Narrative Writing — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. A comma goes before the closing quotation mark when a dialogue tag follows.
The comma tucks inside — before — the closing quotation mark: "Hello," she said. This is a standard American punctuation rule for dialogue.
2. A new paragraph begins each time a different character speaks.
Starting a new paragraph whenever the speaker changes helps readers track who is talking. Without this rule, dialogue becomes a jumble.
3. Character traits are words that describe a character's personality .
Personality is the set of qualities that make someone who they are — kind, stubborn, funny, etc. Character traits name those qualities for readers.
4. A character who is generous likes to share with others.
Generous means willing to give, so a generous character naturally shares what they have. The action matches the trait.
5. The dialogue tag tells the reader who is speaking.
Tags like 'said Maria' or 'whispered Dad' identify the speaker. Without them, readers might lose track of who is talking in a back-and-forth conversation.
6. Authors show character traits through actions, words, and thoughts .
Readers learn about characters from three channels: what they do (actions), what they say (words), and what they think inside their heads. Combining all three creates a full person.
7. An exclamation mark inside quotation marks shows strong emotion .
Exclamation marks signal feelings like excitement, anger, or surprise. Placing them inside the quotes shows the emotion is in what the character said.
8. A question asked by a character ends with a question mark inside the quotes.
If the character is asking something, the question mark belongs to their words and goes inside the quotation marks. This tells the reader the speaker is actually asking.
9. Giving a character a flaw or weakness makes the story more realistic .
Real people have flaws, so characters with weaknesses feel believable. Perfect characters are boring because readers cannot relate to them.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
Brave character
→ Faces danger without giving up
Refuses to change their mind
Curious character
→ Asks many questions about everything
Helps a stranger in need
Kind character
→ Helps a stranger in need
Asks many questions about everything
Stubborn character
→ Refuses to change their mind
Faces danger without giving up
Each trait is matched by the action that shows it: bravery shown through facing danger, curiosity through questions, kindness through helping, and stubbornness through refusing to change. This is the 'show, don't tell' method in action.