KET Writing: Short Story Writing 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The prompt says: 'Write a story that begins with: It was the last day of school.' What should you write next?
- School is a place where students go to learn every day.
- I think the last day of school is very exciting for everyone.
- Tom ran down the hallway, laughing — summer had finally arrived. (Correct answer)
- Last day means the school year has finished and it is now summer vacation.
Correct answer: Tom ran down the hallway, laughing — summer had finally arrived.
You should continue the story immediately with a character doing something, not explain or comment.
Question 2: Which sentence contains a spelling mistake that would lose marks on KET?
- She walked slowly to the station.
- He recieved a letter that morning. (Correct answer)
- They decided to leave early.
- The dog barked loudly outside.
Correct answer: He recieved a letter that morning.
'Received' is commonly misspelled; the rule is 'i before e except after c.'
Question 3: You need to include three given words in your story. What is the best approach?
- Use all three in one sentence to save space.
- Use each word naturally at different points in the story. (Correct answer)
- Put all three words at the very end of the story.
- Only use the words if they fit perfectly, otherwise leave them out.
Correct answer: Use each word naturally at different points in the story.
Spreading the prompt words throughout the story ensures they are used naturally and in context.
Question 4: Which sentence best describes a character's feelings without using the word 'happy'?
- She was happy and very happy about the news.
- She smiled so wide that her cheeks hurt. (Correct answer)
- She felt a feeling of happiness inside her.
- She was not sad, so she was happy.
Correct answer: She smiled so wide that her cheeks hurt.
Showing emotion through physical action is more effective than simply naming the feeling.
Question 5: In KET story writing, which is the best way to show that time has passed?
- Repeat the same sentence twice.
- Use 'Later that afternoon,' or 'The next morning,' (Correct answer)
- Start a new paragraph with the word 'And.'
- Write the time in numbers, like '3:00 pm.'
Correct answer: Use 'Later that afternoon,' or 'The next morning,'
Time phrases like 'Later' or 'The next morning' signal a jump in time clearly and naturally.
Question 6: Which sentence adds the most vivid detail to a story set in a forest?
- The forest was there and had trees.
- The forest was big and green.
- Tall pine trees blocked the sunlight, and the air smelled of rain. (Correct answer)
- A forest is a place with many different kinds of trees and animals.
Correct answer: Tall pine trees blocked the sunlight, and the air smelled of rain.
Sensory details (sight, smell) create a vivid picture and make writing more engaging.
Question 7: A student writes: 'He go to the shop and buyed some milk.' How many errors does this sentence contain?
- One
- Two (Correct answer)
- Three
- None
Correct answer: Two
'Go' should be 'went' and 'buyed' should be 'bought' — two grammar errors in total.
KET Writing: Short Story Writing 3
The prompt says: 'Write a story that begins with: It was the last day of school.' What should you write next?