ZIMSEC O Level · Literature in English · Form 3, Form 4
Context (passage-based) questions give an extract from a set text and ask about it.
What to do
- Place the extract: what has just happened and what happens next?
- Identify who is speaking, to whom, and why.
- Answer exactly what is asked: meaning, character, mood, language, or significance.
- Use short quotations from the extract and explain them.
Common question types
- “What does this extract reveal about X?” – give character traits with evidence.
- “How does the writer create tension/sympathy here?” – discuss language and structure.
- “Explain the significance of this moment to the novel/play as a whole.” – link to themes and later events.
- “Explain the meaning of these words.” – give the meaning in context.
Exam tip: Look at the marks for each part – a 4-mark question usually needs two points, each with evidence and explanation.
Check yourself
- What is the first thing to do with a context extract?
- How many points does a 4-mark part usually need?
- What does “significance” mean in a question?
Show answers
- Place it – work out what has just happened and what follows.
- Usually two developed points (point, evidence, explanation).
- Why the moment matters to the plot, characters or themes of the whole text.
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