English Language

Writing and Communication Skills

1,426 Questions

This hub tests writing techniques, essay structuring, and effective communication skills. It includes practical exercises on vocabulary replacement, drafting passages, and formatting reports. These English language questions appear in most competitive exams.

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Writing and Communication Skills Questions

Multiple choice story and its elements writing english

Choose the best option to complete the sentence:

While writing an exposition, one should ____________________.

  1. only use dialogue

  2. use short phrases and sentences

  3. use a single sentence

  4. 'show' instead of 'telling'
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

An exposition is a literary device used to introduce background information or a backstory of a character or plot.

Option D: An exposition describes a scene, character or plot and hence reveals more information about it.
Hence, it would be best to 'show' a scene' rather than simply 'telling' what happened.
For example, instead of just saying 'I love chocolate' one can say 'I would smack my lips over any food item with chocolate in it'. Hence option D is correct.
Option A: Dialogue is one of the ways of writing an exposition, but not the only way.
Option B: Using short phrases and sentences isn't a necessity while writing an exposition.
Option C: A single sentence may not always be sufficient to introduce a character or plot. Sometimes it may require a few pages, like in a prologue.
Hence options A, B and C are wrong.

Multiple choice story and its elements writing english

Fill in the blank with the most suitable word:

The most important thing to do when you start a narrative is to __________.

  1. name all the characters

  2. say when the action took place

  3. make the reader want to read on

  4. explain where the action took palce
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The primary motive of any author should be to make the narrative engaging for the readers. If the readers like the way events unfold in a narrative, then only will they continue to read. And if they continue to read, they'll slowly come to know what the narrative has in store for them and will find the answers of the other options from the narrative itself. So, Option C is correct and the other options are wrong.

Multiple choice story and its elements writing english

Fill in the blank from the options listed below:


One way to keep events in order when you write a narrative is to ___________ .

  1. write about a real life event

  2. use consistent verb-tenses

  3. look in a family scrapbook for story ideas

  4. choose an interesting place to write about
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Keeping in mind the chronology of events is very important while framing a narrative. So, maintaining the sequence of tenses becomes all the more essential for proper production of a narrative. Thus, option B is correct. The other options are incorrect because they are just certain store-houses where one can get ideas to frame a narrative. They do not say anything about the construction of a narrative.

Multiple choice commercial applications verbal and non-verbal communication spoken (oral) and written communication written and oral communication ways of communicating non-verbal communication non-verbal communication and interpersonal skills

Organizations expect writing to be professional and free from typographical and typing errors so one should _________.

  1. proofread and edit the document carefully

  2. rely on the spell check

  3. depend on others

  4. both a & b
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Multiple choice commercial applications communication in commercial organisations barriers to communication communication in a commercial organisation communication

Which of the following is a technical error in a written document rather than a weakness in the document's style?

  1. Misspelled word

  2. Vague request

  3. Legalistic language

  4. Selfish tone
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

A misspelled word is a mechanical or technical error in writing. Vague requests, legalistic language, and selfish tones are stylistic or content-related weaknesses.

Multiple choice physics some natural phenomena types of charges and their interaction transfer of charges charging and discharging

Rub an empty ball pen refill on a polythene sheet and hold it on top of small pieces of paper. What will be your observation?

  1. Pieces of paper are attracted.

  2. Pieces of paper are repelled.

  3. Pieces of paper are neither attracted nor repelled.

  4. Pieces of paper are either attracted or repelled.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

When refill is rubbed on polythene it acquires small electric charges. Due to presence of these charges, pieces of paper gets attracted.

Multiple choice character sketch writing english

Which of the following best defines a character sketch?
Select the best option. 

  1. A written analysis of a character's role in a plot

  2. A brief introduction to the story of a character

  3. A written description of the relationships of a character

  4. A written description of the qualities of a character
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Choice D is correct as a charcter sketch descibes the character. Choice A is wrong as the role of the character would tell the story or make the story move forward. Choice B is wrong as an introduction to the story is not a character sketch. Choice C is wrong relationships do not make a character sketch

Multiple choice character sketch writing english

Select the best option to fill in the blank:
You need  ______________ in order to create a character sketch.

  1. all the information about a character

  2. a clear idea of the personality of the character

  3. a detailed account of the history of the character

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

"A character sketch is a description made for the purpose of guiding the writer on such assignments as introducing a particular character to the reader in such a way that both the writer and readers can have a quick overview of the character's attributes; including but not limited to physical appearance, idiosyncratic (individual) tendencies in different circumstances, state of mind as shaped by former experiences and how these will affect their future actions."

Options A and B:
A character sketch gives the reader an idea about the character's personality, rather than everything about it. The sketch is made for the reader to understand how the character thinks and feels. This expresses personality.
You don't need all the information about the character, as it wouldn't help the reader as much to understand the character.
Hence option A is wrong and B is right.
Option C: It is not necessary to know the detailed history of the character, what shapes a character is how he talks, thinks, feels and behaves.
Hence option C is wrong.
Option D is wrong as only one answer is right 'B'.

