Genre Quiz
A
Part I - Examples
Directions: read the descriptions of the texts and determine the subgenre based on details.
1. Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama
This is the story of Barack Obama’s life written by himself.
a) historical fiction
b) biography
c) realistic fiction
d) autobiography
2. Xbox 360 Operations Manual by Microsoft
Explains how to operate the Xbox 360 and includes a troubleshooting guide.
a) informational writing b) persuasive writing
c) science fiction
d) realistic fiction
3. Tales of the Greek Heroes retold by Roger Lancelyn Green
This book has the mysterious and exciting stories of the gods and heroes in Ancient Greece, from
the adventures of Perseus (the son of Zeus), to the labors of the half-man, half-god Heracles, and
even the voyage of Odysseus, who is trapped at sea when he angers Poseidon, the god of the sea.
a) tall tale
b) fairytale
c) myth
d) fable
4, The Complete Book of U.S. History by School Specialty Publishing
This textbook tells the history of America, from the Revolutionary War to the first war in Iraq.
a) historical fiction
b) informational writing c) science fiction
d) realistic fiction
5. “All Summer in a Day” by Ray Bradbury
This short story is set in the future and about a class of school children on Venus, a planet where
the sun is visible for only two hours every seven years. A mean group of school children lock a
young girl from Earth in the closet and forget about her for the whole two hours. She cries.
a) historical fiction
b) realistic fiction
c) science fiction
d) tall tale
6. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
A fictional story set in Nazi-occupied Denmark in 1943 telling of a 10-year-old girl who
undertakes a dangerous mission to save her best friend, Ellen Rosen, on the eve when Nazi’s will
capture Jews.
a) historical fiction
b) autobiography
c) persuasive writing
d) legend
7. John Henry retold by Julius Lester
A great American hero comes to life in this epic retelling. From his momentous birth, when all
the animals come to see him and the sun won't go to bed, John Henry works wonders. As a child
he helps his father by adding "a wing onto the house with an indoor swimming pool and one of
them jacutzis"-and that's just before lunch. His greatest feat is, of course, in his battle against the
steam drill, as he races the machine to cut through "a mountain as big as hurt feelings."
a) historical fiction
b) myth
c) realistic fiction
d) tall tale
Part II – Definitions
Directions: Match the definitions to the terms. Shade in the appropriate bubble.
8. Stories that could actually happen but didn’t
a. Science Fiction
9. Stories with magic, monsters, superpowers, or other things that do not
exist in reality
b. Historical Fiction
c. Nonfiction
10. Stories with aliens, advanced technology, or futuristic weaponry
d. Realistic Fiction
11. Fictional stories based on or around important people or events from
the past
12. Stories that often take place in the Wild West; the main character’s
strength, skills, or size are greatly exaggerated in a humorous way
e. Fantasy
a. Fable
b. Tall Tale
13. Very short stories with talking animals and a moral
c. Fairy Tale
14. Stories with gods and/or goddesses that usually account for the
creation of something
15. Stories with magic and/or talking animals, usually have a human
main character and start with “Once upon a time”
d. Myth
e. Legend