Memoir vs Autobiography Quiz

1. Which statement best describes a memoir?

A book of made-up stories about many different characters.

A true story about someone else’s life written by a different author.

A true, first-person account that focuses on specific experiences or themes from the writer’s life.

A list of random facts and dates about world history.

A memoir is a true story written by the author about specific moments in their life.

Explanation

A memoir is a true story written by the author about specific moments in their life.

2. Which statement best describes an autobiography?

A true, first-person story that usually covers most or all of the writer’s life in chronological order.

A short, made-up story told by a narrator outside the story.

A poem about nature written in third person.

A collection of random jokes with no life story.

An autobiography usually covers a person’s life from childhood to adulthood.

Explanation

An autobiography usually covers a person’s life from childhood to adulthood.

3. Both memoirs and autobiographies are written in first person and are based on true events from the author’s life.

True

False

Both genres tell true stories from the author’s own life.

Explanation

Both genres tell true stories from the author’s own life.

4. A memoir must cover the author’s entire life from birth to old age to be complete.

True

False

A memoir only focuses on specific events or themes, not the whole life.

Explanation

A memoir only focuses on specific events or themes, not the whole life.

5. Which features are most typical of a memoir?

Focuses on a specific time, event, or theme from the author’s life.

Covers most or all of the author’s life from childhood to later years.

Includes deep reflection and emotions about certain experiences.

Is always written by someone else about the author.

May move back and forth in time instead of staying strictly chronological.

Memoirs focus on key experiences, include reflection, and may move in time.

Explanation

Memoirs focus on key experiences, include reflection, and may move in time.

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6. Which features are most typical of an autobiography?

Covers the author’s life in a broad, life-long way.

Focuses only on one afternoon in the author’s life with strong emotions.

Often follows a mostly chronological timeline from earlier years to later years.

Is written by the author about their own life.

Is always written as a fantasy with dragons and magic.

Autobiographies cover a long time, follow time order, and are written by the author.

Explanation

Autobiographies cover a long time, follow time order, and are written by the author.

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7. A _____ usually focuses on a slice of life or a specific theme, such as one summer or one big challenge.

A memoir focuses on specific experiences or themes.

Explanation

A memoir focuses on specific experiences or themes.

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8. An _____ usually tells the story of a person’s life over many years, often from childhood to adulthood.

An autobiography covers most or all of a person’s life.

Explanation

An autobiography covers most or all of a person’s life.

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9. A famous athlete writes a book about their entire life, from growing up in a small town to retiring from sports, in time order. Which type of book is this most likely?

A fantasy novel

A memoir

An autobiography

A book of poems

A full life story told in order fits an autobiography.

Explanation

A full life story told in order fits an autobiography.

10. An author writes a true book about the year they moved to a new country and how that year changed their view of family and home. What is this book most likely?

A memoir, because it focuses on one powerful year and its meaning.

An autobiography, because it covers the author’s entire life.

A fantasy, because it includes real feelings.

A biography, because it is always written by someone else.

A memoir focuses on one meaningful period or experience.

Explanation

A memoir focuses on one meaningful period or experience.

11. In both memoirs and autobiographies, the author and the main character are usually the same person.

True

False

Both are written by the person about their own life.

Explanation

Both are written by the person about their own life.

12. Autobiographies almost never include the author’s thoughts or feelings and are only lists of facts and dates.

True

False

Autobiographies often include thoughts and feelings to explain experiences.

Explanation

Autobiographies often include thoughts and feelings to explain experiences.

13. Why might an author choose to write a memoir instead of an autobiography?

They want to explore one powerful theme, like forgiveness or courage, in depth.

They only want to list every event in their life with no reflection.

They want to focus on a few key experiences that shaped who they are.

They want to cover only the lives of other people.

They want the freedom to organize the story around meaning instead of strict time order.

Memoirs let authors focus on key experiences and themes.

Explanation

Memoirs let authors focus on key experiences and themes.

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14. Which question would best help a student compare a memoir and an autobiography about the same person?

Which book has more pages and pictures?

How does each book choose which life events to include and what message to send?

Which book has the brighter cover design?

Which book has the longer title?

Memoirs select key moments while autobiographies cover many life stages.

Explanation

Memoirs select key moments while autobiographies cover many life stages.

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16. Which of the following are NOT examples of either a memoir or an autobiography?

A fantasy novel about a made-up hero who can time travel.

A true, first-person story about the author’s childhood summers at a lake.

A news article written by a reporter about a famous singer’s concert.

A true book written by an author about their entire life from childhood to old age.

A comic-style book where the author tells true stories about growing up in their neighborhood.

Fantasy and news articles aren't first-person life stories by the author.

Explanation

Fantasy and news articles aren't first-person life stories by the author.

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17. Which sentence best compares the scope of a memoir and an autobiography?

A memoir and an autobiography both must cover only childhood.

A memoir covers many people’s lives; an autobiography covers only friends’ lives.

Both a memoir and an autobiography must tell only about the author’s school years.

Memoirs are focused on slices of life, while autobiographies cover larger life spans.

Explanation

Memoirs are focused on slices of life, while autobiographies cover larger life spans.

18. The same writer could write both a memoir and an autobiography about their own life at different times.

True

False

A writer may write a memoir about one event and an autobiography later.

Explanation

A writer may write a memoir about one event and an autobiography later.

19. Which is the main purpose of an autobiography?

To explore one feeling or theme connected to a single memory.

To describe imaginary worlds and creatures.

To give a broad, factual and reflective account of the author’s life over many years.

To present only one funny story from the author’s school days.

Autobiographies explain a person’s life over many years.

Explanation

Autobiographies explain a person’s life over many years.

20. Which features are shared by BOTH memoirs and autobiographies?

They are based on true events from the author’s life.

They are written in first person using I and me.

They are always fantasy stories with dragons.

They help readers understand the author’s experiences and perspective.

They must cover only one single day of the author’s life.

Both are true first-person accounts showing the author’s viewpoint.

Explanation

Both are true first-person accounts showing the author’s viewpoint.

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Distinguish the Genre: Memoir vs Autobiography Quiz