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: – 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)