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Year 9 English — Continuing a story

Carry on a story that somebody else began, keeping its narrator, its tense and everything it has already established.

Name: ________________________

  1. 1.The opening says: "The lamp had gone out an hour before, and I had no matches." Which continuation contradicts it?

    • a) I lit the lamp again and carried it to the window.
    • b) I felt my way along the wall towards the door.
    • c) I waited for my eyes to get used to the darkness.
    • d) The room was completely dark.

  2. 2.Match each opening to the only continuation that keeps everything it set up.

    • I was ten years old that summer, and the well was still full.
    • She was ten years old that summer, and the well was dry.
    • I am ten years old, and the well is full.
    • She is ten years old, and the well is dry.
    • She lowered the bucket and heard it strike stone.
    • I lowered the bucket and heard it strike water.
    • She lowers the bucket and hears it strike stone.
    • I lower the bucket and hear it strike water.

  3. 3.A story begins: "I opened the gate and stepped into the empty garden. The dog was gone." Each card below is meant to be the narrator's very next sentence, and each one breaks exactly one rule. Sort them by which one.

    Groups: Changes the narrator · Changes the tense · Contradicts what was already said

    • He searched behind the water tank.
    • The garden was crowded with people, as it always was.
    • I am searching behind the water tank.
    • I patted the dog and shut the gate behind me.
    • She crossed the garden and called again.
    • I cross the garden and call again.

  4. 4.A story opening reads: "I had never seen the river so high." Name the person the story is written in. Write one word.

  5. 5.A story is being told in the past tense by a narrator who says "I". Sort each sentence by whether it could carry the story on.

    Groups: Fits the story · Breaks the story

    • I can hear somebody moving inside.
    • I climb the last few steps and stop.
    • I climbed the last few steps and stopped.
    • The door was already open.
    • I could hear somebody moving inside.
    • The door is already open.

  6. 6.A story begins: "I had never seen the river so high. My father would not let me cross." Which continuation keeps both the narrator and the tense?

    • a) I am waiting on the bank while he walks down to look.
    • b) He walks down to the bank and points.
    • c) She waited on the bank while he walked down to look.
    • d) I waited on the bank while he walked down to look.

  7. 7.A story reads: "I found the envelope under the door mat. My name was on it in handwriting I did not know." Which continuation actually moves the story on?

    • a) I stood there for a while, thinking about the envelope.
    • b) The envelope was white and rather crumpled at one corner.
    • c) I tore it open and read the first line twice.
    • d) It had been a very strange week altogether.

  8. 8.Put the stages of a story continuation in the order they usually come.

    • First, pick up exactly where the opening stopped.
    • Finally, close on a line that settles the situation the opening set up.
    • Next, let something happen that the opening was leading towards.
    • Then show how the character reacts to it.

Answer key — Year 9 English — Continuing a story

  1. 1. a) I lit the lamp again and carried it to the window.
  2. 2. I was ten years old that summer, and the well was still full. → I lowered the bucket and heard it strike water.; She was ten years old that summer, and the well was dry. → She lowered the bucket and heard it strike stone.; I am ten years old, and the well is full. → I lower the bucket and hear it strike water.; She is ten years old, and the well is dry. → She lowers the bucket and hears it strike stone.
  3. 3. She crossed the garden and called again. → Changes the narrator; He searched behind the water tank. → Changes the narrator; I cross the garden and call again. → Changes the tense; I am searching behind the water tank. → Changes the tense; I patted the dog and shut the gate behind me. → Contradicts what was already said; The garden was crowded with people, as it always was. → Contradicts what was already said
  4. 4. first
  5. 5. I climbed the last few steps and stopped. → Fits the story; I climb the last few steps and stop. → Breaks the story; The door was already open. → Fits the story; The door is already open. → Breaks the story; I could hear somebody moving inside. → Fits the story; I can hear somebody moving inside. → Breaks the story
  6. 6. d) I waited on the bank while he walked down to look.
  7. 7. c) I tore it open and read the first line twice.
  8. 8. 1. First, pick up exactly where the opening stopped. 2. Next, let something happen that the opening was leading towards. 3. Then show how the character reacts to it. 4. Finally, close on a line that settles the situation the opening set up.