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Characterization Practice

Total questions: 44

Worksheet time: 59mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
Character traits are adjectives that describe the qualities of a character. 
Read the following passage from a story: 
Mercy snorted. She should have known better than to challenge Victoria. Of all Mercy's friends, Victoria talked loudest, ran fastest, and took the most risks. She bragged about the time she convinced her older brothers to spend a weekend building her a fort. Mercy liked to call Victoria "Buster". "Because you are always busting things up," she laughed. Victoria wore the nickname with pride. 
Based on the passage, which of the following is one of Victoria's traits?
a)
forgetful
b)
confused
c)
bold
d)
shy
2.
Read the passage and then answer the question below: 
"No, indeed. I don't know anything. You see, I am stuffed, so I have no brains at all," [the Scarecrow] answered sadly. 
"Oh", said Dorothy, "I am awfully sorry for you."
"Do you think," he asked, "if I go to the Emerald City with you, that Oz would give me some brains?"
"I cannot tell", she returned, "but you may come with me, if you like. If Oz will not give you any brains you will be no worse off than you are now." 
Which detail from the passage best shows us that Dorothy is caring and kind? 
a)
"I cannot tell," she returned..."
b)
""I don't know anything. You see, I am stuffed, so I have no brains at all,"[the Scarecrow] answered sadly."
c)
"Oh", said Dorothy, "I am awfully sorry for you."
d)
"Do you think," he asked, "if I go to the Emerald City with you, that Oz would give me some brains?
3.
Read the following passage: 
"We did it! We did it! We did it!" Mei boasted, slapping her hand against the table, scattering toast crumbs, knocking aside teaspoons and almost smearing the butter in her zeal. 
"Whoa!" her brohter exclaimed, startled. "Well congratulations!"
Mei stood up and triumphantly strutted around the kitchen, transforming her walk around the breakfast table into a victory parade. 
Her brother laughed, suprised and amused. "Who are you, and what have you done with me sister, Mei?" he teased. 
Based on the passage, what can you infer about the main character Mei? 
a)
Mei is outgoing and loud
b)
Mei is timid
c)
Mei is not very athletic
d)
Mei is not usually so boastful and energetic
4.
What character trait is revealed here?
After glancing around to make sure she wasn't being watched, Marissa slide the candy bar into her pocket.  She walked out of store casually, not stopping to pay.
a)
selfish
b)
sneaky
c)
thrifty
d)
rude
5.
What character trait is revealed in this passage?
Jonathan looked at the homeless dog walking down the street of his neighborhood.  He approached the dog, slowly cautiously, with his hands stretched outward.  After gaining his trust, Jonathan took the dog home, gave him a warm bath, and big bowl of food.
a)
impulsive
b)
obsessed
c)
humble
d)
compassionate
6.
Javier was shopping at the grocery store for some olives. He needed a lot of olives, so he grabbed the large jar off of the shelf. Then he noticed the price. The large jar contained 20 oz. of olives and it cost $3.99. He looked at the small jar of olives. It contained 10 oz. of olives and cost $1.49. Javier put the large jar back and purchased two small jars of olives.   What character trait does Javier demonstrate?
a)
Heroic
b)
Cruel
c)
Angry
d)
Intelligent
7.
Makayla is kind to everyone.  Last week, when a new girl came to Makayla's class, Makayla showed her around the school and introduced her to all of her friends.
Which word best describes Makayla?
a)
cruel
b)
compassionate
c)
cheerful
d)
friendly
8.

Characterization is

a)

the central message in a story

b)

the problem in a story

c)

the process by which a writer reveals a character's personality and qualities

9.

In indirect characterization....

a)

the writer describes the character

b)

the character's personality is directly described by the author

c)

the writer reveals the character through STEAL

10.

In direct characterization....

a)

the writer describes the character

b)

the writer reveals the character through STEAL

c)

the writer doesn't care how you learn about the character

11.

What does STEAL stand for?

a)

Speech, Thoughts, Effect on others, Actions, and Looks

b)

Statements, Time, Effort, Actions, and Love

c)

Solitude, Thoughts, Enthusiasm, Actions, and Loss

12.

Read the passage and determine if it is direct characterization or indirect characterization: " No wonder Johnny was hurt because his parents didn't want him."

a)

Direct characterization

b)

Indirect characterization

13.

Read the passage and determine if it is direct characterization or indirect characterization: "He glanced at her face - her eyes, which were honey brown, and her nose, which crinkled when she smiled."

a)

Direct characterization

b)

Indirect characterization

14.

