wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

NEW

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

7th Grade Short Stories Test

Total questions: 50

Worksheet time: 4hrs 10mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
The sequence of events in a short story, usually divided into five parts.
a)
plot
b)
theme
c)
exposition
d)
flashback
2.
Introduces the setting, the characters and the basic situation.
a)
plot
b)
exposition
c)
rising action
d)
dialect
3.
Introduces the conflict, or problem in the story
a)
universal theme
b)
falling action
c)
rising action
d)
climax
4.
The turning point of a story
a)
irony
b)
motivation
c)
universal theme
d)
climax
5.
The story’s conclusion
a)
motivation
b)
exposition
c)
resolution
d)
plot
6.
The central/main message expressed in a story
a)
theme
b)
universal theme
c)
irony
d)
motivation
7.
The time and place of the story
a)
conflict
b)
setting
c)
irony
d)
exposition
8.
Problem in the story
a)
motivation
b)
conflict
c)
dialect
d)
irony
9.
The use of clues early in the story to hint at events that are going to occur later.
a)
foreshadowing
b)
flashback
c)
theme
d)
universal theme
10.

Ali wanted a kitten, so he decided to become a volunteer at the animal shelter. He was hoping to convince his parents that he was ready to take care of a puppy. He volunteered at the shelter twice each week, on Tuesdays after school and on Saturdays.

While he was there, Ali did several things. He look after the cats, washed and brushed them. Grooming the long-haired cats took a long time! He cleaned up the cats’ kennels, too. He also played with the kittens to help get them used to people. Sometimes he gave them baths as well. Once in a while, Ali spent time with the other animals too, but he preferred working with the cats. There was always plenty to do at the shelter, so Ali was never bored.


What does the first sentence tell about this text?

a)

This text is about volunteering at an animal shelter.

b)

This text is about taking shelter during a storm.

c)

This text is about adopting an animal.

d)

This text is about different animals.

11.
Jenny visited her grandmother in the hospital.  She saw how kind and helpful the nurses were to her grandmother.  Now she wants to be a nurse when she grows up.  She wants to help sick people get well. 
What is the main idea?
a)
Jenny got sick.
b)
Jenny wants to be a nurse.
c)
Her grandmother was in the hospital.
d)
Jenny was glad the nurses were being kind to her grandmother.
12.

What is verbal irony?

a)

the author's attitude toward the subject

b)

hints or clues suggesting what may happen later in a story

c)

use of words to express something different from and often opposite to their literal meaning

d)

when something happens that is different from what is expected

13.

What is situational irony?

a)

the author's attitude toward the subject

b)

hints or clues suggesting what may happen later in a story

c)

use of words to express something different from and often opposite to their literal meaning

d)

when something happens that is different from what is expected

14.

As the waiter collected Cezar's empty plate, Cezar smiled and said "I hated it." Which type of irony is this?

a)

situational

b)

general irony

c)

verbal

d)

dramatic

15.

“How to Make Cheesecake”

Ingredients:

1. ½ cup of sugar

2. 2 eggs

3. ½ teaspoon of vanilla

4. 2 packages of cream cheese

Directions:

1. Beat and blend sugar, cream cheese, and vanilla at medium speed.

2. Blend in the eggs, then stir.

3. Bake at 35 celsius for 40 minutes or until it is almost set.

4. Cool.

5. To get the best result, put it in the refrigerator for 3 hours.

6. Yield: 6 servings

7. Preparation time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 40 minutes

13. The goal of the text above is to tell about …

a)

how to blend vanilla dan sugar

b)

how to make cheesecake

c)

how to bake a cake

d)

how to mix eggs with cream cheese

16.

Last holiday, my friends and I went to the beach closest to the city. We went early in the morning and arrived there at 8 a.m. luckily, that day was sunny. The beach seemed so beautiful under the blue sunny sky. It was great to feel the sand grains beneath our feet and the breeze blowing our hair gently.

At noon, we started to feel hungry, so we decided to head to the nearest food stall. The fish looked fresh and there was a lot of seafood on the menu. We ordered grilled fish. The meals were delicious since the seller made them from fresh ingredients. We filled our bellies until we couldn't anymore.

We stayed until the sun set because many people said the view was so outstanding. They were right, it was amazing. We took great photos as a keepsake of our beautiful moments here. We went home fully recharged, ready for our week and to go to school the next day.

8.   “They were right, it was amazing”. The underlined word refers to . . .

a)

Sunset

b)

 the view     

c)

 many people

d)

outstanding

17.

Floods can cause tremendous damage. They can ruin houses, roads and buildings. Floods can take down trees and cause mudslides. It often leaves mud, sand and debris behind. It can take months to clean up after a flood.

