Transcript Understanding Questions

Understanding Questions
• You will be asked to identify the writer’s ideas and
explain the points that are being made.
• Where possible you should always use your own words (unless
specifically instructed not to).
• Wording of typical ‘U’ questions:
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Identify
Summarise
What was
What evidence
Why according to the writer
Explain briefly
Explain in your own words
How does the writer demonstrate
How does the context help you understand...
Understanding
• Context Questions
– Look at the sentence where the word or phrase
appears.
– Pick out a word or phrase that helps you to
understand the context.
– Look at the sentence preceding the word and then the
sentence following to help you.
– Try to look: “backwards and forwards” at the words
surrounding the word or phrase you have to explain.
– Explain what the word in question means.
Understanding
• Context Question Example 1:
He was astute in his application of the law. He thought
about cases thoroughly and based his ruling on the facts of
the case and years of experience and accrued wisdom. The
judge was articulate in informing the jury, clearly and
confidently outlining the procedure of the case. The lawyer
looked askance at the judge, unable to comprehend his
decision. He was incredulous at the result and questioned
the judge critically.
• How does the context help you to understand the meaning
of the following words?
– astute
– articulate
– askance
Understanding
• Context Question Example 2:
The climb to the top of the mountain was arduous. Some
stragglers were exhausted and unable to reach the summit.
Even the experienced climbers were tired out due to the
difficulty of the terrain.
Undaunted some of the group pressed on in their desire to
reach the top, determined to succeed. Their unrelenting
drive was a shining example to the others as they forced
themselves to endure the feelings of pain and exhaustion.
How does the context help you to understand the meaning
of the following words?
– arduous
– undaunted
– unrelenting
Understanding
• Other context questions for practise:
– 2002 q.7
– 2003 q.1a
– 2004 q.1 & q. 10b
– 2005 q.12
Understanding
• Link Questions
– Showing that you understand how a writer has
made their argument flow from one idea to
another.
– Being able to identify conjunctions which perform
a linking function.
Understanding
• Link questions:
– QUOTE the word or words in the link sentence
which refer to the previous topic.
– EXPLAIN IN YOUR OWN WORDS what that topic
was.
– QUOTE the word or words referring to the new
topic.
– EXPLAIN IN YOUR OWN WORDS what the new
topic is.
Understanding
• Link questions for practise:
– 2008 (q. 3a)
– 2009 (q.2)