ASK/ANSWER QUESTIONS FOR

UNDERSTANDING FICTION

Teacher Guidelines ▶ pages 1 – 2

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Instructional Pages ▶ pages 3 – 5
Activity Page ▶ pages 6 – 8
Practice Page ▶ page 9
GRADE Homework Page
Answer Key
▶
▶
page 10
pages 11 – 12
 Classroom Procedure: Approximate Grade Level: 2
Objectives: The students will be able to
1. Ask students: When reading a fiction book or story, how do ask and answer such questions as who,
you learn more about the characters, plot, setting, and other what, where, when, why, and how to
details of the story or book? demonstrate understanding of key details in
a fictional text.
2. Allow for responses and discussion. Ask students: What are
the 5-W and 1-H question words you can use to help learn State Educational Standards*
[Link].2.1
more about a story or text?
Class Sessions (45 minutes):
3. Allow for responses and discussion. ( who, what, where, 1 or 2 class sessions.
when, why, and how) Ask students to share a question Teaching Materials/Worksheets:
related to the “story of a day at school”. Ask/Answer Questions for Understanding
4. Allow for responses and discussion. Do the questions help Fiction content pages (2), Activity pages
you learn more information? Why or why not? (2), Practice page,
Homework page
5. Allow for responses and discussion. Introduce Ask/Answer
Student Supplies: handouts
Questions for Understanding Fiction to the class.
Prepare Ahead of Time: Pair students for
6. Distribute Ask/Answer Questions for Understanding Fiction the activity. Copy handouts.
content pages. Read and review the information with the Options for Lesson: Students may
students. Ask/answer other questions about the short dog work alone or in groups for the activity.
story. Save the final content question for the lesson closing. Choose additional stories for the activity.
Use the additional resources to enhance understanding. Use a current reading selection and allow
students to ask and answer questions
7. Distribute Activity pages. Read and review the instructions. as the story is read aloud. Pair students,
Pair students for the activity. The story may be read together one student reads a paragraph of a story,
as a class exercise. Encourage students to use the 5 W and the second student asks a question, the
1 H question starters. Allow sufficient time for completion. students then alternate. Create a classroom
song related to using the 5 W and 1 H
8. Once completed, the students share the questions and questions.
answers with another pair of students or with the entire class.
Conduct a class discussion related to asking and answering *Lessons are aligned to meet the education objectives and goals of
most states. For more information on your state objectives, contact
the questions related to the story. your local Board of Education or Department of Education in your state.
9. Distribute Practice page. Check and review the students’
responses.
10. Distribute the Homework page. The next day, check and
review the students’ responses.
11. In closing, ask students: Do you think some questions you
have about a story can never be answered? Why or why not?
12. Allow for responses and discussion. Some authors write
stories that spark unanswerable questions, or questions
that may have more than one “right” response. Discuss this
with students.

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 Teacher Notes
The lesson’s focus is to help students ask and answer questions when reading fictional text and to understand
the key details of fictional text as it may relate to characters, plot, or setting. The basic questions include who,
what, where, when, why, and how. Using the 5 W’s and H questions, the students will better comprehend
and understand the fictional text. The lesson may be used in conjunction with other lessons related to the
comprehension of fictional text.
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Asking and Answering Questions
Many of the books you read are fiction books, which means books that include stories that are not true, they
are make-believe. As you read these books and stories, you will need to understand and comprehend the
details in the text. Details include information about a story’s characters, setting, or plot.
For example, the writer of a story may not specifically tell you the setting. Instead, there may be clues in the
story to help you learn the setting of the story. As you read, you may ask the question, “Where and when
does this story take place?”

?
Once you ask yourself the question, you can then search for clues to find some details related to the setting.
Asking and answering a wide variety of questions while you are reading a story will help you better comprehend
and understand the story’s characters, setting, plot, and much more.
You ask questions throughout the day without realizing it. You may be thinking about spending time with one
of your friends later today. While you are thinking about the time you will spend with him or her, you may ask
yourself questions such as “What time will he be here?” “Where will we go play?” “Who else will be coming
to my house?”
Asking and answering questions is important whether for planning your day or as you read a story. Asking
and answering questions helps you learn, and for a story, they will help you learn about a story’s characters,
setting, plot and many other details found in the text of a story or book.