Read the passage and determine if it is direct characterization or indirect characterization: "But I am so much more than that! I am a musician, and a swimmer, and a person able to make my own decisions."

a)

Direct characterization

b)

Indirect characterization

15.

Read the passage and determine if it is direct characterization or indirect characterization: "Destiny always came by with her bags, even if she was only stopping by to pick up and outfit or do homework."

a)

Direct characterization

b)

Indirect characterization

16.

Read the passage and determine if it is direct characterization or indirect characterization: "Heck kid" - he grinned wolfishly - "them boys at the station know me by now."

a)

Direct characterization

b)

Indirect characterization

17.

Read the passage and determine if it is direct characterization or indirect characterization: "After rolling up his sleeve, the sailor revealed several tattoos on his arm."

a)

Direct characterization

b)

Indirect characterization

18.

Read the passage and determine if it is direct characterization or indirect characterization: "If you want to know the truth, I wasn't feeling that good in the first place."

a)

Direct characterization

b)

Indirect characterization

19.

Read the passage and determine if it is direct characterization or indirect characterization: "Mark stomped to his room and slammed the door. Everything seemed so unfair.

a)

Direct characterization

b)

Indirect characterization

20.

Daren showed up at the banquet with food stains all over his dress shirt. He sat down, put his feet on the table, and burped loudly. The other people sitting at the table looked at each other but continued eating.


What character train does Daren demonstrate?

a)

puzzled

b)

hysterical

c)

unmannerly

d)

sophisticated

21.

Diamond spent twelve hours working on her Popsicle stick White House yesterday. Today she noticed that there are bushes in front of the building, so she spent another six hours making bushes out of construction paper.


What character trait does Diamond demonstrate?

a)

meticulous

b)

cautious

c)

intelligent

d)

demented

22.

Courtney asked her neighbor if she could borrow an egg to complete a recipe that she had already started. The next day Courtney returned an egg to her neighbor along with a thank you card expressing her sincere gratitude.


What character trait does Courtney demonstrate?

a)

Stingy

b)

Appreciative

c)

Flabbergasted

d)

Acceptable

23.

When Angela asked her mother if she could go to the party, her mother said that she could not. So Angela asked her father, who said that she could. She then played her parents off one another until she got her way. Angela enjoyed herself at the party.


What character trait does Angela demonstrate?

a)

Irritable

b)

Dejected

c)

Miserable

d)

Manipulative

24.

Kelvin found a wallet on the ground. He opened up the wallet and saw an old woman's ID card. Kelvin took the money out of the wallet and threw the wallet in a ditch.


What character trait does Kelvin demonstrate?

a)

Melancholy

b)

Impoverished

c)

Selfish

d)

Skittish

25.

Kelly likes Aaron because they have many things in common. They have formed a great connection and she thinks that Aaron is very handsome, but Kelly wants to date Burt. Even though Kelly had nothing is common with Burt, he drives a fancy car and he spends a lot of money. She likes this about him.


What character trait does Kelly demonstrate?

a)

Lively

b)

Generous

c)

Perky

d)

Materialistic

26.

Brad spends two to four hours a day grooming himself. This regimen includes an extensive time period during which Brad lovingly admires his appearance in the mirror.


What character trait does Brad demonstrate?

a)

Vain

b)

Homely

c)

Ordinary

d)

Mystical

27.

Jared got off the train from his small farm village. He was now in the big city. An unshaven man with a trench coat with several holes in it approached Jared and told him that he was a police officer and that he needed to see Jared's wallet. Jared did not think that the man looked like a police officer, but he didn't want to get arrested on his first day in the city, so Jared reached into the front pocket of his overalls and gave the man his wallet. The man promptly ran away leaving Jared with no money.


What character trait does Jared demonstrate?

a)

Cunning

b)

Devious

c)

Gullible

d)

Clever

28.

It was the bottom of the ninth inning and the home team was down by one. There was a man on second base when Bruce stepped up to the plate. Bruce pointed to right field. The pitcher threw his fastball. Bruce got a hold of it and sent it flying to right field. The home team won.


What character trait does Bruce demonstrate?

a)

Confident

b)

Humble

c)

Submissive

d)

Sophisticated

29.

Kathy has a big project due in two weeks. She spends the next twelve days interacting with people from her school on social networks. The night before the project is due, she rushes to complete it and gets a C- as a final grade. She was happy with the grade.


