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Junior Cycle · Junior Cycle English

Junior Cycle English: Unseen prose extracts

How often Unseen prose extracts comes up on the English papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 3 of the last 8 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026.

OL Asked on 4 of the last 8 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026.

Unseen prose extracts, Higher Level(7 marks)

Quick ones on Unseen prose extracts.

(a)'I knew, as I climbed the stairs, that I should never have come back.' What narrative voice is used?
  1. Third-person narrator
  2. First-person narrator
  3. Second-person narrator
(b)A narrator who can see into every character's thoughts is called what?
  1. First-person
  2. Unreliable
  3. Omniscient
(c)What is an 'unreliable narrator'?
  1. A narrator we cannot fully trust
  2. A narrator who is also the author
  3. A narrator who never speaks
Show the answers

(a) First-person narrator

(b) Omniscient

(c) A narrator we cannot fully trust

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Unseen prose extracts.

Higher Level

Asked on 3 of the last 8 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026.

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q3
2025Not asked
2024Q5, Q7
2023Not asked
2022Q9
2019Not asked
2018Not asked
2017Not asked

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Unseen prose extracts questions

Unseen prose extracts, 3 marks

'Tom grinned, but his hands were shaking.' What does this detail suggest?

  1. He is cold and tired
  2. He is simply delighted
  3. He is hiding his nerves
Show the answer

He is hiding his nerves

Writers often show feelings through body language instead of stating them. The shaking hands contradict the grin, suggesting fear behind a brave face.

Unseen prose extracts, 3 marks

An extract is in the present tense: 'I run. The door slams behind me.' What is the main effect?

  1. It shows events from long ago
  2. It feels immediate and urgent
  3. It feels calm and reflective
Show the answer

It feels immediate and urgent

The present tense puts the reader inside the moment as it happens, which suits fast, tense action. The past tense can feel more reflective.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 4 of the last 8 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026.

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q4
2025Q8
2024Not asked
2023Not asked
2022Q6
2019Not asked
2018Q5, Q6
2017Not asked

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Unseen prose extracts questions

Unseen prose extracts, 3 marks

Read: 'I'll never forgive you,' she hissed. Her tone is...

  1. Joyful
  2. Bored
  3. Bitter
Show the answer

Bitter

Never forgive and the verb hissed show deep anger and hurt. Speech verbs like hissed, sobbed or chuckled are strong clues to tone.

Unseen prose extracts, 3 marks

Read: 'Sunlight danced on the water as children splashed and laughed.' The mood is...

  1. Sad and lonely
  2. Happy and carefree
  3. Dark and frightening
Show the answer

Happy and carefree

Sunlight, dancing, splashing and laughter create a light, joyful mood. Look at the images and verbs to decide the mood.

Unseen prose extracts, 3 marks

Read: 'Dad's jaw tightened. He said nothing.' What does this suggest?

  1. Dad is angry
  2. Dad is delighted
  3. Dad is asleep
Show the answer

Dad is angry

A tight jaw and silence show anger being held back. Writers often show feelings through body language rather than naming them.

Other English topics

All of Junior Cycle English