ZIMSEC O Level · English Language · Form 1, Form 2, Form 3, Form 4
Comprehension tests whether you understand a passage and can answer in your own words.
Before you answer
- Read the whole passage once for the general meaning, then read the questions.
- Read the passage again, underlining the parts that answer each question.
- Look at the marks: a 2-mark question usually needs two points.
Types of questions
- Literal (“What did the boy see?”): the answer is directly in the passage.
- Inferential (“Why do you think…?”): work it out from clues; explain your reasoning.
- Vocabulary (“Give the meaning of…”): replace the word with one that fits the sentence exactly – same part of speech, same tense.
- Figurative language (“Explain the simile…”): say what is compared AND what it shows.
- Own words: you may keep key words that cannot be changed, but rephrase everything else.
Worked example: Passage: “The old man's hands were as rough as the bark of a msasa tree.” Explain the simile.
His hands are compared to tree bark, showing that they are hard and cracked from years of hard work.
Common mistakes
- Copying long sections “lifted” from the passage when “own words” are asked for.
- Giving one point for a 2-mark question.
- Answering from general knowledge instead of the passage.
Exam tip: Answer in full sentences unless the question asks for one word or a short phrase.
Check yourself
- What is the difference between a literal and an inferential question?
- A 3-mark question asks why the writer was angry. How many points should you give?
- Give a word that could replace “enormous” in: “They carried an enormous drum.”
Show answers
- A literal answer is stated in the passage; an inferential answer must be worked out from clues.
- Three separate points.
- huge / gigantic / massive
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