Comprehension: Analysing Non-Fiction: Lesson 1: Answering Literal Questions

Comprehension:
Analysing Non-Fiction
Lesson 1: Answering literal questions.
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Curriculum Planning and Development Division 2020 2

Section 2: Comprehension – Non-Fiction
• There are 10 questions on the non-fiction passage
• Questions are based on three thinking processes
• Literal, Inferential and Evaluation/Appreciation
• Vocabulary is also examined in context
For more information visit:

https://www.moe.gov.tt/
Thinking
No. of
Processe
Questions
s
Literal Three (3)
Inferential Four (4)
Evaluation/
Three (3)
Appreciation

Materials used in this
presentation can be found in the
SEA ELA Specimen Papers 1 & 2
and the English Language Arts
Specimen Items for the
Secondary Entrance Assessment.
All materials can be found on

the Ministry of Education
website
https://www.moe.gov.tt/
Also, visit the School Learning

Management System at
https://learn.moe.gov.tt/

Literal Questions
• ask students to recall information explicitly or openly stated in the

non-fiction passage
• can be answered directly and explicitly from the passage

Inferential Questions
• the answers are in the text or passage, but are not explicitly stated
• connections need to be made in order to determine the answer
• you can work out the answers by considering the hints and clues in
the passage based on your own knowledge and experience

Evaluation Questions
• you must think about the information presented and write

answers based on your assessment of the non-fiction
passage
• your answers must be linked to the passage and based on
its details

Appreciation Questions
• allow you to provide an answer based on your
emotional response and connection with the
passage (what you appreciate or do not
appreciate about how the author crafted the
passage - literary techniques, forms, styles, and
structures).

In today’s lesson we will look at:
• Identify supporting details from text - Literal

• Retrieving information that is stated explicitly- Literal

Let’s read a non-fiction passage.
Non-Fiction
Writing that deals with REAL
people, things, places and
events.

Water is essential to life. It is part of every living thing and is the most abundant
and widely distributed natural resource on earth. It is used in the home for a
variety of purposes and at the community level it is used in agriculture,
manufacturing, transportation, health and recreation.
5 Fresh water is obtained from rainfall, streams, rivers, lakes, springs, wells and
dams. Some countries, Dominica for example, obtain their supply of fresh water
from surface drainage such as lakes and rivers. Others, such as Barbados and
The Bahamas, get their supply mainly from underground sources and have to
dig wells. In Curacao and St. Thomas (US Virgin Islands), fresh water is
10 obtained mainly from sea water. Factories called desalination plants remove the
salt to make the water drinkable.

The main problem in many Caribbean countries is a shortage of water. During
certain months of the year, low rainfall can seriously reduce the water supply.
Poor water distribution is another factor. A further problem affecting the water
15 supply is pollution. This is caused by harmful chemicals and bacteria entering
the water supply through the improper disposal of household and industrial
waste. Another problem is wastage by consumers.
Most Caribbean countries have a Central Water Authority which is responsible

for the water supply to all communities. The authority maintains and seeks to
20 improve the water catchment areas, and also the collection, storage, treatment
and delivery of water. In order to provide this service, the authority employs
many trained persons for field and office work. It costs a lot of money to bring
water to all sections of the community.

Literal items (answers are clearly stated in the passage).
• Examples
• Name two things water is used for at the community level.
• Identify two sources of fresh water mentioned in the
passage.
• How does Barbados obtain its water supply?
• What happens at desalination plants?

Literal Question
Name two things water is used for at the community level.

Question: Name two things water is used for at the community level.
You only need

two words! Where? Look for
Look for verbs ‘community level’ in
the passage.
Where can I find the answer?
It is used in the home for a variety of purposes and at the

community level it is used in agriculture, manufacturing,
transportation, health and recreation. (Lines 2-4)

Let’s check: Name two things water is used for at the
community level.
It is used in the home for a variety of purposes and

at the community level it is used in agriculture,
manufacturing, transportation, health and
recreation. (Lines 2-4)
Answer: agriculture, manufacturing, transportation,

health, recreation (any 2)

Literal Question
Identify three sources of fresh water

mentioned in the passage.

Question: Identify three sources of fresh water mentioned in
the passage.
You only need What? Look for ‘fresh
three words! water’ in the passage.
Fresh water is obtained from rainfall, streams,

rivers, lakes, springs, wells and dams. (Lines 5-6)

Let’s check: Identify three sources of fresh water mentioned in
the passage.
Fresh water is obtained from rainfall, streams,

rivers, lakes, springs, wells and dams. (Lines 5-6)
Answer: rainfall, streams, rivers, lakes, springs,

wells, dams (any 3)

Literal Question
How does Barbados obtain its water supply?

