A Christmas Carol (AQA GCSE English Literature)

Exam Questions

7 hours167 questions
11 mark

What is the significance of Scrooge’s support for prisons and workhouses in Stave 1?

  • It shows Scrooge's ignorance and flawed views on how to address poverty.

  •  It highlights Scrooge’s misguided attempt at generosity towards the poor.

  • It demonstrates Scrooge’s concern for public welfare.

  • It reflects Scrooge’s desire to reform criminals through harsh institutions.

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21 mark

Which of these characters is used by Dickens to underscore the plight of the poor?

  • Fred

  • Bob Cratchit

  • Marley’s ghost

  • Belle

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32 marks

What societal problems does Dickens use the characters Ignorance and Want to represent?

  • The ignorance of those who fail to see the true meaning of Christmas.

  • The dangers of unchecked greed and its impact on society.

  • The consequences of societal neglect towards the poor and vulnerable.

  • The importance of education in breaking the cycle of poverty.

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41 mark

How does Dickens contrast the Cratchit family’s home with Scrooge’s wealth?

  • by describing the Cratchits’ home as large and empty

  • by showing the Cratchits’ home as small and humble

  • by depicting the Cratchits living in unbearable circumstances

  • by presenting the Cratchits’ home as next door to a mansion

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51 mark

What phrase does Scrooge use to express his feelings about Christmas in Stave 1?

  • “Merry Christmas to all!”

  •  “Christmas is a time for giving!”

  • "God bless us every one!”

  •  “Bah! Humbug!”

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61 mark

Which of the following is true about Marley’s death as described in the novella?

  • It is described with deep emotion and loss.

  • It is portrayed as a tragic event.

  • It is recounted as a pivotal moment in Scrooge’s life.

  • It is presented in a clinical and detached manner.

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71 mark

Which is the earliest sign of Scrooge’s transformation in the novella?

  • when he regrets not giving money to a carol singer

  • when he donates money to the poor

  • when he embraces his nephew Fred

  • when he buys Christmas gifts for the Cratchits

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81 mark

Describe the relationship between Scrooge and Marley as presented in Stave 1. How does it contribute to the reader's initial perception of Scrooge?

  • They are depicted as lifelong friends, illustrating Scrooge’s capacity for maintaining social connections.

  • Their relationship is close and affectionate, showing Scrooge’s capacity to form deep bonds with others.

  • Their relationship is purely business-related, which highlights Scrooge’s lack of affection and focus on material gain.

  • Their relationship is one of rivalry and competition, emphasising Scrooge’s ruthless ambition in relation to business.

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91 mark

How does Dickens use the theme of death to emphasise the novella’s message about the consequences of living a life devoid of compassion and kindness?

  • by describing, in a vision, joyous celebrations after Scrooge’s death

  • by contrasting Scrooge’s lonely and bleak death with Tiny Tim’s death

  • by presenting death as the inevitable consequence of living a life of selfishness

  • by showing how death only affects the poor and helpless

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101 mark

Explain how Dickens uses the Cratchit family to convey his message about the importance of family and relationships.

  • He shows the Cratchits’ wealth and status in comparison to Scrooge’s.

  • He presents the Cratchits as disconnected and discontent due to their poverty.

  • He portrays the Cratchits as a loving, united family despite their financial struggles.

  • He illustrates the Cratchits’ focus on material possessions and their resentment towards Scrooge.

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11 mark

How does Dickens illustrate the contrast between wealth and poverty through the Cratchit family’s home?

  • by describing their home as large, but empty of material possessions

  • by showing their home as small and humble, yet filled with love

  • by depicting their home as representing their lack of work ethic

  • by presenting their home as cold and empty, reflecting their poverty

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21 mark

Summarise how Scrooge’s relationship with society is portrayed at the beginning of the novella.

  • Scrooge is isolated and ostracised, reflecting his cold and unfeeling nature.

  • Scrooge is well-regarded and respected by all, showing his value to local society.

  • Scrooge is feared and admired for his wealth, demonstrating his power.

  • Scrooge is indifferent to society, focusing solely on his own happiness and wealth.

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31 mark

Comment on the significance of Fred’s character in contrast to Scrooge.

  • Fred represents the same miserly attitude as Scrooge, emphasising their shared family values.

  • Fred's wealth surpasses Scrooge's, showing his success and highlighting the benefits of a generous approach to life.

  • Scrooge’s miserly and pessimistic behaviour highlights Fred’s optimism and cheerfulness for life.

  • Scrooge's loneliness foreshadows Fred's eventual fate, suggesting that even kind-hearted individuals may succumb to isolation.