What is the main idea?

a)

Floods can cause a lot of damage.

b)

Floods cause mudslides.

c)

Floods damage houses and roads.

18.

When another old cave is discovered in the south of France, it is not usually news. Rather, it is an ordinary event. Such discoveries are so frequent these days that hardly anybody pays heed to them. However, when the Lascaux cave complex was discovered in 1940, the world was amazed. Painted directly on its walls were hundreds of scenes showing how people lived thousands of years ago. The scenes show people hunting animals, such as bison or wild cats. Other images depict birds and, most noticeably, horses, which appear in more than 300 wall images, by far outnumbering all other animals. Early artists drawing these animals accomplished a monumental and difficult task. They did not limit themselves to the easily accessible walls but carried their painting materials to spaces that required climbing steep walls or crawling into narrow passages in the Lascaux complex. Unfortunately, the paintings have been exposed to the destructive action of water and temperature changes, which easily wear the images away. Because the Lascaux caves have many entrances, air movement has also damaged the images inside. Although they are not out in the open air, where natural light would have destroyed them long ago, many of the images have deteriorated and are barely recognizable. To prevent further damage, the site was closed to tourists in 1963, 23 years after it was discovered.


Which title best summarizes the main idea of the passage?

a)

Wild Animals in Art

b)

Hidden Prehistoric Paintings

c)

Exploring Caves Respectfully

d)

Determining the Age of French Caves

19.

A short description of what happens in a story is called a ________. 

a)

Summary

b)

Evaluation

c)

Prediction

d)

Question

20.

When another old cave is discovered in the south of France, it is not usually news. Rather, it is an ordinary event. Such discoveries are so frequent these days that hardly anybody pays heed to them. However, when the Lascaux cave complex was discovered in 1940, the world was amazed. Painted directly on its walls were hundreds of scenes showing how people lived thousands of years ago. The scenes show people hunting animals, such as bison or wild cats. Other images depict birds and, most noticeably, horses, which appear in more than 300 wall images, by far outnumbering all other animals.

Early artists drawing these animals accomplished a monumental and difficult task. They did not limit themselves to the easily accessible walls but carried their painting materials to spaces that required climbing steep walls or crawling into narrow passages in the Lascaux complex. Unfortunately, the paintings have been exposed to the destructive action of water and temperature changes, which easily wear the images away. Because the Lascaux caves have many entrances, air movement has also damaged the images inside. Although they are not out in the open air, where natural light would have destroyed them long ago, many of the images have deteriorated and are barely recognizable. To prevent further damage, the site was closed to tourists in 1963, 23 years after it was discovered.


Why was painting inside the Lascaux complex a difficult task?

a)

It was completely dark inside.

b)

The caves were full of wild animals.

c)

Painting materials were hard to find.

d)

Many painting spaces were difficult to reach.