Question: How does Barbados obtain its water supply?
Which country? What?

Look for Barbados. Look for ‘obtain’
or a synonym
t her ’
ano tain
Where can I find the answer? t ’ is ‘ob
r
‘ge rd fo
wo
Others, such as Barbados and The Bahamas, get their supply

mainly from underground sources and have to dig wells. (Lines 7-9)

Let’s check : How does Barbados obtain its water supply?
Others, such as Barbados and The Bahamas, get their

supply mainly from underground sources and have to dig
wells. (Lines 7-9)
Answer: Barbados obtains its water supply from underground

sources.

Literal Question
What is the meaning of ‘plants’ as used in the

passage? (Line 10)

Question: What is the meaning of ‘plants’ as used in
the passage? (Line 10)
Use context clues Where? Look for the

word ‘plants’
Factories called desalination plants remove the salt

to make the water drinkable.

Determine the contextual meaning of words and phrases in
factual texts - Literal
Remember-
• Context clues are hints found within a sentence,
line, paragraph or passage which help a reader to
understand new or unfamiliar words.
• Context clues are very helpful for learning new words

and promote better understanding of what is being read.

Definition Clues
• With definition clues, the meaning of the word is explained in the
sentence.
• Helpful hints in the sentence that show word meaning include:

“which means”, “that is” or “in other words”, “called”, use of
commas and dashes.

Example of a definition clue
Police Officers interrogate witnesses, that is, they ask them questions and
try to get honest answers.
Interrogate means: to ask Context clue/Hint: “that is”

questions
Remember you have to look for clues before and after the new word and
try to predict the meaning.

Let’s check : What is the meaning of ‘plants’ as used in
passage? (Line 10)
ans
m e am
d ’ g. I
a lle ’. E ---
‘ c ed d-
a m alle
‘n c
Factories called desalination plants remove the salt

to make the water drinkable.
Answer: Plants mean factories.

• The answers to literal questions can be found right there in the text.
• Answer only what the question is asking.
• Look for key words in the question to signal where in the passage
you can start searching for the answer.
Stay tuned for Lesson 2!

Comprehension:
Analysing Non-Fiction.
Lesson 2: Answering inferential questions.
Remember last time we looked at Literal
Questions

non-fiction passage

Inferential Questions

• Supporting details and their relationship within the text -

Inferential
• Use of pictures, words, definitions and context clues to infer
meanings – Inferential
• Cause and effect relationships in texts

Let’s return to our non-fiction passage.
Non-Fiction
events.




Inferential questions
(Answers are not clearly stated in the passage).
• Examples
• What is the meaning of ‘essential’ in line 1?
• State one similarity and one difference between the water supplies of
Dominica and Curacao.
• Based on the passage, how can pollution contribute to a shortage of water?
• Should consumers pay money for the use of water from the Central Water
Authority? Give a reason for your answer.

Inferential Question:
What is the meaning of ‘essential’ in line 1?

Question:What is the meaning of ‘essential’ in line 1?
Use context clues Where? Look for the

word ‘essential’
Water is essential to life. It is part of every living thing

and is the most abundant and widely distributed natural
resource on earth.

Use pictures, words, definitions and context clues to infer
meanings in context - Inferential
• Context clues are hints found within a sentence,
line, paragraph or passage which help a reader to
understand new or unfamiliar words.
• Context clues are very helpful for learning new words

and promote better understanding of what is being read.

Question:What is the meaning of ‘essential’ in line 1?
of ,
a rt ing
s p th
it i in g e
What are the If liv st b t!
r y u
clues?
v e t m rtan
e i po
im
Water is essential to life. It is part of every living thing

and is the most abundant and widely distributed natural
resource on earth.

Let’s check: What is the meaning of essential in line 1?
Answer: Essential means important or necessary.

Inferential Question:
State one similarity and one difference between the water

supplies of Dominica and Curacao.

