the library's organizational system in detail.
Answer explanation
In fiction, descriptive details are chosen to create a mood. Describing the book as heavy, leather-bound, and without a call number makes it stand out and adds to the mystery. A nonfiction report would simply state the book's title and location.
4.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
30 sec • 1 pt
After the 'THUMP,' the author writes that Lucas's 'voice trembling slightly.' Which statement best explains why an author of a fictional thriller would include this detail?
To provide an objective, scientific report of Lucas's physical state.
To show the reader that Lucas is afraid, which increases the story's suspense.
To suggest that Lucas is getting sick from the dust in the room.
To describe the acoustic properties of the library hall.
Answer explanation
This is a classic example of 'showing, not telling.' Instead of saying 'Lucas was scared,' the author describes a physical reaction. This is a technique used in fiction to immerse the reader in the character's emotional experience and build suspense, which is not a goal of objective, nonfiction writing.
5.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
30 sec • 1 pt
At the end of the story, Margo connects the riddle to the silent grandfather clock. How does this final moment function as a structural element common in suspense fiction?
It provides a factual definition of the word 'silence' for the reader.
It acts as a cliffhanger, leaving the reader in suspense and wanting to know what happens next.
It gives the exact time the clock stopped working for historical records.
It serves as a final, complete resolution to the story's conflict.
Answer explanation
The story ends on a moment of discovery and tension, which is a structural choice. This cliffhanger technique is used in fiction to make the story exciting and encourage the reader to continue. A nonfiction text would aim to conclude with a summary of facts, not to create suspense.
6.
MATCH QUESTION
1 min • 1 pt
Match each description of an event from the passage to the character feeling or story element it reveals. This shows how fiction uses specific details to communicate ideas.
Fear and uncertainty after a sudden noise
Lucas's exclamation upon seeing the map.
A physical sign of intense fear or suspense
Margo's urgent whisper when she finds the unusual book.
Urgent excitement about a discovery
The description of Margo's physical state after the noise.
Amazement and a shift from boredom to interest
Lucas's whispered question after the loud noise in the hall.
Answer explanation
Each event uses a specific fictional technique. Margo's 'hissed' whisper shows urgency. Lucas's 'Whoa' shows amazement. His 'trembling voice' shows fear. Margo's 'pounding heart' is a classic description of fear. These are narrative choices to show emotion, not report facts.
7.
CATEGORIZE QUESTION
1 min • 1 pt
This fictional story blends realistic details with invented story elements. By locating them in the passage, categorize the following items into 'Factual-Style Details' (information that could be in a report) and 'Fictional Story Elements' (details used to create a story).
Groups:
(a) Factual-Style Details
,
(b) Fictional Story Elements
Margo's internal physical reaction to the noise.
The unexplained, sudden noise from the main hall.
The concept of a library having a Special Collections room.
The specific title of the book of compositions.
Lucas's shaky voice after the thump.
The existence of a composer who wrote for piano.
Answer explanation
Factual-style details are objective pieces of information that ground the story in reality (a composer, a library room, a book title). Fictional story elements describe characters' internal feelings ('heart pounded'), physical reactions to fear ('voice trembling'), and unexplained events ('THUMP') designed to create suspense.
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