Q.1
What is meant by a novel or story's setting?
  • The place a story happens
  • The place and time a story happens
  • The collection of adjectives which the author uses in the opening paragraph
  • The time and place of a story, along with its atmosphere and any events which are taking place
Q.2
A story set in a darkening wood, amid the howl of wolves, with an ancient castle just visible between flashes of lightning would be most likely to belong to which genre?
  • Science fiction
  • Utopian
  • Gothic
  • Western
Q.3
A story set in a deserted wasteland created as the result of human greed, warfare, or ecological disaster would be most likely to belong to which genre?
  • Dystopian
  • Romance
  • Detective
  • Historical
Q.4
How is setting described in a play?
  • Setting is described in the opening lines of dialog
  • The narrator always tells the audience where the play is set
  • Setting is given in the stage directions
  • Setting is described in exactly the same way in plays as it is in novels
Q.5
Jack London's short story, 'To Build a Fire' begins: 'Day had broken cold and gray, exceedingly cold and gray, when the man turned aside from the main Yukon trail and climbed the high earth-bank, where a dim and little traveled trail lead eastward...' Which of the following could NOT be true of this setting?
  • The story takes place in winter
  • The story takes place on a busy highway
  • The story takes place in the wilderness
  • The story takes place at dawn
Q.6
The story 'Girl' begins with this line: 'Wash the white clothes on Monday and put them on the stone heap; wash the color clothes on Tuesday and put them on the clothesline to dry; don't walk barehead in the hot sun; cook pumpkin fritters in very hot sweet oil...' Which setting is the most likely for this story?
  • The City of London
  • A Caribbean island
  • St. Petersburg, Russia, in winter
  • A quiet, but prosperous, European town
Q.7
Ray Bradbury's story 'August 2002: Night Meeting' begins: 'Before going on up into the blue hills, Tomas Gomez stopped for gasoline at the lonely station.' Where would you expect this story to be set?
  • Glasgow
  • The Sahara
  • Tokyo
  • South-western United States / Mexico
Q.8
In question 7, which words hint at the setting?
  • Before, blue hills, station
  • Blue, stopped, lonely
  • Gasoline, hills
  • Blue hills, Tomas Gomez, gasoline, lonely, station
Q.9
Within a few sentences, it transpires that the reader's initial assumption about Bradbury's setting is wrong. Which of the following sentences taken from the story communicates the surprise?
  • "Kind of alone out here, aren't you, Pop?" said Tomas.
  • The old man wiped off the windshield of the small truck. "Not bad."
  • "How do you like Mars, Pop?"
  • "Fine. Always something new."
Q.10
Which of the following best describes the effect of Bradbury's opening?
  • The opening gives the impression that human beings have become used to their new environment
  • The opening gives the impression that human beings feel ill at ease in their new environment
  • The opening gives the impression that human beings are afraid of their new environment
  • The opening reminds the reader how alien the landscape of Mars is
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