21.
Before the United States was a country, it was a group of English colonies.  Until 1793, England didn't really bother the American colonists.  The people handled their business the way they wanted.  However, England had a lot of war debts to pay.  Some of the money was owed because England had defended the colonies in the French and Indian War.  Citizens who were living in England wanted taxes to be lowered.  The king decided to take more control over the colonies to get the money to pay off the debts.  He started a new tax for the colonies.  After being left to make their own decisions for so long, some of the colonists did not want to give up control  They did not want to pay high taxes.  Why did England start demanding taxes in America?
a)
They are mean and nasty and just wanted the Americans to suffer
b)
England needed to sell more tea to the Colonies
c)
England had a lot of debt from wars
d)
The American Colonies were not making enough money for England
22.
Every day after work Paul took his muddy boots off on the steps of the front porch. Alice would have a fit if the boots made it so far as the welcome mat. He then took off his dusty overalls and threw them into a plastic garbage bag; Alice left a new garbage bag tied to the porch railing for him every morning. On his way in the house, he dropped the garbage bag off at the washing machine and went straight up the stairs to the shower as he was instructed. He would eat dinner with her after he was “presentable,” as Alice had often said. What type of job did Paul have?
a)
Doctor
b)
Lawyer
c)
Ditch digger
d)
Store cashier
23.
Rubin dug frantically through his backpack. It has to be here, he thought. How many times had his mother told him not to take his iPod to school. He searched his locker again without much hope. He knew he was in trouble. What inference can you make about Rubin?
a)
He is looking for his homework
b)
He is looking for his iPod
c)
He often gets in trouble
d)
He is looking for his lunch
24.
As I walked in the door, I was amazed at the beautiful colors and smells. I knew it would be hard to decide what I would buy with my $3. The chocolate truffles looked delicious, but they were expensive. The jelly beans were not only cheaper, but so colorful! With so much to choose from, I knew I would be here a long time. Where am I?
a)
Gas station
b)
Candy store
c)
Grocery store
d)
Shoe store
25.
As we entered, a huge blast of water hit the windshield. Huge flopping sponges slapped the hood of the car as we slowly moved forward. Soon there were suds spilling over the sides. I am glad the windows were rolled up! Where are we?
a)
Ice cream shop
b)
Playground
c)
Restaurant
d)
Carwash
26.
Mrs. Lance is my favorite teacher, but something is not right today. Mrs. Lance is sitting down at her desk more than usual, and she asked us to read a story silently and just answer the questions in the book. I glance back at her, and she is blowing her nose. A little while later, I see that her cheeks are kind-of red, and she is drinking a lot of water and eating some cough drops. After a little while, Mr. Dean, another teacher, comes into our classroom. Mrs. Lance takes her purse and leaves, while Mr. Dean stays. What is wrong with Mrs. Lance?
a)
She is tired
b)
She is sleepy
c)
She is worried
d)
She is sick
27.
My dog Jack is very friendly, and he likes to be around people. Yesterday, our neighbors were having a party, and we all went over to cookout and swim at their house. We could hear Jack barking loudly from our backyard. After a little while, he got quiet, so we thought he had finally calmed down. But, several minutes later, all of the adults start laughing, and I see a black blur and hear a giant splash at the other end of the pool. Why was Jack barking?
a)
He wanted to be at the party
b)
The neighbors were making too much noise
c)
He was hungry
d)
He wanted to go outside
28.
Cassie rolled over in her bed as she felt the sunlight hit her face. The beams were warming the back of her neck when she slowly realized that it was a Thursday, and she felt a little too good for a Thursday. Struggling to open her eyes, she looked up at the clock. “9:48,” she shouted, “Holy cow!” Cassie jumped out of bed, threw on the first outfit that she grabbed, brushed her teeth in two swipes, threw her books into her backpack, and then ran out the door. What is Cassie's problem?
a)
She is late for work
b)
She will miss her flight at the airport
c)
She is late for school
d)
She is hungry
29.
Brittany's mom walks into the kitchen wearing her sun hat and a pair of old shoes. “Those vegetable plants are growing by leaps and bounds!” she exclaims to Brittany, as she takes off a dirty glove and wipes a smudge of dirt off her face. Where was Brittany's mom?
a)
At the store
b)
At the doctor's office
c)
In the garden
d)
At the airport
30.

When he didn’t understand the instructions, the student asked the teacher to clarify them.

a)

remove

b)

call

c)

explain

d)

stop

31.
The delightful aroma of food cooking in the kitchen made my mouth water.
a)
smell
b)
color
c)
wealth
32.
There was a variety of foods to choose from at the buffet: six kinds of salad dressing, seven different types of breads, and at least a dozen different desserts!
a)
mixture
b)
similarity
c)
delicious 
d)
hunger
33.

In a spell of dry weather, when the Birds could find very little to drink, a thirsty Crow found a pitcher with a little water in it. But the pitcher was high and had a narrow neck, and no matter how he tried, the Crow could not reach the water. The poor thing felt as if he would die of thirst. Then an idea came to him. Picking up some small pebbles, he dropped them into the pitcher one by one. With each pebble the water rose a little higher until at last it was near enough so he could drink.

What is the theme?

a)

Don't give up; keep trying.

b)

Be honest and kind.

c)

Always share with others.

d)

Respect your family.

34.

One summer's day, a merry Grasshopper was dancing, singing and playing his violin with all his heart. He saw an Ant passing by working hard to store food for the winter. “Come and sing with me instead of working so hard,” said the Grasshopper “Let’s have fun together.” “I must store food for the winter,” said the Ant,“ and I advise you to do the same.” “Don’t worry about winter, it’s still very far away,” said the Grasshopper, laughing at him. But the Ant wouldn’t listen and continued to work. When winter came, the starving Grasshopper went to the Ant’s house and humbly begged for something to eat. “If you had listened to my advice in the summer you would not now be in need,” said the Ant. “I’m afraid you will have to go without supper,” and he closed the door.

What is the theme?

a)

All should share with their neighbors.

b)

There is a time for work and a time for play.

c)

Be respectful of others.

d)

Don't be greedy.

35.
Read the following passage from a story.
As Tai strummed the guitar, Charlesa looked at her with pride. For so long, Tai's fingers had clumsily tripped over the strings, but now she played the song with ease. Getting to this point hadn't been easy for Charlesa, either. She sighed, trying to bury the memories of all the screaming tantrums Tai had thrown. Once, she nearly threw her guitar against a wall. But now when Tai smiled, and the tune of "Sweet Home Alabama" floated out of the instrument, Charlesa smiled, too. It had been worth it.