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41 mark

How might Scrooge’s change of heart towards the poor affect the lives of people like Bob Cratchit after the novella ends?

  • Scrooge’s change would lead to better wages and working conditions for people like Bob, improving their quality of life.

  • Scrooge’s change would have no impact on the lives of people like Bob, but the younger generation may be treated more fairly.

  • Scrooge’s change would make him reluctant to hire people like Bob, believing that they no longer need his help.

  • Scrooge’s change would only benefit himself, as his personal growth is central to the novella.

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51 mark

Using your understanding of the novella, suggest what lesson Scrooge learns from the Ghost of Christmas Past.

  • Scrooge learns that his wealth is the most important means by which he can help others.

  • Scrooge learns that the past cannot be changed, and he will always suffer because of it.

  • Scrooge learns to cherish relationships with others, and he regrets losing them due to his greed.

  • Scrooge learns that focusing on his business is the only way to make amends for his mistakes.

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61 mark

Suggest how Dickens uses the character of Belle to comment on the consequences of greed.

  • Belle's character shows that greed can sometimes lead to financial success and personal fulfilment in one's career and relationships.

  • Belle's character demonstrates that greed can never conquer true love, as her devotion to Scrooge remains unwavering despite his changing priorities.

  • Belle’s departure from Scrooge’s life illustrates how greed can destroy personal relationships and lead to loneliness and isolation.

  • Belle's relationship with Scrooge shows that greed can be used to help others when financial success is shared with loved ones and the community.

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71 mark

Based on the events of the novella, how might Tiny Tim’s life have been different if Scrooge’s character had not been transformed?

  • Tiny Tim’s health would have deteriorated due to Bob’s inability to afford proper care, leading to his death.

  • Tiny Tim would have been put up for adoption in the hope that a wealthy family could ensure his survival.

  • Tiny Tim would have grown up healthy without any help, as his condition was very common at the time.

  • Tiny Tim would have had to leave his family to seek better medical assistance elsewhere.

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11 mark

How does Dickens use the Cratchit family to challenge Victorian misconceptions about the poor?

  • by depicting them as lazy and dependent on charity

  • by presenting them as industrious and morally upright

  • by showing that they live in opulence despite their poverty

  • by suggesting that their poverty is due to their own choices

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21 mark

Discuss how the portrayal of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come contributes to the theme of death and loss.

  • The spirit’s ominous presence highlights the inevitability of death and its consequences.

  • The spirit is less significant in contributing to the theme of death compared to the other spirits.

  • The spirit’s role is primarily to show Scrooge his past mistakes rather than focus on death.

  • The spirit symbolises hope and rebirth, contrary to the theme of death and loss.

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31 mark

Analyse how Dickens uses the contrast between Scrooge and Bob Cratchit to comment on social class disparities. Which statement is most accurate?

  • Dickens shows that Scrooge and Bob are ultimately very similar despite their different social classes.

  • Dickens emphasises the differences in their lives and highlights the injustices faced by the working classes.

  • Dickens portrays Bob as envious of Scrooge’s wealth, thus reinforcing social class divisions.

  • Dickens depicts Scrooge's wealth as a burden and Bob's poverty as a source of freedom.

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41 mark

Evaluate the role of Marley’s ghost in reinforcing the novella’s message about the consequences of a life driven by greed.

  • Marley’s ghost is a minor character with little meaningful influence on the novella’s message.

  • Marley’s ghost serves as a warning to Scrooge about the consequences of greed, reinforcing the novella’s moral message.

  • Marley’s ghost fails to convey the seriousness of Scrooge’s situation, diminishing the impact of the moral message.

  • Marley’s ghost largely highlights Scrooge’s lack of friendship rather than focusing on the consequences of greed.

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51 mark

Evaluate the impact of Scrooge’s transformation on the overall message of the novella.

  • It reinforces the idea that only the wealthy can bring about social change.

  • It demonstrates that personal transformation is necessary for societal improvement.

  • It suggests that redemption is possible for everyone, regardless of their past.

  • It downplays the significance of charity by focusing solely on Scrooge’s internal change.

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61 mark

Critique the effectiveness of using the character of Tiny Tim to highlight issues of poverty in Victorian society.

  • Tiny Tim’s situation effectively evokes sympathy and highlights the harsh realities faced by the poor.

  • Tiny Tim is not wholly effective in highlighting poverty because his character is too idealised to be believable.

  • Tiny Tim’s role is less effective at highlighting social issues because Dickens focuses more on his illness than on poverty.

  • Tiny Tim’s character ultimately downplays the severity of poverty by presenting a hopeful image.

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