Comprehension

In this article, we will be learning a little more about answering comprehension questions. 

The Comprehension Section of the paper consists of a passage where students will have to answer a set of questions about the passage. 

You should scan the comprehension passage for contextual clues, which can lead you to the correct answer. Let us take a closer look at one of the more commonly tested questions in the comprehension section, factual or direct questions.

Factual/Direct Questions

Factual or Direct Questions start with 5W1H interrogative words. The answers to factual questions can be found directly in the comprehension text. 

The factual questions that have 5W1H interrogative words are:

1. The ‘Who’ Question - Provide the person's name or identity as given/implied. There might be a few cases where the person may or may not have a name; be sure to understand who the pronouns in a passage refer to. But, the answer should not refer to an item or object!
2. The ‘What’ Question - Provide the actions, dialogue or incidents. You should look for the most accurate answer in the passage that fits the keywords of the question.
3. The ‘When’ Question - Provide the time frame or period. Use the connector “when” to accurately pinpoint the time.
4. The ‘Where’ Question - Provide the place or setting. Use prepositions of place/ location/ direction/ movement such as “in” or “at” or “to” to figure out the answer.
5. The ‘Why’ Question - Provide the reasons for why something happened. Use connectors such as “because” or “as” to link to the answer found in the passage.
6. The ‘How’ Question - Explain the way or means which led to something occurring. Use connectors such as “when” or “by/ from” to link your answer.
    

Watch our video lesson!

Practice Questions

Question 1:

The Bermuda Triangle, a region of the Atlantic Ocean between Florida, Puerto Rico and Bermuda, is a hotspot of mystery. Countless ships and aircraft have entered the Bermuda Triangle and mysteriously vanished.

Some people believe that the disappearances were caused by attacks from giant squids, while others guessed that they were abducted by aliens. However, in 1975, Larry Kusche, an American, decided to investigate the incidents and he concluded that most of them were not mysterious. Since then, many scientists have offered alternative theories for the disappearances.

Who first concluded that disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle were not actually mysterious?

1. Puerto Rico
2. Americans
3. Larry Kusche
4. Scientists

Solution:

The correct answer to the question is option (3) - “Larry Kusche”. As per the comprehension passage, Larry Kusche is the person who decided to investigate the incidents in 1975 and concluded that most of the incidents were not mysterious.

Question 2:

Mervin’s father handed a small grey box to him after he returned from the home of Mervin’s late grandmother.

“Grandma wanted you to have this,” he said in a soft voice as he patted Mervin’s head. Mervin went to his bedroom holding the box in his hands, wondering what was in it.

Who was the box from?

1. Mervin
2. Mervin’s father
3. Mervin’s mother
4. Mervin’s grandmother

Solution:

The correct answer to this question is option (4) - “Mervin’s grandmother”. As per the comprehension passage, Mervin’s father handed over a grey box to him and told him that his grandmother wanted him to have that.

Question 3:

There are certain steps one can take to protect against dengue. As the Aedes mosquito tends to breed in stagnant water, it is highly important to check for and remove stagnant water in the house. This can include cups with water that are left in the sink or half-empty buckets in the bathroom. Mosquito bites can also be prevented by using insect repellant, or by sleeping in rooms with wire-mesh screens that keep out insects.

Where do mosquitoes breed?

1. In stagnant water.
2. In the house.
3. In the bathroom.
4. In the bedroom.

Solution:

The correct answer to this question is option (1) - "In stagnant water". As per the comprehension passage provided above, the Aedes mosquito tends to breed in stagnant water, and it is highly important to remove stagnant water in the house regularly.

Question 4:

Soon, the scorching summer arrived. The desert dried up and there was a lack of water for the plants. Even the rose’s beauty could not save her. As she started to wilt, she noticed that sparrows had come to drink from the cactus beside her. She was desperate, and although ashamed, asked the cactus if she, too, could get some water. Kindly, the cactus agreed. This is how the rose made it through summer, with her new friend.

How did the rose make it through summer?

1. The cactus shared water with the rose.
2. The rose prayed for water.
3. The sparrows gave the rose some water.
4. The rose waited for rainfall.

Solution:

The correct answer to the question is option (1) - "The cactus shared water with the rose". As per the comprehension passage, the rose asked the cactus if she could also get some water and the cactus agreed to provide it. 

Question 5:

Last Christmas, Xander brought his family on a trip to Australia. After some discussion, they chose to go to a farm stay instead and experience farm life. They thought it’d be a nice break from the bustle of city life. It would be a total of 4 nights in a beautiful cottage in the picturesque countryside.

Why did Xander and his family choose to visit a farm in Australia?

1. They wanted to become farmers.
2. They were sick and tired of city life.
3. They wanted to experience life on a farm.
4. They wanted to take beautiful pictures.

Solution:

The correct answer to this question is option (3) - “They wanted to experience life on a farm”. As per the comprehension passage provided above, they chose to go to a farm stay after some discussion and experience farm life.

Test Your Concepts

Answer the following questions based on the concepts we’ve covered in this article. If you get stuck, look through the requirements for each type of factual or direct question.

Question 1:

The family situation didn’t stop the boy’s dream and with Makofsky’s help, Tani did not disappoint. He won seven trophies and was ranked 27 in his age category within less than a year. He also made big news when he defeated 73 competitors to win the New York State Scholastic Chess K-3 Championship in 2019. Tani’s astounding journey from refugee to chess champion was documented in a 2020 autobiography.

When did Tani win his first state-level chess competition?

1. 2018
2. 2019
3. 2020
4. 2021

Question 2:

Globally, there are approximately 100 shark attacks on humans each year, with Great White Sharks being responsible for nearly half this figure. Recent studies have shown that these creatures are naturally curious. Consequently, most of their attacks on human beings are not lethal as the Great Whites are merely sampling their human victims rather than actually preying on them. Hence, the sharks typically take a nibble at unsuspecting surfers before retreating to the depths of the ocean. Therefore, research is proving that humans are not part of a Great White Shark’s preferred diet.

What did research show about the Great White Shark?

1. The Great White Shark is a ferocious predator.
2. The Great White Shark is responsible for more than half of the shark attacks on humans.
3. The Great White Shark is naturally curious.
4. The Great White Shark enjoys nibbling on its food.

Question 3:

On the third afternoon of the trip, while Jeff was asleep in the car, he was jolted awake by a sudden hard bump. The car had skidded on the wet road and had hit the road divider.

The car was only slightly dented, but Jeff’s father had hurt his hand and was unable to drive. Jeff then took over and drove them to the clinic.

How do we know Jeff’s father could not drive?

1. His father had hit the road divider.
2. His father had hurt his hand.
3. His father wanted to sleep.
4. His father wanted Jeff to sleep.