Sound Words Mood Meaning Quiz: Literary Tone

1. Which sentence uses onomatopoeia to create a sound image?

The leaves danced across the yard.

The leaves rustled softly in the wind.

The leaves were green and gold.

The leaves were blown away.

“Rustled” imitates the sound of moving leaves.

Explanation

“Rustled” imitates the sound of moving leaves.

2. Onomatopoeia can affect the mood of a story.

True

False

Sound words can make a scene feel calm, exciting, or tense.

Explanation

Sound words can make a scene feel calm, exciting, or tense.

3. In the sentence, “The snake hissed as it slid through the grass,” what does “hissed” suggest?

Anger or warning

Happiness

Sadness

Confusion

“Hissed” creates a tense or threatening tone.

Explanation

“Hissed” creates a tense or threatening tone.

4. The word “buzzed” in “The classroom buzzed with excitement” is used to:

Describe a literal insect sound

Show the energy and noise in the room

Make the room sound quiet

Describe the teacher’s voice

It suggests the lively hum of talking and movement.

Explanation

It suggests the lively hum of talking and movement.

5. Directions – Match each onomatopoeia (a–b) with its sound source (1–2).

a. Chirp

b. Crash

Each sound word connects to its natural cause.

Explanation

Each sound word connects to its natural cause.

Submit

6. Which of these words would fit best in a spooky story?

Hoot

Cheep

Sizzle

Snap

“Hoot” from an owl adds mystery or suspense.

Explanation

“Hoot” from an owl adds mystery or suspense.

7. The word “bang” is often used to describe soft sounds.

True

False

“Bang” suggests a loud, sudden noise.

Explanation

“Bang” suggests a loud, sudden noise.

Submit

9. In poetry, why might an author use words like “splash,” “plop,” and “swish”?

To describe movement through sound

To make the poem rhyme

To confuse readers

To name animals

Sound words help readers hear and imagine motion.

Explanation

Sound words help readers hear and imagine motion.

10. Which sentence best shows mood through sound?

“The fireworks boomed and popped across the night sky.”

“The fireworks were colorful.”

“The fireworks ended early.”

“The fireworks were over.”

The sound words make the scene vivid and exciting.

Explanation

The sound words make the scene vivid and exciting.

11. Directions – Match each sound word with its mood effect

Crackle

Whimper

Crackling fires feel cozy; whimpers create sympathy or tension.

Explanation

Crackling fires feel cozy; whimpers create sympathy or tension.

Submit

12. Onomatopoeia can be used for both animal and non-animal sounds.

True

False

Words like “clang,” “buzz,” and “moo” describe many sound types.

Explanation

Words like “clang,” “buzz,” and “moo” describe many sound types.

13. The word “murmur” in a story might suggest:

Silence

Loud celebration

Soft talking or background sound

Music

“Murmur” creates a quiet, gentle sound image.

Explanation

“Murmur” creates a quiet, gentle sound image.

14. In “The waves crashed against the rocks,” which word is onomatopoeia?

It imitates the loud, breaking sound of water hitting rocks.

Explanation

It imitates the loud, breaking sound of water hitting rocks.

Submit

15. Writers often use onomatopoeia in action scenes to make them more realistic.

True

False

Sound words bring movement and energy to writing.

Explanation

Sound words bring movement and energy to writing.

Sound, Words, Mood, and Meaning in Writing Quiz