Comprehension

Part 1 ~ Types of Comprehension Questions

1)1) Direct QuestionsDirect Questions Give direct answers Answers will be stated plainly in

the passage Task: locate these answers

after reading carefully what

the question is looking for

Adapted from O level Comprehension and Summary Writing Guide

Types of Comprehension Questions

1)1) Direct QuestionsDirect QuestionsExamples:- What was the main reason…- Give two examples…- Quote a sentence…- Explain how…- Write down one word/

an expression which shows…

Adapted from O level Comprehension and Summary Writing Guide

2) Inferential Questions2) Inferential Questions Read between the lines Answers cannot be found directly from the

passage Make your deduction Infer the meaning or answer through given words or phrases from the passage Even from your own general knowledge

Adapted from O level Comprehension and Summary Writing Guide

Types of Comprehension Questions

Types of Comprehension Questions

2)2) Inferential QuestionsInferential Questions

Examples:- explain clearly / explain the

contrast…

- suggest how…

- what do you think… - why does the author

suggest… - what impression…

Adapted from O level Comprehension and Summary Writing Guide

3)3) Rephrasing QuestionsRephrasing Questions Rewrite in your own words but keep the

meaning read the phrase or sentence

in its context in the passage

so that your explanation is

appropriate to the situation

Adapted from O level Comprehension and Summary Writing Guide

Types of Comprehension Questions

Types of Comprehension Questions

3)3) Rephrasing QuestionsRephrasing Questions

Examples:- Explain the term /phrase /sentence… - Explain in your own

words…

Adapted from O level Comprehension and Summary Writing Guide

4)4) Vocabulary QuestionsVocabulary Questions Explain word or phrase meaning a certain word or phrase is chosen from the passage You are required to give another word or phrase bearing the same meaning as the word

Adapted from O level Comprehension and Summary Writing Guide

Types of Comprehension Questions

Types of Comprehension Questions

4)4) Vocabulary QuestionsVocabulary Questions

Examples:- What does the word suggest about… - What picture do these words

suggest?- What does the word ‘even’

suggest about…

- What does ‘preserve the

market’ mean?

Adapted from O level Comprehension and Summary Writing Guide

End of Part 1End of Part 1

Part 2 ~ Interpreting Text (Thinking Skills)• Making an Intelligent GuessMaking an Intelligent Guess sometimes, the answer to the question is not given directly in the

passage instead, clues are given from which you have to guess the answer you are required to ‘read between the lines’ and make inferences –

intelligent guesses E.g. At last, the angry passengers were called to board the bus. Question: Suggest why the passengers were angry. (What would be the most likely reason for the passengers’ anger?) Answer: The passengers were angry because the bus was delayed.

Adapted from Score in Comprehension O Levelby Graeme Spencer

Interpreting Text (Thinking Skills)

• Two Kinds of InferenceTwo Kinds of InferenceLogical Inference: based on definitionLogical Inference: based on definition E.g. She cried as she stood beside the grave. Question: Where was she when she stood beside the grave? Answer: A cemetery (because a cemetery is where you find graves)

Adapted from Score in Comprehension O Levelby Graeme Spencer

Interpreting Text (Thinking Skills)

• Two Kinds of InferenceTwo Kinds of Inference Empirical Inference: based on observationEmpirical Inference: based on observation E.g. She cried as she stood beside the grave. Question: Why was she crying? Answer: Because someone she cared for had died. (If you see someone crying near a grave, you would guess that this was the case.) Also, remember that inference will always require an “own words” answer

Adapted from Score in Comprehension O Levelby Graeme Spencer

End of Part 2End of Part 2