This Literature quiz is called 'A Christmas Carol - Extract 2' and it has been written by teachers to help you if you are studying the subject at high school. Playing educational quizzes is a user-friendly way to learn if you are in the 9th or 10th grade - aged 14 to 16.
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This high school English Literature quiz is the second of two extract questions for A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. It takes place near the end of the novella after Scrooge has willingly received the visit of the final Spirit. Jacob Marley and the three Ghosts have each been to see Scrooge and to impart their messages to him. Scrooge has begun to have a change of heart towards those he has neglected, especially Bob Cratchit and his son, Tim. Scrooge also feels a little sorry for himself after overhearing both Mrs Cratchit and Fred’s wife criticize and poke fun at him. Stave Four takes Scrooge into some uncomfortable visions of the future “yet to come”.
It is always a good idea to read the passage through carefully more than once before attempting to answer an extract question for an exam.
Because you will notice different aspects of the passage on each read-through, re-reading is never a waste of time. The first time you read the passage, aim for a general understanding of the extract and how it relates to the question you have chosen to answer. You can begin to make detailed notes and annotations as you plan your answer more carefully during a second reading.
Ask yourself why the specific passage has been chosen. How does it fit with the rest of the text? Are any significant characters or themes introduced? What happens next? Does the passage foreshadow later events? Does it indicate a turning point? Consider the ending of the extract, asking yourself why it ends where it does instead of somewhere else. What might be significant about the final line?
Pay close attention to the wording of the question you have chosen to answer. Perhaps it requires you to write about mood and atmosphere, or a particular character. Or the question might ask for your personal response to the passage or to a character. Maybe dialog, behavior or feelings are the focus of the question. Always explain the passage’s immediate context: acknowledge the events which precede the extract, considering their relevance. Discuss detail, setting and characterisation in the extract. In your response, you should also analyze and discuss the relationship between the passage and the wider themes of the text. Group related ideas together to structure your writing. Be sure to leave enough time to discuss the entire passage. It is always disappointing to cover one section in so much detail that you run out of time to do justice to the rest of the extract!
Read the extract below carefully before answering the questions.