English Test – Charles Dickens

“English Test – Charles Dickens” is one among other English Tests that can help learners practice and get used to tests in English. These English Tests cover Reading, Language, and Writing. Take the test, check the answers, and see your level.

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1- Charles John Huffam Dickens was born in Portsea, on England’s southern coast, on February 7, 1812. The Dickens family moved several times during his youth, and the boy attended several schools, received instruction from his mother, and read voraciously.

2- Before his death in 1870, Dickens published fourteen major novels, several plays, numerous short stories, and many other books and articles. At times he was involved in writing as many as three novels simultaneously. A man of incredible energy and vitality, Dickens also acted, edited several periodicals, and worked with various charitable organizations. He twice toured America, giving readings from his works to packed houses. Dickens’s novels— among them, David Copperfield, Bleak House (1852), Little Dorrit (1857), A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, and Our Mutual Friend (1865)—dominated the Victorian literary scene throughout his life, and he was arguably the most popular novelist ever to write in English.

3- Dickens’s realistic descriptions of the London criminal underworld are fascinating and effective. He creates lively characters and situations and has a knack for finding just the right word to devastate a character, drive home a point, or create effective irony or humor. His social criticism still generates animated discussions about similar problems existing today, and the moral issues Dickens raises will probably always face us. Dickens uses coincidences to propel the plot of Oliver Twist. He depends on the kinds of unlikely connections that many modern writers carefully avoid; Dickens himself toned down his reliance on coincidence as a plot device in his later works.

4- Dickens’s story revolves around young Oliver Twist, an orphan brought up at a ‘charitable’ institution without the inconvenience of too much food or too much clothing.’ After nine years, Oliver graduates to a workhouse for young orphans. Steadfastly resisting the criminals’ attempts to corrupt him, Oliver eventually escapes, discovers his true parentage, and receives the respect he deserves. Dickens does a creditable job of making Oliver’s unshakable goodness believable.

5- For critics, Dickens presents a world governed by morality, in which both honest and dishonest characters receive their due. In Oliver Twist and all of his works, Dickens deals realistically and profoundly with social and moral issues that remain relevant today.

I. COMPREHENSION (15 Marks)

A. CHOOSE THE APPROPRIATE ANSWER ( 2 MARKS)

The text is:

1. An Expository text
2. an extract from a novel
3. a book review
4. a poem

B. MATCH THE SUBTITLES WITH THE CORRESPONDING PARAGRAPH ( 2 MARKS)

1. Summary of the novel: …………………….
2. The author’s background: …………………….
3. Critics’ evaluation of the book: ……………..
4. Literary qualities: …………………….

C. WHAT DO THE UNDERLINED WORDS IN THE TEXT REFER TO? ( 2 MARKS)

1. He. (Paragraph 2): …………….
2. His. (Paragraph 4): ……………

D. FIND IN THE TEXT WORDS OR EXPRESSIONS MEANING THE SAME AS ( 2 MARKS )

1. A number of (paragraph 1)
2. Debatable grounds (paragraph 3)
3. Against (paragraph 4)
4. Pertinent (paragraph 5)

E. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES (3 MARKS).

1. In addition to writing novels, Charles Dickens …………………………………..
2. Oliver Twist and Dickens’ other novels are characterized by …………………..
3. Charles Dickens treats social issues in a ……………………

F. ARE THESE SENTENCES TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY ( 2 MARKS)

1. “David Copperfield” and “Bleak House” are two of the short stories written by Charles Dickens.
2. Dickens was able to write more than one book at the same time.

G. ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE TEXT (2 MARKS)

1. Why did Dickens go to America?
2. How does “ Oliver Twist” end?

II. LANGUAGE (15 Marks)

A. GIVE THE CORRECT FORM OF THE WORDS IN BRACKETS ( 2 POINTS ) 0.5 EACH

Africa’s efforts to achieve sustainable (develop)………….have been hindered by conflicts, (insufficiency)………… (invest)……………., limited market access opportunities and supply-side constraints, unsustainable debt burdens, historically declining levels of official development………….. (assist ), and the impact of AIDS

B. FILL IN THE BLANK WITH AN APPROPRIATE WORD FROM THE LIST (3 POINTS) 0.5 EACH

Equity – coexistence – appropriate – initiative – tolerance – cooperation

1. The municipality garden was in a terrible situation. So, Hamid and his wife took the ………….. and cleaned it.
2. Our country will always remain an example of ………….. between Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, and the land of ………….. where the faithful can freely and respectfully worship.
3. A music concert will be organized by the Aqlam association in ………….. with the municipality council.
4. Driss Benzekri was the President of the ………….. and Reconciliation Commission”.
5. Morocco has provided an ………….. investment atmosphere, that’s why it is considered today one of the most attractive countries for investors.

