Handling Comprehension (Open Ended) Questions

Comprehension (Open Ended) Section accounts for 20 marks out of a total 200 in the English PSLE Paper. That makes up 10% of the whole paper. Unfortunately, this section is where students lose most marks in English Paper 2. As such, it is important to pay close attention to this very important section.

There are many ways to approach Comprehension (Open Ended) Section. However, I find that the most effective way is to read the questions before reading the passage. By reading the questions first, you focus on what is asked, rather than what is in the passage itself.

Hence, with your focus on what is asked even before reading the passage, you will be able to pinpoint the answer when you start reading the passage – a clear advantage over those who read the passage before reading the questions.

Here is an example. Let us read the questions and see if we understand the story even before reading the passage itself.

Questions from the Comprehension Open Ended Section of Ai Tong School P5 English SA1 2004.

Q1. How were the men feeling while they were on the landing craft?

The key phrase that gives us a good hint is “landing craft”. Landing crafts are not civilian vehicles. These vehicles are used by the military and/or rescue mission parties. As such, we can tell that “the men” may be from the military or some rescue team either on a mission or under going training.

The above demonstrates that even without reading the passage, simply by reading the questions first, we already have an idea of what the passage is about.

Q2. Explain in your own words the phrase “betraying of inner feelings” in the first paragraph.

Q3. What was the relationship between Vince and Eddie?

We are introduced to 2 men. Vince and Eddie. Again, without even reading the passage yet, we know that there are 2 characters at least, in this passage.

Q4. How did the British differentiate their planes from those of the enemies?

The words “enemies” and “British” are dead giveaways. This is the first conclusive piece of information that tells us that this story may be about a war scenario. For students who have read widely, they may even be able to relate this background to World War 2 or the Falklands War, where the British made contact with enemy planes.

Q5. What does the word “them” in the fourth paragraph refer to?

Q6. Do you think that Vince and Eddie were proud to be part of the British army?

Question number 6 confirms that the 2 men are serving the British military during a war period.

Q7. Which word in paragraph 7 tells you that the soldiers moved in a group in the water?

The key words “moved in a group in the water” suggest that the soldiers are infantry men. Again, students who read widely will know that infantry men move in groups in such terrain.

Q8. Why did the soldiers “believe they had seen their last day”? (third last paragraph)

A hint that this may be a life and death situation, which aptly fits a war scenario.

Q9. What do you think happened to Eddie in the end of the passage?

Q10. Who helped Eddie when he lost his balance? Why do you think so?


By reading all the ten questions, we can reasonably conclude that:

1. This is a war scenario.

2. The story is seen from the British perspective.

3. It could be about World War 2 or the Falklands War.

4. While the story is about the British at war, it centres on two individual soldiers, Vince and Eddie, their relationship and their fate.

It can be seen very clearly that if you were to read the questions before reading the passage, you would have collected some very important information.

You are now be in a better position to spot the answers in the passage because you will be on the lookout for the information you have already gathered from the questions.

Now compare the passage below and see if the information we have gathered from the questions tallies with the passage itself.


The Comprehension Passage

The mass of helmets lurched backwards as the landing craft plunged into the dark water. Sea spray glistened on the surface of everything it touched, catching the light of the artillery fire. Private Eddie Hagen glanced at the faces of the men around him. Some were praying, while others held pictures or mementos of sweethearts and family before carefully tucking them away inside their pockets. The rest stared into the unknown, their faces expressionless, betraying no inner feelings.

“This is it, Buddy!” Eddie managed a smile in return for the hearty slap on his shoulder and twisted around to acknowledge a friend.

“We’re finally going to get the Japanese!” Vince grinned down at Eddie. “Remember, buddy, stick with me. We’ll both do just fine. Besides, your sister never will never marry me if I let anything happen to you.”

At this moment, both men were distracted by an explosion which sent more spray into the craft. The roar of airplanes filled the sky. As the planes passed overhead, the black and white “invasion” stripes painted on them could be seen. The marking let the British know that these were their own, for protection against their anti-aircraft guns. The soldiers watched them as they made their way over the cliffs.

Eddie recalled the time when Vince and him signed up for the British army at the same time. After basic training, the two strutted like peacocks before family and friends. As full-fledged fighting men, they would now join in the fight against the Japanese.

Suddenly, the barking of orders from the platoon leader interrupted Eddie’s thoughts. The back wall of the craft crashed into the water and the throng of men moved forward. Plunging into the icy water, the British soldiers gasped as the cold wetness penetrated their clothing. The dark, green depths caused many to stumble, already weighted down with excess gear. This, combined with the mortar fire aimed at them from the top of the cliffs, caused many to believe they had seen the last day.

As Eddie struggled toward the shore, a bullet pierced through the man in front of him, causing him to fall backward. He looked into the lifeless eyes before the sea covered the soldier’s face and claimed his spirit.

A second later, Eddie felt a sharp pain in his side. Before losing his balance, he felt a strong arm lifting him up.

So was the information collected from the questions, before we read the passage accurate? Did you have the feeling that you have "read this passage before"? That's because you have read the questions first, giving you some very important clues as to what the passage is about.

The trick here is that while you are reading the passage, take note of the "familiar" pieces of information you gathered earlier. Those pieces of information hold the key to your answers to the comprehension questions.

For example, for Q1, How were the men feeling while they were on the landing craft? Have you noticed that in the passage, you noticed a familiar scenario when you read this part of the passage?

The mass of helmets lurched backwards as the landing craft plunged into the dark water. Sea spray glistened on the surface of everything it touched, catching the light of the artillery fire. Private Eddie Hagen glanced at the faces of the men around him. Some were praying, while others held pictures or mementos of sweethearts and family before carefully tucking them away inside their pockets. The rest stared into the unknown, their faces expressionless, betraying no inner feelings.

The question asks, "How were the men feeling...." That means you are expected to describe the men's feelings and emotions.

So now in your own words, you have to answer Q1, based on the information above. When people pray, hold mementos of loved ones and "stare into the unknown", what do these actions tell you? Are they happy? Sad? Aniticipative? Worried? Enthusiatic? Anxious?

Repeat the above process for the rest of the Comprehension Questions. In this way, you can improve your Comprehension Open Ended Section scores.