Which of the following is most likely a theme of the story?
a)
Playing a musical instrument is too much work.
b)
Hard work can bring great rewards.
c)
Friends shouldn't try to teach each other new things.
d)
It's OK to give up on yourself.
36.

Lucy is a superhero. There is an evil villain approaching Lucy's small-town of Gray. Lucy hears of this news, and she instantly begins training so she can defeat him.

What theme can we take away from this summary of a story?

a)

Friendship is important.

b)

Treat others how you would like to be treated.

c)

You must work hard to reach your goals.

37.

Person vs Person

a)

A struggle within the character. It can be a difficult choice a character must make or questions about self-worth or abilities.

b)

The character is up against elements of nature that are out of their control.

c)

The character is at odds with another character. This can be a physical or mental conflict.

d)

The character is at battling with the morals or norms of their society. This can be rules, laws, expectations that they view as unfair or the treatments of “others”.

38.

Person vs Self

a)

A struggle within the character. It can be a difficult choice a character must make or questions about self-worth or abilities.

b)

The character is up against elements of nature that are out of their control.

c)

The character is at odds with another character. This can be a physical or mental conflict.

d)

The character is at battling with the morals or norms of their society. This can be rules, laws, expectations that they view as unfair or the treatments of “others”.

39.

Person vs Nature

a)

A struggle within the character. It can be a difficult choice a character must make or questions about self-worth or abilities.

b)

The character is up against elements of nature that are out of their control.

c)

The character is at odds with another character. This can be a physical or mental conflict.

d)

The character is at battling with the morals or norms of their society. This can be rules, laws, expectations that they view as unfair or the treatments of “others”.

40.

Person vs Society

a)

A struggle within the character. It can be a difficult choice a character must make or questions about self-worth or abilities.

b)

The character is up against elements of nature that are out of their control.

c)

The character is at odds with another character. This can be a physical or mental conflict.

d)

The character is at battling with the morals or norms of their society. This can be rules, laws, expectations that they view as unfair or the treatments of “others”.

41.

There is a tornado heading towards the town.

a)

Person vs Self

b)

Person vs Person

c)

Person vs Nature

d)

Person vs Society

e)

No Conflict

42.

Jenny wants to go to the birthday party, but she hasn't finished her project that is due tomorrow.

a)

Person vs Self

b)

Person vs Person

c)

Person vs Nature

d)

Person vs Society

e)

No Conflict

43.

Tommy and Jim are not talking because they argued the night before.

a)

Person vs Self

b)

Person vs Person

c)

Person vs Nature

d)

Person vs Society

e)

No Conflict

44.
The King family planned a trip to Florida. On the day they were supposed to leave, a terrible blizzard happened and all flights were cancelled. 
What type of conflict?
a)
character vs character
b)
character vs self
c)
character vs nature
d)
character vs society
45.

This picture is an example of what type of conflict?

a)

Individual vs. Supernatural

b)

Individual vs. Society

c)

Individual vs. Individual

46.

Jack Juniper is the best fighter pilot in the Air Force. He can take down an enemy jet while doing a barrel roll. One day while Jack is escorting some friendly pilots to a military base, something that Jack has never seen before attacks the convoy... aliens! Can Jack outmaneuver the highly skilled alien pilots or is the mission doomed to failure?

a)

Person vs Person

b)

Person vs Supernatural

c)

Person vs Society

d)

Person vs Self

47.

After breaking his mother's favorite vase, Casey struggles to decide whether he should tell his mother the truth or attempt to hide his mistake and blame the family dog.

a)

Person vs Person

b)

Person vs Self

c)

Person vs Technology

d)

Person vs Society

48.
There is a child sleeping upstairs quietly, when all of a sudden there is a loud "THUMP!"  We can infer that:
a)
The child continued to sleep calmly
b)
The child fell out of bed
c)
The child was eating a bag of chips
d)
The child was reading a book
49.
I didn't like creeping down the dark alley. From which point of view is this sentence written?
a)
first person
b)
second person
c)
third person, omniscient
d)
third person, objective
50.
In the second person point of view, the narrator is not a character in the story – but “you” are. Speeches and instruction manuals are often written in the second person. Second person often uses the pronoun “you”.
Which of the following is an example of second person point of view?
a)
“Guys,” I said, “I think we may be heading the wrong way.”
b)
You slowly realize you didn’t step in mud.
c)
She quickly convinced us that we should follow her.
d)
We try to welcome all newcomers.