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

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

  2. 2.A story is written in the past tense. Rewrite "I walk to the window and open it" so that it fits, changing only the two verbs. Write the whole sentence.

  3. 3.A story opening introduces a girl called Nita and a key she cannot find. Which continuation wanders off the point?

    • a) Nita went next door to ask whether anybody had a spare.
    • b) Nita looked under the mat, and then under the pot beside it.
    • c) Nita remembered leaving the key on the shelf that morning.
    • d) Nita's school had been built in 1962 and had four hundred pupils.

  4. 4.Sort each closing line by whether it ends the story or leaves it hanging.

    Groups: Ends the story · Leaves it hanging

    • I wondered what would happen next.
    • The dog came trotting back through the gate, muddy and pleased with itself.
    • And then something very strange happened.
    • I put the key back on its hook and went in to my supper.
    • Suddenly there was a noise behind me.
    • We never spoke about the well again.

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

  6. 6.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.
    • I lowered the bucket and heard it strike water.
    • She lowers the bucket and hears it strike stone.
    • She lowered the bucket and heard it strike stone.
    • I lower the bucket and hear it strike water.

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

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

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

Answer key — Class 9 English — Continuing a story

  1. 1. 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.
  2. 2. I walked to the window and opened it
  3. 3. d) Nita's school had been built in 1962 and had four hundred pupils.
  4. 4. The dog came trotting back through the gate, muddy and pleased with itself. → Ends the story; I wondered what would happen next. → Leaves it hanging; I put the key back on its hook and went in to my supper. → Ends the story; And then something very strange happened. → Leaves it hanging; We never spoke about the well again. → Ends the story; Suddenly there was a noise behind me. → Leaves it hanging
  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. 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.
  7. 7. first
  8. 8. b) I lit the lamp again and carried it to the window.