Question Answer Relationships

Question and Answer Relationships is a method of learning how to identify what the question is looking for as an answer, and how to go about finding it in the text you are reading. There are typically four types of questions designed for a standard reading comprehension test. These questions are:

1. Right There

2. Think and Search

3. Author & You

4. On Your Own

1. Right There: Right There questions require you to go back to the passage and find the correct information to answer the question. These are sometimes called literal questions because the correct answer can be found somewhere in the passage. Right There questions sometimes include the words "according to the passage, how many, who is, where is, and what is?" Right There questions are considered the easiest to answer. They are looking for details, facts such as names and dates and something that was said right in the passage. This will never ask you what you think, rather which answer was the one you saw directly in the passage. *Literal means an exact replica or duplicate of what is being asked in the question.

2. Think and Search: Think and Search questions usually require you to think about how ideas or information in the passage relate to each other. You will need to look back at the passage, find the information that the question refers to, and then think about how the information or ideas fit together. Think and Search questions sometimes include the words "the main idea of the passage, what caused, or compare and contrast." You need to remember what your main idea of the passage is, and you will very often be asked to compare or contrast two things, such as the passage to a secondary poem to read or another passage. Your supporting details are very helpful here.

3. Author and You: Author and You questions require you to use ideas and information that is not stated directly in the passage to answer the question. These questions require you to think about  what you have read and formulate your own ideas or opinions. Author and You questions sometimes include the words, "the author implies, the passage suggests, the speaker's attitude, or what did the author mean when he said." This addresses the author's purpose strategy. Think about why the author wrote this article, what did the author want you to learn from what he/she wrote.

4. On My Own: On My Own questions can be answered using your background knowledge on a topic. This type of question does not usually appear on tests of reading comprehension because it does not require you to refer to the passage. On My Own questions sometimes include the words, "in your opinion, based on your experience, or think about someone or something you know."

* Be careful with the On My Own questions. You won't be finding those type of questions on the FCAT. Just think in terms of the first three, but remember, Author & You will ask you to form your opinion based on what the author is telling you.

How to Use QAR:

1. When you are ready to take the FCAT, you will look at the title of the passage first. Make notes about what you think is the main idea of this passage. Look at any pictures or photographs, charts or graphs. Notice if they have captions and make notes in the side-margins. You just might find the answer to a question in one of these captions.

2. Flip to the questions for the passage. Read each question first, and determine which type of question it is from the list of 4 types of questions. *Remember, On Your Own is most likely not one of them. Look at what each question is looking for and make some notes so you don't forget.

3. Now you are ready to read. As you read, number each paragraph, and make any necessary notes. Paraphrase each paragraph with one short sentence or phrase of what you think that paragraph is saying. Underline any important details such as names, dates and factual details. With each paragraph, think about the questions you just read. Are you finding any information that corresponds with your questions? Make notes what number questions go with which paragraphs. You will be doing a lot of flipping back and forth.

4. Now you are ready to answer the questions. Take each question and use your process of elimination to cancel out any choices that do not apply. You will most likely be left with 2 possible answers, very similar to each other. Take your time here, and don't be afraid to go back and re-read.