How to Answer Comprehension Questions

1. Answer in a complete sentence (with a full stop)

Incomplete sentences are grammatically wrong --> marks will be deducted

• E.g. How does Uncle Tom go to work on a fine day?
• Incorrect: On his motorcycle
• Correct: He goes to work on his motorcycle.

Do not start a sentence with "Because" or "It was because" --> this is grammatically wrong and marks will be deducted

• E.g. Why does Mrs Bala take a taxi home?
• Incorrect: Because she has many things to carry.
• Incorrect: It was because she has many things to carry.
• Correct: She has many things to carry.

2. Do not repeat the question in the answer

Repeating the question in the answer will not result in a deduction mark but it may cause careless (spelling/grammatical) mistakes to occur in the process of copying

• 1st E.g. How does Uncle Tom go to work on a fine day?
• Avoid this: Uncle Tom goes to work on his motorcycle on a fine day.
• Use this: He goes to work on his motorcycle.

• 2nd E.g. Why does Mrs Bala take a taxi home?
• Avoid this: Mrs Bala takes a taxi home because she has many things to carry.
• Use this: She has many things to carry.

3. Answer the question in the tense stipulated by the question

• E.g. Who were Mr and Mrs Low?
• Incorrect: They are Huiling's parents.
• Correct: They were Huiling's parents.

• If "does/do" appears in the question --> answer in present tense
• If "did" appears in the question --> answer in past tense

4. Answer question that requires the meaning of a word

• E.g. What does the word "pleased" mean?
• Incorrect: happy
• Incorrect: The word pleased means happy.
• Avoid: The word "pleased" means happy.
• Correct: It means happy.

• The answer that is given should be able to replace the word in the passage fittingly.
• E.g. They are very pleased --> They are very happy.

5. Answer the question that requires the quotation of a word, a phrase or a sentence from the passage

• E.g. Which word from the passage means happy?
• Incorrect: pleased
• Correct: The word is "pleased".

A sentence

• E.g. Which sentence from the passage tells you that Mr and Mrs Low are happy?

Incorrect:

• They are very pleased.
• The sentence is They are very pleased. (no quotation mark)
• The sentence is "they are very pleased." (capitalization is required)
• The sentence is "They are very pleased". (wrong placement of full-stop)

Correct: The sentence is "They are very pleased."