What character trait does Kathy demonstrate?

a)

Enthusiastic

b)

Organized

c)

Unmotivated

d)

Flippant

30.
Which method of characterization tells what the character SAYS AND DOES?
a)
Physical Traits
b)
Inner Thoughts and Feelings
c)
Speech and Behavior
d)
Other Characters' Reactions to the Character
31.
Which method of characterization describes WHAT THE CHARACTER LOOKS LIKE?
a)
Physical Traits
b)
Inner Thoughts and Feelings
c)
Speech and Behavior
d)
Other Characters' Reactions to the Character
32.
Which method of characterization describes HOW OTHER CHARACTERS FEEL ABOUT THE MAIN CHARACTER?
a)
Physical Traits
b)
Inner Thoughts and Feelings
c)
Speech and Behvior
d)
Other Characters' Reactions to the Character
33.
Which method of characterization tells HOW A CHARACTER FEELS ABOUT A SPECIFIC IDEA?
a)
Physical Traits
b)
Inner Thoughts and Feelings
c)
Speech and Behavior
d)
Other Characters' Reactions to the Character
34.
What method of characterization is used to describe Jimmy in the following example?

Jimmy inspected the footprints. He took out his tool kit, carefully took a sample and measured the width of the print with great precision.
a)
Physical Traits
b)
Inner Thoughts and Feelings
c)
Speech and Behavior
d)
Other Characters' Reactions to the Character
35.
What method of characterization is used to describe the creature in the following example?

Towering over them was a great gorilla-like creature. It was eight feet tall and had long shaggy hair that was matted and smelled like river slime.
a)
Physical Traits
b)
Inner Thoughts and Feelings
c)
Speech and Behavior
d)
Other Characters' Reactions to the Character
36.
What method of characterization is used to describe Christian in the following example?

Christian raced around the backyard with a jar, trying to catch fireflies. Wide-eyed, he attempted to outrun the flashing creatures. He tripped over his feet, but laughed gleefully at the lights surrounding his head.
a)
Physical Traits
b)
Inner Thoughts and Feelings
c)
Speech and Behavior
d)
Other Characters' Reactions to the Character
37.
What method of characterization is used to describe Uncle Willie in the following example?

Uncle Willie wondered if he would ever be free of the things that kept him at the house. Hours he spent hating his legs for no longer working, and he thought for hours about being trapped.
a)
Physical Traits
b)
Inner Thoughts and Feelings
c)
Speech and Behavior
d)
Other Characters' Reactions to the Character
38.
What method of characterization is used to describe the narrator in the following example?

I was young and I liked the dancing flames of the fire. I always wondered how I would look, standing in my uniform, battling blazes with a fierce look of determination on my face. The crack of the fire snapped me out of the daydream.
a)
Physical Traits
b)
Inner Thoughts and Feelings
c)
Speech and Behavior
d)
Other Characters' Reactions to the Character
39.
What method of characterization is used to describe Phil in the following example?

Phil was handsome in a unique way. His glasses sitting on the bridge of his nose gave him a look of intelligence.
a)
Physical Traits
b)
Inner Thoughts and Feelings
c)
Speech and Behavior
d)
Other Characters' Reactions to the Character
40.
What method of characterization is used to describe Theo in the following example?

Theo walked slowly into the room with his head hung low, dragging his feet.

a)
Physical Traits
b)
Inner Thoughts and Feelings
c)
Speech and Behavior
d)
Other Characters' Reactions to the Character
41.
What method of characterization is used to describe Lee in the following example?

Lee slowly walked to class. With each step, the noise of the room got closer and closer. She slowed her pace to a crawl.
a)
Physical Traits
b)
Inner Thoughts and Feelings
c)
Speech and Behavior
d)
Other Characters' Reactions to the Character
42.
What method of characterization is used to describe Matt in the following example?

Matt stood just over five and a half feet. His humongous feet left footprints in the sand that slowly drifted away as the tide moved. His soaking wet, baggy swim trunks were clinging to his legs.
a)
Physical Traits
b)
Inner Thoughts and Feelings
c)
Speech and Behavior
d)
Other Characters' Reactions to the Character
43.
What method of characterization is used to describe Mrs. Cartier in the following example?

"Katie said, "I can't believe she yelled at me in front of everyone!"

"I know," said Cindy, "Mrs. Cartier can be so horribly mean!"
a)
Physical Traits
b)
Inner Thoughts and Feelings
c)
Speech and Behavior
d)
Other Characters' Reactions to the Character
44.
What method of characterization is used to describe Brad in the following example?

The words fell out of his mouth so fast, he tripped over each one. "I can't do it! This project is so hard!"
a)
Physical Traits
b)
Inner Thoughts and Feelings
c)
Speech and Behavior
d)
Other Characters' Reactions to the Character