Compare and contrast
Question: State one similarity and one difference between the

water supplies of Dominica and Curacao.
Find the 2 countries

Some countries, Dominica for example, obtain their supply of

fresh water from surface drainage such as lakes and rivers.
Others, such as Barbados and The Bahamas, get their supply
mainly from underground sources and have to dig wells. In
Curacao and St. Thomas (US Virgin Islands), fresh water is
obtained mainly from sea water.
(Lines 6-10)

Similarity and Difference
rity
ila
Dominica Curacao Si
m
• Needs/Uses fresh water • Needs/Uses fresh water

• Gets water from surface • Gets water from the sea
drainage
Dif ce
fer n
enc
f ere
e f
Di

Let’s check: State one similarity and one difference between the
water supplies of Dominica and Curacao.
Answer: One similarity between the countries is that they both

need or use fresh water
One difference is that Dominica gets its water from surface
drainage while Curacao gets its water from the sea.

Inferential question
Based on the passage, how can pollution contribute to

a shortage of water?

Question: Based on the passage, how can pollution contribute
to a shortage of water?
Look for ‘pollution’

Look for ‘shortage of
water’
Water shortage and pollution are discussed in paragraph 3.

The main problem in many Caribbean countries is a shortage

of water. During certain months of the year, low rainfall can
s
seriously reduce the water supply. Poor water distribution is
ue
Cl
another factor. A further problem affecting the water supply is
pollution. This is caused by harmful chemicals and bacteria
entering the water supply through the improper disposal of
household and industrial waste. Another problem is wastage
by consumers.

Previous Knowledge + Hint/Clue = Idea/ Inference

Question: Based on the passage, how can pollution
contribute to a shortage of water?
• Harmful chemicals and
bacterial in water Water cannot be used
• Improper disposal of
waste
• Less water available

Pollution for use
• Water shortage

Let’s check: Based on the passage, how can pollution
contribute to a shortage of water?
Answer: When people dispose of harmful chemicals and

bacteria in the water supply, the water becomes unsafe for use.
There is therefore less water available for use and this adds to
the shortage of water.

Inferential question
Should consumers pay money for the use of water from

the Central Water Authority? Give a reason for your
answer.

Question: Should consumers pay money for the use of water
from the Central Water Authority? Give a reason for your
answer.
Use evidence to support This requires a Yes or No
your answer. response.
The Central Water Authority is discussed in the last paragraph.

Most Caribbean countries have a Central Water Authority which is

responsible for the water supply to all communities. The authority
maintains and seeks to improve the water catchment areas, and e s
lu
also the collection, storage, treatment and delivery of water. In C
order to provide this service, the authority employs many trained
persons for field and office work. It costs a lot of money to bring

Let’s check: Should consumers pay money for the use of
water from the Central Water Authority? Give a reason for
your answer.
Answer: Yes. The Central Water Authority spends

money to get water to consumers (users) and they
should therefore pay for it.
Answer: No. What reason would you give?

Water is essential to life. It is part of every living thing and is the

most abundant and widely distributed natural resource on earth.
(Lines 1-2)
Fresh water is obtained from rainfall, streams, rivers, lakes,

springs, wells and dams. (Lines 5-6)

Let’s check: Should consumers pay money for the use of
water from the Central Water Authority? Give a reason for
your answer.
Answer: No. We need water to live. If people cannot pay for
the water, they would suffer.
No, water is a the most abundant and widely distributed

natural resource in the world and people should not have to
pay for it.

Remember:
• There is no wrong or right answer but you must be
able to explain your answer.
• Also, answer both parts of the question.
• Stating yes or no only, is an incomplete answer and
would not get you full marks.

• The answers to inferential are in the text or passage, but are not
explicitly or openly stated
• Connections need to be made in order to determine the answer
• You can work out the answers by considering the hints and clues in the
passage based on your own knowledge and experience

Comprehension:
Analysing Non-Fiction
Lesson 3: Answering evaluation/appreciation questions.
Remember, Literal Questions

non-fiction passage

Remember for Inferential Questions


passage
its details

structures).

• Evaluation of texts by making explicit and inferential

reference to texts
• Purposes and audiences for written texts.

Let’s return to our non-fiction passage.
Non-Fiction
events.




Evaluation/Appreciation questions
(Answers are based on your assessment, judgment or critical response to
the passage).
Examples
• What is the most important message you received on reading the
passage? Explain your answer.
• What lesson did you learn after reading paragraph 3?
• If the word drinkable (line 9) is replaced with “usable”, give one
way in which it would change the meaning of the sentence.

Evaluation/Appreciation Question
What is the most important message you received on

reading the passage? Explain your answer.

