Varjak Paw: Vocab & Techniques

Question 1 of 10

What does scarce mean in 'Food was scarce'?

A) Frightening

B) Hard to find; in short supply

C) Frozen and cold

D) Plentiful and easy to get

Question 2 of 10

The phrase 'her voice like the crunch of gravel' is an example of which technique?

A) Metaphor

B) Personification

C) Simile

D) Alliteration

Question 3 of 10

Why does the writer use the phrase 'Night was drawing in' instead of simply writing 'It was getting dark'?

A) It uses personification to make the darkness feel alive and creeping closer, which adds atmosphere

B) It is a simile that compares night to a drawing

C) It's onomatopoeia because 'drawing' sounds like a noise

D) It's just a fancier way of saying the same thing with no extra meaning

Question 4 of 10

'thud thud thud' is an example of which literary technique?

A) Simile

B) Personification

C) Metaphor

D) Onomatopoeia

Question 5 of 10

What does loomed mean in 'A rusting iron gate loomed up before them'?

A) Swung open with a creak

B) Appeared in a large, frightening way

C) Fell down in the snow

D) Sparkled brightly in the light

Question 6 of 10

What effect does the writer create by placing 'thud thud thud' on its own line?

A) It shows the sound is very quiet and unimportant

B) It suggests the cats are having a conversation about the noise

C) It creates a dramatic pause that builds suspense, making the sound feel sudden and mysterious

D) It shows that the sound was repeated many times over a long period

Question 7 of 10

What does Varjak's fur prickled tell us about how he is feeling?

A) He suddenly feels scared or alarmed — his fur is standing on end like goosebumps

B) He is feeling cold because of the snow falling on his fur

C) He is happy and excited to be standing guard

D) He is bored of waiting and starting to fall asleep

Question 8 of 10

What does sounding noble suggest about Tam in this scene?

A) Tam is genuinely the bravest cat in the group

B) Tam is trying to disguise her fear by making staying behind sound like a brave sacrifice

C) Tam is speaking in a formal, posh accent

D) Tam has been appointed leader of the group

Question 9 of 10

How does the writer use the description of the dump to build tension and atmosphere?

A) By describing it as a warm, sheltered place that contrasts with the cold streets

B) By focusing on all the delicious food the cats will find there

C) By making it sound like a fun playground with lots of interesting objects

D) By filling the description with threatening details — rusting gates, smashed glass, slashed tyres and sharp fragments

Question 10 of 10

The phrase 'Snow whipped down from the sky' contains which literary technique?

A) Personification — snow is given the violent human action of 'whipping'

B) Simile — the snow is compared to a whip using 'like'

C) Onomatopoeia — 'whipped' sounds like the noise snow makes

D) Alliteration — 'snow' and 'sky' start with the same letter

Varjak Paw: Vocab & Techniques

Assessment complete