Lesson T3.3.1

T3.3.1 Spoken and written language differences Quiz: KS3 English, Unit 3

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson T3.3.1, Spoken and written language differences: 20 multiple choice questions for the KS3 English (National Curriculum), Unit 3: Grammar and vocabulary, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which feature is more typical of spoken language than of written language?

    • Fillers such as 'erm' and 'you know', which help the speaker think while talking.
    • Long sentences with several subordinate clauses that the listener can follow easily.
    • Carefully planned paragraphs with a clear topic sentence and a conclusion at the end.
    • Formal vocabulary such as 'consequently' and 'furthermore' used to link the ideas.

  2. What is a key difference between spoken and written language?

    • Speech uses no vocabulary at all, whereas writing uses a large and varied range of words.
    • Speech is always grammatically correct, whereas writing is always full of errors and mistakes.
    • Speech is usually spontaneous and can use gesture and intonation, whereas writing is planned and permanent.
    • Speech is always longer than writing, because speakers repeat each point several times over.

  3. Why do speakers often use ellipsis, such as 'Well, I suppose...', in conversation?

    • To mark the end of a paragraph in a written essay that will be read silently by others.
    • To show that the speaker has finished the sentence and is waiting for a formal written reply.
    • To show that the sentence is a heading, which should be read out loud as a title.
    • To show hesitation or a trailing thought, which suits the unplanned nature of talk.

  4. What is the effect of 'you know' as a discourse marker in speech?

    • It marks the start of a written quotation that will be shown in a separate paragraph.
    • It checks shared understanding and keeps the listener engaged with the speaker.
    • It shows that the speaker is reading from a script and must stop to find the next line.
    • It introduces a formal list of facts that the listener is expected to memorise and repeat.

  5. Why might a formal written text avoid the contraction 'can't' that is common in speech?

    • Contractions show that the writer is not confident about the grammar of the sentence in question.
    • Contractions are not allowed in any English words, so the full form is always the only correct option.
    • Contractions make writing harder to read, so writers must always spell words out in full.
    • Formal writing usually uses full forms such as 'cannot' to keep a serious and precise tone.

  6. What is the best description of a spoken text read aloud from a script?

    • It is a numbered list of facts that cannot be spoken aloud because it has no sentences.
    • It is a set of visual notes that the audience reads silently while the speaker stays quiet.
    • It still has the features of writing, but its delivery and intonation make it sound like speech.
    • It is exactly the same as spontaneous speech, with all hesitations and fillers left in the text.

  7. Which is a typical feature of informal spoken language?

    • Formal passive constructions such as 'it has been decided that the meeting will be held'.
    • Impersonal third-person phrasing such as 'it is considered that the matter is closed'.
    • Long subordinate clauses that are arranged in a complex sequence within a single sentence.
    • Reduced forms such as 'gonna' and 'wanna', which speed up casual speech.

  8. What does 'register' mean in the study of language?

    • The volume at which a speaker must talk so that a large audience can hear them clearly.
    • The official record of a school's attendance, kept by the office in a bound book each day.
    • The list of words a person has memorised for use in a school spelling test at the end of term.
    • The level of formality and style a speaker or writer uses for a given situation.

  9. Which feature best shows a shift from a formal to an informal register?

    • Replacing every noun with a formal synonym taken from a specialist scientific dictionary.
    • Adding footnotes and a full bibliography to a short personal message between friends.
    • Using the passive voice to report the decision of a committee in a formal document.
    • Using 'hey' and 'cool' instead of 'hello' and 'excellent' in a personal conversation.

  10. Which sentence is best suited to a spoken presentation to an audience?

    • Pursuant to the terms outlined in section four, the committee shall now proceed to its vote.
    • So, let's look at the main reasons why this matters for all of us here today.
    • Consequently, the aforementioned rationale necessitates a comprehensive reappraisal of all procedures.
    • It is hereby noted that the proposal, as previously delineated, shall be considered henceforth.

  11. Which is a typical feature of written language rather than speech?

    • Intonation and pitch changes, which show emotion and emphasis as the speaker talks.
    • Gesture and facial expression, which add meaning that the listener can see directly.
    • Punctuation such as commas, full stops and colons, which show structure on the page.
    • Pauses and hesitations, which show that the speaker is thinking about the next word.

  12. Which change would turn a spoken sentence into a more written one?

    • Adding 'erm' and 'well' at the start of each sentence to show the speaker is hesitating.
    • Replacing 'we went' with 'we went, like, totally', which adds an extra filler to the sentence.
    • Adding 'you know' after each phrase so that the listener feels included in the account.
    • Replacing 'so yeah, we went' with 'Consequently, we travelled to the coast the following day'.

  13. Why do speakers repeat key words in a talk?

    • To help listeners follow and remember the main points, since they cannot re-read the text.
    • To show that the speaker is reading from a written script that they have not memorised.
    • To make the talk longer, because a longer talk always earns more marks in a speaking task.
    • To prove that the speaker has a very small vocabulary and cannot find any other words.

  14. What is the function of pauses in a speech?

    • They give listeners time to absorb a point and create emphasis before the next idea.
    • They prove that the speech is over, so the audience should leave the room immediately.
    • They make the speech faster, because the audience can hear more words in a shorter time.
    • They show that the speaker has forgotten the whole speech and must stop to read the notes.

  15. Which feature of spoken language helps a listener understand the speaker's attitude?

    • Passive voice, which hides the doer of an action so that the listener must guess who did it.
    • Intonation, such as a rising or falling pitch, which shows surprise, doubt or certainty.
    • Dense statistics, which make the speaker sound very knowledgeable about a technical subject.
    • Long footnotes, which give the source of each claim so that the listener can check it later.

  16. Which is a key difference between a written essay and a spoken debate speech?

    • A written essay can use no evidence, while a debate speech must include a statistic in every line.
    • A debate speech is delivered aloud and must be understood on first hearing, so it repeats key points.
    • A written essay is always shorter than a debate speech, because readers have less time to read.
    • A debate speech can be re-read at the listener's own pace, so it needs no repetition at all.

  17. What is the effect of a speaker using a colloquial phrase such as 'a bit dodgy' in a talk?

    • It makes the speaker sound friendly and relatable, although it may lower the formality.
    • It makes the speaker sound more formal, because colloquial phrases are the most formal of all.
    • It proves that the speaker has no knowledge of English, so the audience should not listen further.
    • It shows that the speaker is reading from a list of rules for formal debate and must follow them.

  18. Why is a spoken text often more repetitive than a written text on the same topic?

    • Spoken texts are always shorter, so repetition is needed to fill the space on the stage.
    • Speakers are less intelligent than writers, so they must repeat every idea several times over.
    • Listeners cannot go back over the words, so speakers repeat and reinforce important points.
    • Written texts are never allowed to contain repetition, which is why writers avoid it in print.

  19. Which phrase is typical of informal spoken language rather than formal writing?

    • It is anticipated that the results will be published in due course.
    • Yeah, I thought it was pretty good, to be honest.
    • The findings indicate a significant improvement in performance overall.
    • I consider the outcome to have been satisfactory in every respect.

  20. What is the main reason speech often uses incomplete sentences?

    • Speech is grammatically incorrect in all situations, so it always uses fragments and never sentences.
    • Incomplete sentences are required by the rules of spoken English, which forbid any full clause.
    • Speakers are not allowed to finish sentences in public, so they must always stop midway through.
    • Speakers plan and adjust as they go, so their talk is spontaneous and unpolished.

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