Question: What is the most important message you received on reading the
This requires your summary
skills and knowledge of
main idea
Let’s find the main idea or topic sentence of each paragraph

Where can I find the answer? ic
p
To nce
nte
Paragraph 1 se
Water is essential to life. It is part of every living thing and is the

most abundant and widely distributed natural resource on earth.
It is used in the home for a variety of purposes and at the
community level it is used in agriculture, manufacturing,
transportation, health and recreation.

ea
id Where can I find the answer?
Paragraph 2 ain
M
Fresh water is obtained from rainfall, streams, rivers, lakes, springs, wells and
dams. Some countries, Dominica for example, obtain their supply of fresh
water from surface drainage such as lakes and rivers. Others, such as
Barbados and The Bahamas, get their supply mainly from underground
sources and have to dig wells. In Curacao and St. Thomas (US Virgin
Islands), fresh water is obtained mainly from sea water. Factories called
desalination plants remove the salt to make the water drinkable.

p
To nce
nte
Paragraph 3 se

supply is pollution. This is caused by harmful chemicals and bacteria entering

p
To nce
nte
Paragraph 4 se

improve the water catchment areas, and also the collection, storage, treatment

Question: What is the most important message you received on reading the
Is one point more
Paragraph 1: Water is essential for life important than the
others?
Paragraph 2: Sources of fresh water
Which one best
Paragraph 3: Water shortage summarises the
Paragraph 4: The Central Water Authority passage?
Or do we need to
combine ideas?

Let’s check: What is the most important message you received on reading
the passage? Explain your answer.
Answer: The most important message is that water is essential/ necessary/

very important for life.
Explanation:
• Water is a part of all living things and we need it to live.
• All countries need fresh water. Some even have to make sea water
drinkable.
• Water shortages affect everyone.
• Water is so important that most countries have a Central Water Authority to
manage their water supply.

What lesson did you learn after reading paragraph 3?

Question: What lesson did you learn after reading paragraph 3?
Make a judgment Focus on paragraph

3 only
Let’s read paragraph 3. What did you learn? What would you
do or not do as a result?

The main problem in many Caribbean countries is a shortage of

water. During certain months of the year, low rainfall can seriously
reduce the water supply. Poor water distribution is another factor. A
further problem affecting the water supply is pollution. This is
caused by harmful chemicals and bacteria entering the water
supply through the improper disposal of household and industrial

Let’s check: What lesson did you learn after reading paragraph 3?
Answer:
• I learnt that most Caribbean countries have a problem
with water shortage. This is caused both by nature and
by people.
• I also learnt that if people stop polluting and wasting the

water there might be less problems with water shortage.

If the word drinkable (lines11) is replaced with “usable”,

give one way in which it would change the meaning of the
sentence.

Question: If the word drinkable (line 11) is replaced with “usable”,
give one way in which it would change the meaning of the
sentence.
Changing the author’s word and
thus the meaning
Factories called desalination plants remove the salt to

make the water drinkable. (Lines 10-11)
Let’s
c
the hange
w
‘usa ord
ble’

Factories called desalination plants remove the salt to make

the water drinkable. (Lines 10-11)

the water usable. (Lines 10-11)
What’s the difference between drinkable and usable?

Drinkable Usable
• You can drink the • You can use the

water. water.
• Drinkable water is • Usable water
usable water and does not mean
can be used for that it is drinkable,
drinking as well as only that it can be
other purposes used for many
purposes

Let’s check: If the word drinkable (line 11) is replaced with
“usable”, give one way in which it would change the meaning of
the sentence.

the water usable. (Lines 10-11)
Answer: The sentence would now mean that desalination

plants would make water that could be used for many
purposes. The water may or may not be drinkable.

• you must think about the information presented and write answers based on
your assessment of the non-fiction passage
• your answers must be linked to the passage and based on its details


passage (what you appreciate or do not appreciate
about how the author crafted the passage - literary
techniques, forms, styles, and structures)

Comprehension: Analysing
Non-Fiction
Lesson 4: Answering literal, inferential and
evaluation/appreciation questions.
In today’s lesson we will:
• Practise answering literal, inferential and

evaluation/ appreciation questions.

Let’s read this excerpt from the non-fiction passage, “Tigers”
Tigers are the largest of all cat species. They grow up to three and a half
metres long and weigh as much as 300 kilograms. This makes tigers the
third largest land carnivore. The only larger land meat-eaters are polar
bears and brown bears. Tigers are not only large; they are also fast. They
can sprint as fast as 65 kilometres per hour for short distances and leap as
far as nine metres horizontally. This makes for an extremely dangerous
pounce. One might not think that such large, fast, and ferocious creatures
need help to survive, but they do. The tiger is an endangered species.