C. MATCH THE WORDS (1-2) WITH THE CORRESPONDING DEFINITIONS (A,B) (1 POINT) 0.5 EACH

1. Skill
2. Ambition

a. An ability that has been acquired by training.
b.A strong drive for success.

D. PUT THE VERBS IN BRACKETS IN THE CORRECT FORM (3 POINTS) 1 EACH

1. These antibiotics have to (take)…………………………………
2. Your car will be ready at 5 o’clock. The mechanic………………………… (Repair) it by then.
3. I hate ………………………….…….. (Wait) for buses in the rain.

E. Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word or expression from the list. Pay attention to punctuation ( 3 points ) 1 each

Nevertheless – despite – although – as well as – whereas – even if

1. He went for a long ………………………. the rain.
2. …………………….Halima suffers from heart disease; she trains very hard.
3. They want to live in the city, …………………… we would prefer to live in the countryside.

F. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING CONVERSATION, RESPONDING TO THE PROMPTS BETWEEN BRACKETS (3 POINTS) 1 EACH

• You: (You ask Rachid about his opinion concerning brain drain): …….
• Rachid: (He gives his opinion): ……..
• You: (You express your disagreement): ……..

III. WRITING (10 Marks)

Write an article for your school magazine about the actions which the government should take to sustain development in your region.

Key Answers to English Test – Charles Dickens

I. COMPREHENSION

A. CHOOSE THE APPROPRIATE ANSWER ( 2 MARKS)

The text is: 

c. a book review

B. MATCH THE SUBTITLES WITH THE CORRESPONDING PARAGRAPH ( 2 MARKS)

1. Summary of the novel: 4 
2. The author’s background: 1
3. Critics’ evaluation of the book: 5
4. Literary qualities: 3 

C. WHAT DO THE UNDERLINED WORDS IN THE TEXT REFER TO? ( 2 MARKS)

1. He. (P2): Charles Dickens
2. His. (P4): Oliver 

D. FIND IN THE TEXT WORDS OR EXPRESSIONS MEANING THE SAME AS ( 2 MARKS )

1. Several
2. discussions 
3. resisting
4. relevant

E. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES (3 MARKS)

1. also acted, edited several periodicals, and worked with various charitable organizations.
2. the unlikely connections that many modern writers carefully avoid
3. realistic and profound

F. ARE THESE SENTENCES TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY ( 2 MARKS)

1. True. “Dickens’s novels— among them, David Copperfield, Bleak House (1852)”.
2. True. “At times, he was involved in writing as many as three novels simultaneously.”

G. ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE TEXT (2 MARKS)

1. To give readings from his works to packed houses.
2. He discovers his true parentage and receives the respect he deserves.

II. LANGUAGE

A. GIVE THE CORRECT FORM OF THE WORDS IN BRACKETS ( 2 POINTS ) 0.5 EACH

1. Development
2. insufficient 
3. investment
4. assistance

B. FILL IN THE BLANK WITH AN APPROPRIATE WORD FROM THE LIST (3 POINTS) 0.5 EACH

1. initiative
2. coexistence – tolerance
3. cooperation
4. Equity
5. appropriate

C. MATCH THE WORDS (1-2) WITH THE CORRESPONDING DEFINITIONS (A,B) (1 POINT) 0.5 EACH

1. Skill: An ability that has been acquired by training.
2. Ambition: A strong drive for success.

D. PUT THE VERBS IN BRACKETS IN THE CORRECT FORM (3 POINTS) 1 EACH

1. to be taken
2. will have repaired
3. waiting

E. FILL IN THE BLANKS WITH AN APPROPRIATE WORD OR EXPRESSION FROM THE LIST. PAY ATTENTION TO PUNCTUATION ( 3 POINTS ) 1 EACH

1. in spite of
2. Although
3. whereas

F. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING CONVERSATION, RESPONDING TO THE PROMPTS BETWEEN BRACKETS (3 POINTS) 1 EACH

• You: (You ask Rachid about his opinion concerning brain drain): What are your thoughts on the concept of brain drain?
• Rachid: (He gives his opinion): Well, I believe brain drain can have both positive and negative impacts on a country’s development.
• You: (You express your disagreement): I respectfully disagree, Rachid. In my view, the potential loss of skilled individuals could significantly hinder a nation’s progress and growth.