Comprehension Skills - Vocabulary-Based Questions

In this article, we will be learning about vocabulary-based questions in comprehension passages. So, what are some vocabulary questions found in the non-narrative comprehension section?

Factual / Non-narrative / Expository Texts

• Paper 2, Section C, Text 3, 25 marks
• Vocabulary questions appear in both Sections B and C
  • E.g. Quote a word/ phrase which shows that…
  • Which word/ phrase shows that…
  • What does this word/ phrase suggest about…

• You need to have a wide vocabulary so that you will understand most of the words in the passage and questions.
• Definitions for the words/ phrases depend on the context. You can also guess the meaning from the context.

Practice Questions

Question 1:

While cartoons play a big role in children's entertainment, critics, many of which include parents, have come out to say that cartoon time for children should be regulated more. Psychologists believe that violence levels in many television cartoons, including Pokémon and even Batman, can make young people more aggressive. This is due to the fact that heroes in the cartoons are famed for fighting their way out of problems, and in the process, saving the day. Children may insidiously start to adopt aggressive tendencies such as hitting, or mock punching their peers as perfectly acceptable reactions to problems.

What does the word ‘insidiously’ suggest about the influence of the superheroes in cartoons? (1m)

Type of question: Vocabulary

1. It suggests that the influence is scary and shocking.
2. It suggests that the influence is very harmful even though it is subtle and gradual.
3. It suggests that the influence is harmful.
4. It suggests that the influence is intelligent as it is not obvious.

Answer:

A) It suggests that the influence is scary and shocking.

Explanation:

The correct answer to this question is option (A) - “It suggests that the influence is very harmful even though it is subtle and gradual.”. The clues in the passage are - “heroes in the cartoons are famed for fighting their way out of problems” and “Children may insidiously start to adopt aggressive tendencies”.

Question 2:

Since the rise of the use of tablet devices, cartoons have been used to display values and knowledge that parents hope young children would pick up. In the past, there were some good cartoon series that showed good values. They also allowed children to develop analytical skills by understanding how small decisions can lead to various outcomes. However, many parents are also concerned with what children would learn from newer, and little-known cartoons, without parental guidance.

What were two good reasons for children to watch cartoons? (2m)

Type of question: Direct

1. To display values and knowledge that parents hope young children would pick up.
2. To develop analytical skills by understanding how small decisions can lead to various outcomes.
3. To pick up good values and knowledge and to develop analytical skills.
4. To not learn from newer, and little-known cartoons.

Answer:

C) To pick up good values and knowledge and to develop analytical skills.

Explanation:

The correct answer to this question is option (C) - “To pick up good values and knowledge and to develop analytical skills”. The clues or good reasons for children to watch cartoons are mentioned in the first 2 lines of the comprehension passage. 

Question 3:

Since the rise of the use of tablet devices, cartoons have been used to display values and knowledge that parents hope young children would pick up. In the past, there were some good cartoon series that showed good values. They also allowed children to develop analytical skills by understanding how small decisions can lead to various outcomes. However, many parents are also concerned with what children would learn from newer, and little-known cartoons, without parental guidance.

Give one reason that explains why parents would be concerned with leaving their children watching cartoons unsupervised. Answer in your own words. (1m)

Type of question: In your own words 

1. Parents may not know what content their child is being exposed to.
2. It is because the cartoons are newer and little-known.
3. They might pick up something that is not good from the cartoons.
4. They might watch without parental guidance.

Answer:

A) Parents may not know what content their child is being exposed to.

Explanation:

The correct answer to this question is option (A) - “Parents may not know what content their child is being exposed to”. The clue is in the last sentence of the comprehension passage, which states that parents are concerned about what their child would learn from newer and little-known cartoons, which suggests that the parents have never watched those cartoons themselves.

Question 4:

At an old quarry in Sandstone, Minnesota, a showerhead sprays water over a cliff edge. It mists and then crystallises in the winter air, the water changing to form an otherworldly playground for climbers equipped with axes and crampons on their boots. The people who create this icy playground are known as ice farmers.

Which group of words tells us that climbers view ice climbing as a dreamy enjoyment?

Type of question: Vocabulary

1. ‘icy playground’
2. ‘The people who create this icy playground’
3. ‘the water changing to form an otherworldly playground’
4. ‘otherworldly playground’

Answer:

D) ‘otherworldly playground’

Explanation:

The correct answer to this question is option (D) - “otherworldly playground”. Otherwordly replaces dreamy and playground can replace enjoyment.