Answer the questions based on the excerpt.
Literal
Which two animals are Answer:

larger than a tiger? Polar bears and brown bears
Tigers are the largest of all cat species. They grow up to three
and a half metres long and weigh as much as 300 kilograms.
This makes tigers the third largest land carnivore. The only
larger land meat-eaters are polar bears and brown bears.
Tigers are not only large; they are also fast.

What phrase means the Answer:
Literal
same as "carnivore“? Meat-eaters
This makes tigers the third largest land carnivore.

The only larger land meat-eaters are polar bears
and brown bears.

What are two skills of Answer:
• They are fast. They can sprint as Inferential
tigers make them
fast as 65 kilometers per hour.
successful predator? • They can leap or pounce as far as
nine metres. They have a
dangerous pounce.
Tigers are not only large; they are also fast. They can sprint as fast as 65
kilometres per hour for short distances and leap as far as nine metres
horizontally. This makes for an extremely dangerous pounce. One might not
think that such large, fast, and ferocious creatures need help to survive, but
they do.

Explain the meaning of Answer: Endangered Inferential
the phrase, “endangered species mean tigers are at
species”, as used in the risk of dying out/ the tiger
passage. population is getting too
small.
One might not think that such large, fast, and

ferocious creatures need help to survive, but
they do. The tiger is an endangered species.

“This makes for an extremely dangerous pounce”. Evaluation/
Appreciation
Is this sentence used appropriately? Give a reason
for your answer.
Tigers are not only large; they are also fast. They can
sprint as fast as 65 kilometres per hour for short
distances and leap as far as nine metres horizontally.
This makes for an extremely dangerous pounce.

Evaluation/
Appreciation
Answer: Yes.
• You can see, in your mind, the tiger crouching and
ready to jump the nine metres to catch its prey.
• Being able to jump as far as nine metres make a
tiger’s jump very dangerous.

Remember, Literal Questions

non-fiction passage

Remember for Inferential Questions


passage
its details

structures).

Thank you,
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Comprehension:

Helping students to connect and

Curriculum Planning and Development Division 2020 2

For more information visit:

Literal Three (3)

Inferential Four (4)

Curriculum Planning and Development Division 2020 4

All materials can be found on

Also, visit the School Learning

Curriculum Planning and Development Division 2020 5

• ask students to recall information explicitly or openly stated in the

• can be answered directly and explicitly from the passage

Curriculum Planning and Development Division 2020 6

• connections need to be made in order to determine the answer

Curriculum Planning and Development Division 2020 7

• you must think about the information presented and write

Curriculum Planning and Development Division 2020 8

Curriculum Planning and Development Division 2020 9

• Identify supporting details from text - Literal

Curriculum Planning and Development Division 2020 10

Curriculum Planning and Development Division 2020 11

Curriculum Planning and Development Division 2020 12

Most Caribbean countries have a Central Water Authority which is responsible

Curriculum Planning and Development Division 2020 13

Curriculum Planning and Development Division 2020 14

Name two things water is used for at the community level.

Curriculum Planning and Development Division 2020 15

You only need

It is used in the home for a variety of purposes and at the

Curriculum Planning and Development Division 2020 16

It is used in the home for a variety of purposes and

Answer: agriculture, manufacturing, transportation,

Curriculum Planning and Development Division 2020 17

Identify three sources of fresh water

Curriculum Planning and Development Division 2020 18

Where can I find the answer?

Fresh water is obtained from rainfall, streams,

Curriculum Planning and Development Division 2020 19

Fresh water is obtained from rainfall, streams,

Answer: rainfall, streams, rivers, lakes, springs,

Curriculum Planning and Development Division 2020 20

How does Barbados obtain its water supply?

Curriculum Planning and Development Division 2020 21

Which country? What?

Others, such as Barbados and The Bahamas, get their supply

Curriculum Planning and Development Division 2020 22

Others, such as Barbados and The Bahamas, get their

Answer: Barbados obtains its water supply from underground

Curriculum Planning and Development Division 2020 23

What is the meaning of ‘plants’ as used in the

Curriculum Planning and Development Division 2020 24

Use context clues Where? Look for the

Where can I find the answer?

Factories called desalination plants remove the salt

Curriculum Planning and Development Division 2020 25

• Context clues are very helpful for learning new words

Curriculum Planning and Development Division 2020 26