Reading at Home
Reading Comprehension Questions
Below are questions which you can ask your child whilst reading with them. These questions are designed to deepen your child's understanding of their book.
Understanding
| Can you list the five major events in the story in the correct order? | What is the book about? | How did the main character feel during the book? How do you know? | From whose point of view is the story told? |
| What is happening? What might this mean? | What was the problem in the book, and how was it solved? | What kind of book is this? Can you list three reasons why you know this? | What did the title have to do with the book? |
| Did anyone in the book do anything you did not like? Why? | What kind of book is this? Can you list three reasons why you know this? | If you could continue the story, what events would you include? Why? | What part do you like best? Why? |
| Can you pretend you are one of the characters in the book and write a diary. | What was the author's purpose writing this book? | ||
Remembering
| Where and when did the story take place? | Who are the main characters? | What does the main character look like | How does the book begin? |
| Can you make a list of facts you learned from this book? | What is the time period in which the book happens? | Where in the book would you find...? | What other books has this author written? |
| Where did the story take place? |
What problems does one of the characters have, and how does he or she solve it? |
||
Analysis
| How has the author used description to show how the character is feeling? | How does the layout help? | Can you write a different ending to the book? Will you change it? Why? | If your story happened in a foreign land, can you compare it to where we live? |
| If your story happened long ago, can you compare that time with today? | What is the relationship between the main characters? | What evidence can you use to support your view? | Why did the author choose those words? |
| What motive did the main character have for behaving in the way they did? | Can you explain why? | Can you find one word that describes a character in your book very well? | Can you compare this book and the last book you read? |
Applying
| Can you list the places in the book that are important? Can you make up a map including these places as you imagine how they may look? | What lesson did you learn from the story? | Have you had any similar experience? | |
| If you were in a problem situation like one in your book, how would you have acted? | Can you think of another story character similar to a character in this book? | What would the main character be likely to do if s/he visited the classroom/home? | Did this book give you any ideas about yourself? Why? |
| Which stories have openings like this? | What changes would have to be made if the book occurred 200 years ago? | Can you pretend you are one of the characters in the book and write a diary about your life for two consecutive days? | Can you think of another author who writes in a similar style? |
| Can you pretend you are one of the characters in the book and write a diary? | Can you write a letter to a friend recommending this book? | Can you think of another story with a similar theme? | |
Creating
| Have you views in this text affected your opinion? Why? How? | What would this character think if...? | Which character in the book would you choose for a Friend? Why? | If you were the main character, how would you have reacted to...? |
| Are there any other reasons this might have happened? | Who do you think the author intended to read this book and why? | Do you like the way the story ended? Why? | What would happen if...? |
| What did you think was the most interesting part of the book? Why? | Using the evidence in the text, what do you think about..? | If you could only save on character from the book in the event of a disaster, which one would it be and why? | |
Evaluating
| Can you choose one character and rewrite the story from the character's point of view? | What parts of the text could be improved? | How would you prove...? | Did the book have an effective ending? Who would you recommend this book to? |
| Can you identify one problem in the book and give a different solution? | What do you is the climax of the book and why? | Which text/story is better? Why? | Do you agree with the actions of the main character? |
| Can you write a radio announcement to advertise the book? | Can you write another short story using the same characters? | Can you organise this book into 3 or more sections and give your own subtitle for each? | Which text is more persuasive? |