Page 22 - English Download B1+

Writing

Stories: Making it lifelike
Stories contain description, action and
people. You can make the reader care more
about what happens to your characters by
making them come to life and seem real.
Two ways to do this are by writing what
they say or think, and by describing how
they feel.

1 Complete these sentences with a suitable verb and adverb to describe how the characters from
different stories say something.

Verbs Adverbs
screamed shouted sighed angrily decisively excitedly
told whispered happily nervously

1 She tiptoed into the old, dark house. ‘Hello? Is anyone here?’ she .
2 ‘Someone’s coming to save us!’ the boy .

3 ‘Leave me alone!’ she .
4 ‘I’m going to win this race!’ he himself .
5 ‘This has been the best day of my life!’ she .

2 Now complete these sentences with a suitable adjective to describe how the characters from different
stories feel.
astonished desperate exhausted relieved terrified

1 Nick was . ‘I can’t believe it!’ he said.
2 Amy’s hands shook with fear as she picked up the phone. She was .
3 ‘Thank goodness I’ve found it at last,’ said Jan. ‘I’m so .’
4 He had been so determined to get to the top of the mountain, but now he was too to go
any further.
5 She felt . ‘There must be something I can do to help,’ she thought.

3 Read this writing task and discuss the questions below it in class.

You have seen this announcement in an English-language magazine.
We are looking for stories for our magazine.
Your story must begin with this sentence:
Anne knocked on the door of the house; she was
determined to find out who lived there.
Your story must include:
• an old woman
• a surprise

Write your story. (140-190 words)
1 Can you think of one or two different kinds of stories you could
write in answer to this writing task?
2 What feelings might the characters experience?
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