Question 5:

The act of ‘farming’ ice is careful work. But a dedicated crew of climbers has done it for years. It’s a recipe applied in locations around North America, most famously in a small town in Colorado, where the Ouray Ice Park boasts more than 200 farmed ice-climbing routes. Volunteers, each autumn, assemble pipes, hoses, and shower heads in order to sculpt climbing routes. As temps drop in November and December, the water is turned on, and over the course of just a few hours substantial ice forms on the quarry walls.

‘It’s a recipe applied in locations around North America’ (lines 1-2). What does the word ‘recipe’ suggest about how ice farming should be done?

Type of question: Vocabulary

1. It suggests that it is easy to follow.
2. It suggests that there is a standard way of doing it step-by-step.
3. It suggests that it requires a lot of ingredients.
4. It suggests that it is tedious.

Answer:

B) It suggests that there is a standard way of doing it step-by-step.

Explanation:

The correct answer to this question is option (B) - “It suggests that there is a standard way of doing it step-by-step”. So, the recipe is used for cooking and includes steps on how to cook a particular dish and the exact things you need. So, “recipe” in farming suggests that there is a standard way of doing it step-by-step.

Test Your Concepts

Answer the following questions based on the concepts we’ve covered in this article. If you get stuck, revisit the relevant section to revise the concepts.

Question 1:

Child psychologists warn that watching fast-paced cartoons, even for just a few minutes, will hinder abstract thinking and shorten attention spans, causing children to be easily distracted. A cheery yellow sponge and his best starfish friend might be a crowd favourite. However, this popular cartoon switches scenes on average every 11 seconds, as compared to a minute for other television programmes. Researchers who conducted an experiment, found that young children who watched this fast-paced cartoon would perform significantly worse in concentration tasks assigned to them.

How do fast-paced cartoons compare with regular television programmes, according to this paragraph? (1m)

Type of question: Direct

1. It will hinder abstract thinking and shorten attention spans.
2. Fast-paced cartoons switch scenes every 11 seconds on average while other television programmes switch every minute.
3. It will cause children to be easily distracted.
4. Children would perform significantly worse in concentration tasks.

Question 2:

Child psychologists warn that watching fast-paced cartoons, even for just a few minutes, will hinder abstract thinking and shorten attention spans, causing children to be easily distracted. A cheery yellow sponge and his best starfish friend might be a crowd favourite. However, this popular cartoon switches scenes on average every 11 seconds, as compared to a minute for other television programmes. Researchers who conducted an experiment, found that young children who watched this fast-paced cartoon would perform significantly worse in concentration tasks assigned to them.

What does the experiment in Paragraph 3 intend to suggest? Answer in your own words. (1m)

Type of question: In your own words

1. It will cripple complex thinking and focus.
2. Fast-paced cartoons change scenes more often than other shows.
3. It will cause children to be easily disturbed.
4. Young children who watch fast-paced cartoons have shorter focus and have their focus easily diverted

Question 3:

But it’s not as simple as just turning on a hose and aiming it over the edge. The intricacies of ice farming include working in a difficult cliff-side environment, often on rappel. Ice farmers must set up long, heavy pipes along the cliff edge, which requires fastening them to the rock face or tying them to trees. It is a multi-person endeavour.

Which phrase supports the idea that ice farming is careful work?

Type of question: Vocabulary

1. ‘not as simple as’
2. ‘working in a difficult cliff-side environment’
3. ‘intricacies of ice farming’
4. ‘multi-person endeavour’

Question 4:

People have been climbing at Sandstone’s quarry for decades, including rock climbing in the summer and a couple of natural-forming ice routes in the winter. Beyond Sandstone, ice farming is seen around the Midwest, as it is a geological fact that the central part of the United States is made up of low-lying mountains. Ice climbing becomes particularly exciting as climbers can get creative in constructing their own faux mountains.

With reference to the paragraph above, explain why climbers find ice climbing exciting. Answer in your own words.

Type of question: In your own words

1. Climbers find the activity exciting because it allows them to make fake mountains.
2. Climbers can get creative in constructing their own faux mountains.
3. Climbers find the activity exciting because it allows them to get innovative in building their very own man-made mountains.
4. Climbers can create their own man-made mountains.