Types of Comprehension Questions

Cheatsheet Content

Literal Comprehension Questions These questions require students to recall information explicitly stated in the text. The answer is directly found in the passage. Identifying Details: Who, what, when, where questions. Example: "Who was the main character in the story?" Example: "What color was the car mentioned in the second paragraph?" Sequencing: Asking about the order of events. Example: "What happened after the dog barked?" Example: "List the steps involved in baking the cake." Cause and Effect (Explicit): Identifying direct causes and their stated effects. Example: "Why did the character feel sad?" (Answer explicitly in text) Example: "What was the result of the heavy rain?" Inferential Comprehension Questions These questions require students to use information from the text, combined with their own background knowledge, to make logical deductions or draw conclusions. The answer is not directly stated but can be reasoned out. Making Inferences: Reading between the lines. Example: "How do you think the character felt when they lost their toy?" (Not explicitly stated, but implied) Example: "What can you infer about the relationship between the two friends?" Predicting Outcomes: Guessing what might happen next based on clues. Example: "What do you think will happen next in the story?" Example: "Based on the character's actions, what is likely to be their next move?" Determining Author's Purpose: Understanding why the author wrote the text. Example: "Why do you think the author included this specific detail?" Example: "What is the author's main goal in writing this article?" Identifying Main Idea/Theme: Summarizing the central message or lesson. Example: "What is the main idea of this paragraph/story?" Example: "What lesson does the story teach?" Cause and Effect (Implicit): Inferring causes and effects not explicitly stated. Example: "Why might the character have chosen to run away?" (Needs inference) Example: "What impact might climate change have on polar bears?" Evaluative/Critical Comprehension Questions These questions require students to analyze and make judgments about the text, often connecting it to their own experiences or the wider world. They go beyond the text itself. Forming Opinions: Expressing personal views and supporting them with evidence. Example: "Do you agree with the character's decision? Why or why not?" Example: "Is this a credible source of information? Explain your reasoning." Making Connections: Relating the text to personal experiences, other texts, or the world. Example: "How does this story relate to something that has happened in your life?" Example: "How is this character similar to or different from a character in another book you've read?" Analyzing Author's Craft: Examining how the author uses language and literary devices. Example: "How does the author use imagery to create a mood?" Example: "What effect does the author's choice of words have on the reader?" Distinguishing Fact from Opinion: Identifying objective statements vs. subjective beliefs. Example: "Which statements in the text are facts, and which are opinions?" Example: "Can you find an example of bias in this article?" Synthesizing Information: Combining information from different parts of the text or multiple texts to form a new understanding. Example: "Based on all the information presented, what is the most effective solution to the problem?" Example: "How do the ideas from paragraph 2 and paragraph 4 connect?" Appreciative Comprehension Questions These questions focus on the reader's emotional and aesthetic response to the text, exploring how it makes them feel or what they value about it. Emotional Response: How the text impacts the reader's feelings. Example: "How did this story make you feel?" Example: "What part of the story resonated with you the most?" Personal Value: What the reader appreciates or finds meaningful in the text. Example: "What was your favorite part of the story and why?" Example: "What did you find most interesting or valuable about this article?"