1. Close Reading
A step by step guide…

2. Question Types
There are nine key question types at Intermediate Two level.
There are step by step instructions for how to answer each of these question types
You must be able to recognise these questions
You must use the steps to answer them

3. Basic Meaning Questions
These questions test your basic understanding of the text.
Always answer in your own words as far as possible. Remember you do this by:
Changing the words
Changing the order of the words
Changing the parts of speech or
Simplifying
Pay attention to the number of marks awarded for these questions and give an answer of appropriate length.

4. Context Questions
These questions ask you to show that you understand the meaning of a word by looking at the words around them – their context.
Step 1: Explain the meaning of the word
Step 2: quote words from the context that suggest this meaning
Step 3: Explain what is suggested by the words that you quoted and how this helps to suggest the original meaning.

5. Word Choice Question
Word choice questions ask you to consider why a writer has used a word or group of words, and what effect they are trying to create.
Step 1: Quote the words that you are being asked to consider
Step 2: Explain the connotations or associated meanings of these words
Step 3: Highlight the use of any figures of speech – metaphor, euphemism, hyperbole etc

6. Structure Questions
These questions ask you to show that you understand and can recognise the writer’s use of punctuation, sentence length, and patterns
Step 1:Identify the punctuation or structural technique
Step 2: Explain the effect created by this technique and link it to the passage.

7. Link Questions
These questions ask you to consider the way that paragraphs or sections of paragraphs are linked together
Step 1: Quote the section of the link sentence that refers back to the previous paragraph
Step 2: Explain the idea that it links back to
Step 3: Quote the section of the link sentence that refers forward to the next paragraph
Step 4: Explain the idea that it links forward to
Step 5: Highlight key connective words

8. Tone Questions
These questions ask you to identify the attitude of the writer towards their chosen topic. You have to show that you understand how the author feels about the subject they are discussing.
Step 1: Identify the tone (start by working out whether it is positive or negative, formal or informal and ask yourself what has given you this impression
Step 2: Quote words or phrases that suggest this tone
Step 3:Explain why the quotations suggest the tone you have identified

9. Imagery Questions
These questions require you to identify an image, the technique used to create it and comment on the effectiveness of it
Step 1: State what technique is being used (simile, metaphor or personification)
Step 2: Identify the literal and figurative objects in the comparison
Step 3: Identify the qualities that the two things have in common (size, texture, appearance, temperature, smell etc)
Step 4: Explain why the comparison is effective in the context of the passage

10. Contrast Questions
These questions require you to understand comparisons and the reasons that the
Step 1: Explain what two things are being contrasted or compared – you may wish to quote here
Step 2: Identify what is similar about the contrasted items
Step 3: Identify what is different about the contrasted items
Step 4: Comment on the effect created by the contrast in terms of the passage as a whole

11. Evaluation Questions
This requires you to give your opinion on the effectiveness of a technique, or conclusion of an article.
Step 1: Give your opinion – effective or not?
Step 2: Explain what is effective about it
Look for links to other sections in the passage
Look for links in terms of the meaning the writer is trying to convey.

12. Tag – Answer Analysis
When you get a CR paper back. Tally up the number of marks lost against the reasons why you have lost them in order to give yourself clear targets
QU = question not attempted
RPC = Read the passage more carefully
RQ = Read the question more carefully
OW = use your own words
^ = More detail and information is required
NA = not accurate
E = expressed or explained badly
QC = Quotation and comment required