Test Questions on Character Motivation: Preparing for 7th Grade ELA Exams

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🤔 Definition: Character motivation is the reason behind a character's actions and behaviors in a story.
• ❤️ Needs & Desires: Characters are often motivated by their needs (e.g., survival, love, belonging) and desires (e.g., wealth, power, recognition).
• 🎯 Goals: A character's motivation is closely tied to their goals, which are the specific objectives they are trying to achieve.
• 🚧 Internal vs. External Conflict: Motivation can stem from internal conflicts (e.g., guilt, fear) or external conflicts (e.g., obstacles, antagonists).
• 🎭 Indirect Characterization: We often learn about a character's motivation through their actions, dialogue, and interactions with others.
• 💡 Inference: Understanding character motivation requires inference - reading between the lines to understand why a character does what they do.
• 🔎 Analyzing Text: Look for clues in the text such as a character's thoughts, feelings, and relationships to figure out what drives them.

✍️ Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following BEST describes character motivation?
   1. A. The setting of the story.
   2. B. The reason behind a character's actions.
   3. C. The dialogue between characters.
   4. D. The physical appearance of a character.
2. A character who steals food because they are starving is primarily motivated by:
   1. A. Greed.
   2. B. Fear.
   3. C. Hunger.
   4. D. Jealousy.
3. If a character constantly seeks approval from others, what might be their underlying motivation?
   1. A. A desire for power.
   2. B. A need for belonging.
   3. C. A love of adventure.
   4. D. A fear of failure.
4. A character who works tirelessly to achieve a lifelong dream is motivated by:
   1. A. Obligation.
   2. B. Ambition.
   3. C. Revenge.
   4. D. Boredom.
5. Which of the following is an example of an internal conflict that could influence a character's motivation?
   1. A. A fight with another character.
   2. B. A natural disaster.
   3. C. A struggle with their own conscience.
   4. D. A lack of resources.
6. A character avoids going outside due to a traumatic experience. Their motivation is most likely driven by:
   1. A. Curiosity.
   2. B. Fear.
   3. C. Laziness.
   4. D. Disgust.
7. What is the best way to figure out a character's motivation?
   1. A. Guessing randomly.
   2. B. Ignoring the character's actions.
   3. C. Analyzing their dialogue and behavior.
   4. D. Only looking at their physical appearance.