Asking Questions Strategy Quiz

Test your understanding of the Asking Questions metacognitive reading strategy

Open ELA Chapter: Asking Questions Strategy

Learning Objectives:

  • Practice asking questions about literature and informational texts to help strengthen reading comprehension.
  • Cite specific textual evidence to support inferences and conclusions drawn from the text.

Overview:
Quick Review: Metacognitive Reading Strategies are ways to practice reading comprehension by being self-aware.

Today, we'll discuss Strategy #2: Questioning. When readers ask questions as they read, they are not only interacting with the text to make meaning of it, but they are also monitoring their own comprehension of what they are reading.

What types of questions should we ask when we read? How can we develop this strategy into a routine?

Pre-Reading:
These prompts can help us to form some useful questions before we start reading.

  • Think about what will happen next
  • Consider what the characters want (intentions) and what obstacles stand in their way
  • Based on your last reading, try to summarize the score- where things stand and what circumstances shape our characters' choices
  • Think about vocabulary and concepts related to the topic

While Reading:
These prompts can help us to form some useful questions while we read.

  • Try to summarize key points from paragraphs or sections of the text
  • Use wh- questions (who, what, where, when, why, how) about details in the text
  • Try to clarify unclear parts and predict what's coming next
  • Generate questions about main ideas to check comprehension

After Reading:
These prompts can help us to form some useful questions after we read.

  • Use analysis questions requiring deeper thinking ("Why did the author write this story?")
  • Try to articulate key takeaways from the reading
  • Look at the devices that the author used and try to guess how they helped with the story's goals
  • Reflect on how the reading relates to your own knowledge and experiences

Excerpt from Chapter 4 of Tuck Everlasting

At sunset of that same long day, a stranger came strolling up the road from the village and paused at the Fosters' gate. Winnie was once again in the yard, this time intent on catching fireflies, and at first she didn't notice him. But, after a few moments of watching her, he called out, "Good evening!"

He was remarkably tall and narrow, this stranger standing there. His long chin faded off into a thin, apologetic beard, but his suit was a jaunty yellow that seemed to glow a little in the fading light. A black hat dangled from one hand, and as Winnie came toward him, he passed the other through his dry, gray hair, settling it smoothly. "Well, now," he said in a light voice. "Out for fireflies, are you?"

"Yes," said Winnie.

"A lovely thing to do on a summer evening," said the man richly. "A lovely entertainment. I used to do it myself when I was your age. But of course that was a long, long time ago." He laughed, gesturing in self-deprecation with long, thin fingers. His tall body moved continuously; a foot tapped, a shoulder twitched. And it moved in angles, rather jerkily. But at the same time he had a kind of grace, like a well-handled marionette. Indeed, he seemed almost to hang suspended there in the twilight. But Winnie, though she was half charmed, was suddenly reminded of the stiff black ribbons they had hung on the door of the cottage for her grandfather's funeral. She frowned and looked at the man more closely. But his smile seemed perfectly all right, quite agreeable and friendly.

"Is this your house?" asked the man, folding his arms now and leaning against the gate.

Question 1
According to the Open ELA chapter, what are readers doing when they ask questions while reading?
Correct Answer: C) Interacting with the text to make meaning and monitoring comprehension
The chapter states that "When readers ask questions as they read, they are not only interacting with the text to make meaning of it, but they are also monitoring their own comprehension of what they are reading."
Question 2
Which type of questions does the chapter recommend using while reading?
Correct Answer: B) Wh- questions (who, what, where, when, why, how)
The chapter specifically recommends using "wh- questions (who, what, where, when, why, how) about details in the text" as one of the strategies for questioning while reading.
Question 3
Based on the stranger's description in the excerpt, which "while reading" question would be most appropriate?
"He was remarkably tall and narrow, this stranger standing there. His long chin faded off into a thin, apologetic beard, but his suit was a jaunty yellow that seemed to glow a little in the fading light."
Correct Answer: D) Why does the author describe the stranger in such detail?
This question addresses the author's purpose and technique, which aligns with the "while reading" strategy of generating questions about main ideas and trying to understand the author's choices. The detailed description suggests the stranger is significant to the story.
Question 4
Which pre-reading question from the chapter would be most helpful before reading this chapter?
Correct Answer: A) What obstacles might stand in the characters' way?
This is one of the pre-reading questions listed in the chapter: "Consider what the characters want (intentions) and what obstacles stand in their way." This question prepares you to analyze character motivations and conflicts.
Question 5
Read this passage about Winnie's reaction to the stranger:
"But Winnie, though she was half charmed, was suddenly reminded of the stiff black ribbons they had hung on the door of the cottage for her grandfather's funeral. She frowned and looked at the man more closely."
What "wh- question" would help clarify this passage?
Correct Answer: A) Why does Winnie associate the stranger with death imagery?
This "why" question helps clarify the unclear connection between the stranger and funeral imagery. It gets to the heart of Winnie's instinctive reaction and helps readers understand the ominous undertones of the scene.
Question 6
According to the chapter, what should you do with unclear parts of the text while reading?
Correct Answer: C) Try to clarify unclear parts and predict what's coming next
The chapter lists "Try to clarify unclear parts and predict what's coming next" as one of the "while reading" strategies. This approach helps maintain comprehension and engagement rather than giving up on difficult passages.
Question 7
Which "after reading" question would be most appropriate for analyzing the stranger's character?
Correct Answer: D) What devices did the author use to create an unsettling atmosphere?
This aligns with the "after reading" strategy of looking at "the devices that the author used and try to guess how they helped with the story's goals." The author uses contrasting imagery (charming yet death-like) to create unease.
Question 8
From the stranger's dialogue and behavior, what pre-reading question about character intentions is most relevant?
"'A lovely thing to do on a summer evening,' said the man richly. 'A lovely entertainment. I used to do it myself when I was your age. But of course that was a long, long time ago.'"
Correct Answer: A) What does the stranger really want from Winnie?
This question focuses on character intentions, which is one of the pre-reading strategies. The stranger's overly friendly approach and personal questions suggest he has an ulterior motive beyond casual conversation.
Question 9
What does the chapter say about analysis questions used after reading?
Correct Answer: C) They require deeper thinking
The chapter specifically mentions using "analysis questions requiring deeper thinking" as part of the after-reading strategy. These questions go beyond surface-level comprehension to explore meaning and purpose.
Question 10
Based on the description of the stranger's movements, what question would help you "summarize key points" as recommended for while reading?
"His tall body moved continuously; a foot tapped, a shoulder twitched. And it moved in angles, rather jerkily. But at the same time he had a kind of grace, like a well-handled marionette."
Correct Answer: D) What does the stranger's restless, puppet-like movement suggest about his character?
This question helps summarize the key point of the passage - that the stranger's unnatural movements suggest something unsettling about his character. It captures the main idea rather than focusing on minor details.