Worksheet on Openings & Endings: Cliffhangers
English
GCSE
11 questions
~22 mins
1 views0 downloads
About This Worksheet
A worksheet covering Openings & Endings with a focus on Cliffhangers for GCSE students.
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Worksheet on Openings & Endings: Cliffhangers
Subject: EnglishGrade: GCSE
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Untitled Worksheet
Grade GCSE
A
Introduction to Cliffhangers
As the rain battered the windows, she reached the door, her hand trembling. Behind her, footsteps echoed in the darkness—was it the person she had been hiding from all along? Just as she turned the doorknob, a sudden noise made her freeze, and the chapter ends there.
1.
Identify the technique used in the phrase 'her hand trembling' and explain its effect.
[2 marks]2.
What is the purpose of ending the extract with 'a sudden noise made her freeze'?
[2 marks]B
Identifying Techniques in Cliffhangers
Read the following paragraph and answer the questions.
1.
Name two literary techniques used to build suspense in this passage.
[2 marks]2.
Explain how the writer uses punctuation to create a cliffhanger.
[2 marks]C
Creative Writing: Crafting a Cliffhanger
Write a short paragraph (around 150 words) that ends with a compelling cliffhanger. Include at least three techniques you think will make your ending suspenseful.
1.
Your task is to create an engaging ending that leaves the reader eager to find out what happens next. Consider using techniques like sudden shocks, unanswered questions, or dramatic pauses.
[10 marks]D
Analyzing an Effective Ending
The old man stared at the horizon, clutching the letter that revealed a long-held secret. As he folded it carefully, a faint smile played on his lips, but behind his eyes, a storm of emotion raged. The story ends with him walking away into the dusk, leaving the reader pondering what he has discovered.
1.
What makes this ending effective in leaving the reader curious?
[2 marks]2.
Identify any literary devices used in this ending and discuss their impact.
[2 marks]E
Matching Techniques to Effects
Match each technique listed below to its primary effect in creating a cliffhanger.
1.
Technique: Use of abrupt sentence ending
Aa) Creates a sense of calm
Bb) Builds suspense and leaves the reader eager
Cc) Clarifies the plot
Dd) Provides background information
2.
Technique: Use of unanswered questions
Aa) Clarifies the plot
Bb) Establishes character relationships
Cc) Maintains suspense and curiosity
Dd) Explains the setting
F
Reflective Exercise
Answer the following questions about your own writing strategies.
1.
What techniques do you find most effective when creating a cliffhanger? Justify your choice.
[2 marks]2.
Describe a scenario for a story ending with a cliffhanger that you might write.
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Details
- Created
- 1/1/2026
- Updated
- 1/1/2026
- Type
- worksheet