Comprehension exercises are common in language tests and classroom assessments. They are designed to test your understanding of a passage by asking you to answer questions about it. Answering comprehension questions well requires more than just reading — it involves close reading, analysing, and expressing your understanding clearly and accurately. With a few practical strategies, you can improve your ability to answer these questions confidently and correctly. Here is how to answer comprehension questions.
- Read the Questions First
Before you read the passage, take a quick look at the questions. This will give you an idea of what information to focus on. While you should not try to answer anything yet, scanning the questions helps you read with purpose and spot key details more easily.
Tip: Look out for specific instructions such as “in your own words,” “refer to the passage,” or “give evidence.” These tell you how to frame your answers.
- Read the Passage Carefully
Now read the passage from beginning to end. Avoid rushing. Pay attention to the main idea, supporting points, tone, and any examples or keywords. If you come across unfamiliar words, try to guess their meaning from the context rather than getting stuck.
You can underline or highlight important points as you read if your format allows it. This will help you find answers more quickly later.
- Understand What Each Question Requires
After reading, return to the questions and read each one slowly. Make sure you understand what is being asked — is it asking for a fact, an explanation, your opinion, or a summary?
Questions usually fall into a few categories:
- Literal questions: Answers are directly stated in the passage.
- Inferential questions: You have to read between the lines to understand what is implied.
- Vocabulary questions: You may be asked to define or explain a word in context.
- Opinion or interpretation: You may need to give your view, supported by information from the passage.
- Go Back to the Text
Never guess the answer without checking the passage. Go back and find the part of the text that relates to the question. For literal questions, the answer is usually in the same sentence or nearby. For inferential or interpretive questions, look for clues throughout the relevant section.
- Answer in Complete Sentences
Unless instructed otherwise, always write your answers in full sentences. Avoid one-word answers or copying long sections from the passage. Where possible, use your own words to show understanding.
Example:
If the question asks, “Why did the boy run away?”
Instead of writing: “Because he was scared.”
Write: “The boy ran away because he was scared of the strange noise in the forest.”
- Refer to the Passage but Don’t Copy
Use ideas from the passage, but rephrase them. Copying long chunks might not show that you understand what you’ve read. Using your own words proves comprehension and also helps avoid plagiarism in academic settings.
- Check Your Grammar and Spelling
Before submitting, read over your answers. Make sure your grammar, spelling, and punctuation are correct. This helps improve the clarity of your answers and gives a better overall impression.
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