Multiple choice character sketch writing english

Select the best option to fill in the blank:
A character sketch is usually written ___________ . 

  1. before the character has been identified completely

  2. after planning out the role of the character in the story

  3. from the point of view of someone else

  4. by the character themselves
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

A character sketch is typically written by an author or observer from an external perspective, describing the character's traits, appearance, and motivations.

Multiple choice character sketch writing english

Choose the best answer for the following question:

Which of the following could best help in writing a character sketch?

  1. the character's date of birth

  2. the character's parents' names

  3. the character's hair color

  4. the character's feelings
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

"A character sketch is a description made for the purpose of guiding the writer on such assignments as introducing a particular character to the reader in such a way that both the writer and readers can have a quick overview of the character's attributes; including but not limited to physical appearance, idiosyncratic (individual) tendencies in different circumstances, state of mind as shaped by former experiences and how these will affect their future actions."

Option D: As mentioned above, a character can be portrayed best by describing how they think and feel 'state of mind as shaped by former experiences'. The writer describes the character so that the reader can understand it better. The understanding will come through when the reader identifies with the thoughts and emotions of the character. Hence option D is correct.
Options A, B and C:
The date of birth, parents' names and 'hair colour' do not describe the character in its best possible way. It does not help the reader understand the character.
Hence these options are wrong.

Multiple choice character sketch writing english

Select the best option. 

A character sketch should be which of the following? 

  1. brief

  2. lengthy

  3. self-explanatory

  4. descriptive
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Choice C and D are correct as a character sketch has to describe the personality and physical attributes of the character.  t can be about one selfalso.Choice A is wrong as a brief character sketch would not be enough Choie B is wrong as lenghty character sketch would bore the reader.  

Multiple choice character sketch writing english

Select the best option to fill in the blank:
Explicitly stating the psychological or emotional state of the character _________________ .

  1. makes the sketch interesting

  2. makes the sketch less impactful

  3. makes the reader feel engaged

  4. makes the sketch plot-appropriate
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

"A character sketch is a description made for the purpose of guiding the writer on such assignments as introducing a particular character to the reader in such a way that both the writer and readers can have a quick overview of the character's attributes; including but not limited to physical appearance, idiosyncratic (individual) tendencies in different circumstances, state of mind as shaped by former experiences and how these will affect their future actions."

Option B: By directly stating the psychological or emotional state of the character, we make it sound dull. We must use actions and instances to bring out how the character thinks or feels, or use imagery to display the same. Hence, doing this makes the sketch less impactful.
So, option B is correct.
Option A: It doesn't make the sketch interesting. Directly expressing the states of the character makes it sound dull.
Option C: The reader would not feel engaged, because the writer does not develop the character.
Option D: As the writer does not develop the character, it wouldn't be plot-appropriate.
Hence option A, C and D are wrong.

Multiple choice character sketch writing english

Which of the following is true of a character sketch?
Select the best option. 

  1. A physical description should be given first

  2. It may include any form of description of the character

  3. It must be at least 5 paragraphs long

  4. It must contain the name of the character
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Choice B is correct as it must include everything about the character. Choice A is wrong as only physical description is not enough Choice C is wrong as it would become very lenghty Choice D is wrong as only the name of character is not enough

Multiple choice character sketch writing english

Select the best option to fill in the blank:
A character sketch should  ________________ .

  1. be very detailed and descriptive

  2. convey the personality of the person

  3. be as short and concise as possible

  4. include only physical description
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Choice B is correct as character sketch should show the personality of the person. Choice A is wrong as a character sketch need not be detailed or descriptive it can touch upon the main aspects of the person. Choice C is wrong as short description would not be enough  judge a character. Choice D is wrong as only physical description would not be enough. 

Multiple choice character sketch writing english

Select the best option to fill in the blank:
In a character sketch, the character history  _______________ .

  1. should be lengthy

  2. is as important as the character

  3. should include the major events of the character's life

  4. should not be too lengthy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

"A character sketch is a description made for the purpose of guiding the writer on such assignments as introducing a particular character to the reader in such a way that both the writer and readers can have a quick overview of the character's attributes; including but not limited to physical appearance, idiosyncratic (individual) tendencies in different circumstances, state of mind as shaped by former experiences and how these will affect their future actions."

Option D: There are various aspects to a character. History is just a part of it. Though it's important, it must not be lengthy. The character sketch is not just the history of the character. Hence option D is correct.
Option A: The history shouldn't be lengthy because then the reader would get lost in the middle of the sketch. It should be brief since the sketch is not just the history.
Option B: The history is not as important as the character. It's one aspect of the character. The others include the character's personality, likes, dislikes, hobbies, appearances, style, clothes and so on.
Option C: It is not essential to include the major events of the character's life. If they are not relevant to the story, then they wouldn't be included. Extra information would not help the story.
Hence options A, B and C are wrong.