Lesson T1.4.4

T1.4.4 Critical comparison across texts Quiz: KS3 English, Unit 1

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson T1.4.4, Critical comparison across texts: 20 multiple choice questions for the KS3 English (National Curriculum), Unit 1: Reading, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What is a 'critical comparison'?

    • A comparison of the prices of two books in the same bookshop on the same day
    • An analysis of similarities and differences between texts, supported by evidence
    • A review that praises one text and criticises the other without giving any evidence
    • A list of the texts a reader has finished reading, arranged by their page count

  2. When comparing two poems, what should a student do first?

    • Memorise the first line of each poem so that the comparison is accurate in the exam
    • Identify the main themes and ideas in each poem, then note their similarities and differences
    • Write a summary of the poet's life story before reading either of the poems
    • Count the number of words in each poem and compare the totals in a table

  3. What is a 'theme' in a text?

    • The name of the publisher who produces a series of books for children
    • The title that appears at the top of the first page of a text
    • The exact plot of a story, listed in order from the beginning to the end
    • A central idea or message that a text explores, such as justice or loss

  4. What does 'perspective' mean when comparing texts?

    • The date of publication shown on the title page of a book in a shop window
    • The size of the printed text on a page, which decides how easy the book is to read
    • The distance between the reader's eyes and the book when reading in a library
    • The viewpoint from which a text is told or argued, which shapes what is emphasised

  5. Which is an example of a similarity between two texts?

    • Both texts explore the theme of loss through a child's point of view
    • One text is five hundred pages long, and the other is written in verse on one page
    • One text is printed in a larger font, while the other uses a smaller font
    • One text was published in 1850 and the other was published in a different century

  6. Two texts both describe a storm, but one uses sharp, violent verbs and the other uses soft, gentle ones. What is the main difference?

    • The texts describe two entirely different types of weather with no connection at all
    • The texts are written in different languages, so the storm cannot be compared between them
    • The texts present the storm with a different tone and create different effects on the reader
    • The texts are both fictional, so the descriptions of the storm cannot be compared at all

  7. Which is the strongest comparison statement?

    • Both poems use a storm as a symbol: one shows danger, the other shows renewal
    • The first poem is longer, so it must be better than the second poem overall
    • Both poems are good and I enjoyed them, so they are the same in every way that matters
    • The second poem uses more words, so it is more important than the first poem

  8. Why should a comparison refer to evidence from both texts?

    • To make the essay longer so that it reaches the required word count
    • To show that the comparison is grounded in the actual wording of each text
    • To avoid mentioning the second text, which the teacher may not have read
    • To prove that one text is better, because the evidence always favours one text

  9. Two novels both end with a character leaving home. What critical comparison could a reader make?

    • They could compare the colour of the covers and the price printed on the back
    • They could compare the names of the authors' publishers and the towns where they live
    • They could compare the number of pages in each chapter and the total word count
    • They could compare the reasons for leaving and the emotions shown in each ending

  10. Which question is most useful when comparing how two texts present conflict?

    • How many characters are named in each text, and how many times each name appears?
    • Which text was published first, so that the older text is considered more important?
    • How does each writer present the causes and consequences of conflict?
    • Which text has the more attractive cover, based on the colours the designer chose?

  11. A reader concludes that one poem is more effective than another. What makes this conclusion critical?

    • It gives reasons, linked to specific techniques and their effects on the reader
    • It is based on which poem the reader enjoyed most on the day of reading
    • It is based on the poem that was studied first in class, which proves its quality
    • It is based on a friend's opinion, which is always the most accurate guide to quality

  12. Which is an example of a shared writer's choice across two texts?

    • Use of a silver bookmark tucked inside each text on its final page
    • Use of a glossary placed at the start of each text in alphabetical order
    • Use of a thick cardboard cover for each of the two printed books
    • Use of a first-person narrator who reflects on a past event

  13. What is a 'contrast' in critical comparison?

    • A combination of two texts into one document that presents a single shared view
    • A clear difference between two things, which highlights what each one is
    • A link between two things that are identical in every detail of their structure
    • A type of printing error that makes two words look alike on the same page

  14. A student writes that both writers use irony, but differently. What should follow?

    • A statement that irony is a type of weather that occurs in the countryside
    • A list of the writers' birthdays so that the marker can see their ages at the time
    • A conclusion that irony is never used by writers because it is confusing to readers
    • An explanation of how each writer uses irony and the effect it has on readers

  15. Why might two texts from different periods be compared?

    • To prove that older texts are always better than modern texts by counting their pages
    • To see how similar themes are treated in different contexts and by different writers
    • To find the single correct interpretation that every reader must agree with exactly
    • To show that writing has not changed at all over the centuries, so there is nothing to compare

  16. Which element of critical comparison goes beyond description?

    • Stating the number of characters and the total number of words in each text
    • Copying out the first paragraph of each text to show the reader its opening
    • Evaluating how effectively each text achieves its purpose for its intended audience
    • Listing the events of each text in the order that they happen in the story

  17. Two stories end differently: one with a clear resolution, the other with an open question. What is a valid conclusion?

    • The clear ending is always more realistic, because real life always ends neatly and clearly
    • The open ending is always a mistake, because readers never enjoy thinking after a story ends
    • The two endings are identical in effect, since both stories have a last paragraph
    • The open ending invites the reader to think further, while the clear one gives closure

  18. Which pair of texts would be most useful to compare for a study of persuasion?

    • A diary and a dictionary, both listing personal details in alphabetical order
    • A poem and a timetable, both arranged in a regular grid of rows and columns
    • A recipe and a weather report, both listing facts in a neutral and simple way
    • A speech and an advertisement, both aiming to persuade their audience to take action

  19. Which is a sign of a weak comparison?

    • Explaining how the difference in tone affects the reader's response to each text
    • Making general claims with no quotations or references to the texts' wording
    • Using precise technical terms and explaining their effect on the reader's response
    • Linking each point to a specific quotation from both texts to show similarity

  20. Why does critical comparison involve judgement?

    • Readers must always agree with the marker, who decides the single right answer
    • Judgement is replaced by counting words, so there is no need for personal decisions
    • Readers must decide which features are most significant and justify those decisions
    • Judgement is only needed in mathematics and science, not in comparing English texts

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