• Bloom’s Taxonomy

    Reading Comprehension Questions

     

            Use this list of questions to help your child develop their reading comprehension skills.  The six different types of questions (Knowledge, Comprehension, Application, Analysis, Synthesis, and Evaluation) address the different levels of thinking and understanding. 

            A child’s basic understanding of a passage they have just read can be determined when they are able to answer questions from level 1.  As their reading comprehension skills develop, they will be able to answer questions from higher and higher levels (Most 3rd graders are able to answer questions fairly well up to level 2). 

            Levels 3 through 6 may be difficult for some students, so be prepared to coach them for awhile.  A good way to do this is to read the story with them, then model the process for them by answering one of the questions yourself.

     

                                                    Good luck and have fun!

                                 Mr. Hansen

     

    (Level 1) KNOWLEDGE

     

    List the characters.

    Describe the characters.

    List three facts from the story.

    When did the story take place?

    Where does the story take place?

    List all the places mentioned.

    Which character appears first in the story?

    How does the story end?

    Describe the setting of the story.

    What is the time period?

    What other stories/books has the author written?

    List one character’s problem.

    How did he/she solve the problem?

    List 5 words you learned.

    Write their pronunciation.

    Write their meaning.

     
    (Level 2) COMPREHENSION

     

    How did the setting make the story more interesting?

    Tell in your own words what the story is about.

    How did the main character feel at the beginning of the story?

    How did the main character feel at the end of the story?

    Think of a main event in the story.  Why did it happen?

    Explain why the story has the title that it does.

    Draw a picture of a main event in the story.

    If there is a picture in the story: Write what happened BEFORE the picture and write what happened AFTER the picture.

    List five opinions from the story.

    Did anyone in the story do something you didn’t like?  If so, why?

    If you could continue the story, what events would you include?

    Tell about the story’s beginning.

    What was the problem?  How was it solved?

    Tell about the story’s ending.

    What was the author’s purpose?

    List 5 major events.

    List 3 cause/effect relationships.

     

    (Level 3) APPLICATION

     

    Think of a situation that occurred to a person in the story.  Would you have done the same thing as he/she did or something different? Why or why not?

    Give some examples of people who have had the same problems or have done the same kind of thing as the character in the story.

    What would you do if you could go to the place where the main character lives?

    What would the main character do if he/she came to your house to visit?

    If you had to cook a meal for the characters in the story, what kind of meal would you make? 

    List the important places in the story.  Make an imaginary map including those places?

    Tell about a time something similar in the story happened to you or someone you know.

    Pretend you are one of the characters in the story.  Tell about the happenings in your life for 2 consecutive days.

    Did the story remind you of anything that has happened to you? What?  Why?  

    Write a letter to a friend recommending the book/story.   

    Did this story give you any new ideas about yourself?  Why?

    Describe one problem situation in the story.  How would you have acted in this situation?

    What would the main character do if she/he visited our classroom?

    What lesson did you learn from the story?

    Design a cover for this story.  Explain why you chose this design.

    List some resources where you could research a topic in the story.

     

     (Level 4) ANALYSIS

     

    What part of the story was the funniest?

    What part of the story was the saddest?

    What part of the story was the most exciting?

    Tell what things happened in the story that couldn’t have happened in real life.

    Organize the story into parts and think of a good title for each of the parts.

    What could you do that was just like what the person in the story did?

    Name 2 things in the story that happened “outside” or “inside”.

    If your story was a modern story, compare it with a long time ago and tell what would be different?

    Think of a different ending to the story.  Tell why you changed it.

    Tell the main idea of the story in 2-3 sentences.

    Compare this story with the last story you read.

    Compare 2 of the characters in the story.

    Tell 5 ways the main character is like you.

    Find the parts of the story that tell who, when, why, where, what, and how.

    Why do you think the author gave the story/book this title?

    Which character is most like you ?  Why?

    Which character is least like you?  Why?

    What subject does this story/ book make you want to learn more about?  Why?

     

     (Level 5) SYNTHESIS

     
    Use your imagination to draw a picture about the story.  Then add one new thing of your own that was not in the story.

    Make a puppet, a poster or a painting of the main character in the story.

    Write a different ending to the story.

    Write a poem about the story.

    Pretend you are the main character in the story.  Write a diary about what you were doing each day.

    Rewrite the story by changing someone or something in it.  (i.e. substitute a dog for the wolf in "The 3 Little Pigs”). 

    Create a radio announcement to advertise the story.

    Make an 8-section comic strip with captions showing the main events of the story.

    Create a poem about the story.

    Design a poster for the story.

    Write another short story using the same characters.

    Prepare a book jacket for the story.

    Identify one problem in the story.  Give your own alternate solution.

    Pretend you’re a librarian recommending this story to someone - what would you say about it?

    What part would you change in the story?  Why?

    Think of a new title for this story/book.  Why did you choose it?

    Think of a present you could give to one of the characters.  Why would you give it?

    Design an advertisement for this story/book to use in a magazine.  Make sure the layout is neat and easy to read.

     

                                                    (Level 6) EVALUATION

     

    Compare two stories you have read.  Which would you recommend to your friend?

    Compare two characters in the story.  Tell which one you think is better and why?

    Which character in the story would you most want to spend the day with?  Why?

    Was this story worth the time it took to read it?  Why or why not?

    If you had the opportunity to go where this story takes place, would you want to go?        Why/why not?

    Which of the characters in the story would you like to take to dinner?  Give reasons for your answer.

    Could this story really have happened?  Why or why not?

    Is the title a good one or a poor one?  Why?

    What do you think was the most interesting part of the story?  Why?

    Did you like the way the story ended?  Why or why not?

    Tell about the most exciting part of the story.  Give at least 3 reasons why you think it was exciting?

    Which character in the story would you choose as a friend?  Why?

    What happens in this story that you wish could happen to you?  Why?  

    Imagine you are a literary critic.  Tell your honest opinion of this story/book.  Be concerned with the plot, characters, author’s style, and development of the story.
Last Modified on September 21, 2011