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Using the 5 W’s and H Questions
You may be familiar with the 5 question words that begin with the letter W, and one other question word that
begins with the letter H. You often use them when asking questions: Who, What, Where, When, Why, and
How. Of course, questions can begin with other words as well. Either way, it is important to ask the right
questions while reading books and stories.
Read the following short story. Later, review the questions and answers a reader might use while they are
reading the story. As you read other stories, you can use the same questions or use new questions.
As Jonathon was walking to school one day, a dog began to follow him. Jonathon tried to ignore the dog, but
it seemed so friendly, he finally stopped walking, turned, and gave the dog a few pats on its head.
To Jonathon’s surprise, the dog began to speak. No, the speaking did not include barking. The dog, instead,
had a voice and simply said, “Thank you, little boy, for patting my head.”
Jonathon looked around and thought someone was playing a joke on him. However, he and the dog were
alone. Jonathon decided to walk the dog to the nearby park. Since it was early in the morning, no one was
there. Jonathon turned to the dog and asked, “What is your name, dog?”
The dog answered, “When I was born, my mom and dad called me Rutherford, but all my friends now call
me Ruth. Even though Ruth might sound like a girl’s name, I am a boy dog, so you can call me Ruth too.”
“Okay, Ruth,” Jonathon responded, “I will call you Ruth. And even though my name is Jonathon, you can just
call me Jon.” I do have another question, “How do you talk? I never met a dog that could talk.”
Ruth slowly stretched onto the wet grass and began to tell Jonathon a story. Before speaking he let out a
long sigh. “Jon, I was once a little boy just like you. However, one day, I was also walking to school. A dog
began to follow me, and I too gave it a pat on its head.”
Before Ruth could finish the story, Jonathon ran home. However, he arrived there much faster because he
was able to run on four legs instead of just two.

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Where and when does the story take place? Clues include Jonathon walking to school which
Outdoors, in a park, early in the morning. occurs in the morning, the park is outdoors.

Who are the main characters? Jonathon and Ruth They are the only characters in the story.

Could the characters exist in real life? Jonathon Jonathon could be any young boy (or girl) who walks
could exist, but not a talking dog. to school. Dogs exist, but not talking dogs.

Who is telling the story? It is told in 3rd person by the The author tells the story, but the characters speak
author or narrator. to each other during the story.

What happens in the beginning, middle, and end of Asking about the beginning, middle, and end of the
the story? What are the important events? Jonathon story helps to summarize the story and the important
meets a talking dog, the two begin to speak to each events. In this story, an important event is when
other, and at the end, Jonathon begins to turn into Ruth tells Jonathon how he was turned into a dog-
a dog. the patting of the head of another dog.

There are many other questions that can be asked and answered to help you better understand the details of
the story. Some of the questions may include: What is the main idea? How or when does the dog turn back
into a boy? Does the story remind you of another story? How did the story make you feel? What do you think
about the characters? What is the mood of the story? What might happen next in the story?
All the stories or books you read can be better understood by asking and answering questions before, during,
and after you read. Some of the questions may be easy to answer, but other questions may be more difficult,
but that’s okay because asking and answering questions helps you learn.

Do you think some questions you have about a

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 Activity Name __________________________ Date _________

Work with your partner and read the short story The Patient Cat by Laura E. Richards, written in 1881.
At the end of each paragraph write a question and answer related to the paragraph. Think of Who,
What, Where, When, Why, and How questions.
HEN the spotted cat first found the nest, there was nothing in it, for it was only just finished. So, she said, “I
will wait!” for she was a patient cat, and the summer was before her. She waited a week, and then she climbed
up again to the top of the tree and peeped into the nest. There lay two lovely blue eggs, smooth and shining.
Question:

Answer:

The spotted cat said, “Eggs may be good, but young birds are better. I will wait.” So, she waited; and while
she was waiting, she caught mice and rats, and washed herself and slept, and did all that a spotted cat
should do to pass the time away.
Question:

Answer:

When another week had passed, she climbed the tree again and peeped into the[58] nest. This time there
were five eggs. But the spotted cat said again, “Eggs may be good, but young birds are better. I will wait a
little longer!”
Question:

Answer:

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 Activity Name __________________________ Date _________

So, she waited a little longer and then went up again to look. Ah! there were five tiny birds, with big eyes and
long necks, and yellow beaks wide open. Then the spotted cat sat down on the branch, and licked her nose
and purred, for she was very happy. “It is worthwhile to be patient!” she said.
Question:

Answer:

But when she looked again at the young birds, to see which one she should take first, she saw that they
were very thin,—oh, very, very thin they were! The spotted cat had never seen anything so thin in her life.
Question:

Answer:

“Now,” she said to herself, “if I were to wait only a few days longer, they would grow fat. Thin birds may be
good, but fat birds are much better. I will wait!”
Question:

Answer:

So, she waited; and she watched the father-bird bringing worms all day long to the nest, and said, “Aha! they
must be fattening fast! they will soon be as fat as I wish them to be. Aha! what a good thing it is to be patient.”
Question:

Answer:

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 Activity Name __________________________ Date _________

At last, one day she thought, “Surely, now they must be fat enough! I will not wait another day. Aha! how
good they will be!”
Question:

Answer:

So, she climbed up the tree, licking her chops all the way and thinking of the fat young birds. And when she
reached the top and looked into the nest, it was empty!!
Question:

Answer:

Then the spotted cat sat down on the branch and spoke thus, “Well, of all the horrid, mean, ungrateful
creatures I ever saw, those birds are the horridest, and the meanest, and the most ungrateful! Mi-a-u-ow!!!!”
Question:

Answer:

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 Practice Name __________________________ Date _________

Read the passage from The Little Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe by Joseph Kronheim.
1. Once upon a time, there was a Little Old Woman who lived in a Shoe. This shoe stood near a great 2.
2. forest and was so large that it served as a house for the Old Lady and all her children, of which she had
3. so many that she did not know what to do with them.
4. But the Little Old Woman was very fond of her children, and they only thought of the best way to please
5. her. Strong-arm, the eldest, cut down trees for firewood. Peter made baskets of wicker-work. Mark was
6. chief gardener. Lizzie milked the cow, and Jenny taught the younger children to read.
7. Now, this Little Old Woman had not always lived in a Shoe. She and her family had once lived in a nice
8. house covered with ivy, and her husband was a wood-cutter, like Strong-arm. But there lived in a huge
9. castle beyond the forest, a mean giant, who one day came and laid their house in ruins with his club;
10. after which he carried off the poor wood-cutter to his castle beyond the forest. When the Little Old
11. Woman came home, her house was in ruins and her husband was nowhere to be seen.
Answer the Questions-tell the line number(s) where you found the answers.
1. What served as a house for the Little Old Woman and all of her children? _______________________
2. Where was her home located?_________________________________________________________
3. Which of the children milked the cows?___________________________________________________
4. How do you know there are more than just the five children named in the story?___________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
5. Who did the same kind of work as the father?______________________________________________
6. When did they live in a house covered with ivy?____________________________________________
7. Who lived in a castle beyond the forest?__________________________________________________
8. Why do they live in a shoe and not a regular house?________________________________________
9. Which two children had jobs that would help feed the family?_________________________________
10. What happened to the Little Old Woman’s husband?________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
11. What do you think might happen next in the story?__________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
12. Would you like to live in a giant show? Why or why not?_____________________________________
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 Homework Name __________________________ Date _________

Read fable The Cat and the Birds by Aesop. Match the 5 W and H words with the correct ending
question. Next, answer each of the questions.
A Cat was growing very thin. As you have guessed, he did not get enough to eat. One day he heard that
some Birds in the neighborhood were ailing and needed a doctor. So, he put on a pair of spectacles, and
with a leather box in his hand, knocked at the door of the Bird’s home.
The Birds peeped out, and Dr. Cat, with much care, asked how they were. He would be very happy to give
them some medicine.
“Tweet, tweet,” laughed the Birds. “Very smart, aren’t you? We are very well, thank you, and more so,
if you only keep away from here.»
Be wise and shun the quack.
1 WHERE A …was the cat growing?
2 WHEN B …needed a doctor?
3 HOW C …did the cat store the medicine?
4 WHAT D …did the birds laugh?
5 WHO E …were the first words from the birds?
6 WHY F …do you think the story takes place?

Read the passage from Jack and the Beanstalk. Write 5 questions/answers for the passage.
Once upon a time, there lived a poor widow and her son Jack. One day, Jack’s mother told him to sell their
only cow. Jack went to the market and on the way, he met a man who wanted to buy his cow. Jack asked,
“What will you give me in return for my cow?” The man answered, “I will give you five magic beans!” Jack
took the magic beans and gave the man the cow. But when he reached home, Jack’s mother was very angry.
She said, “You fool! He took away your cow and gave you some beans!” She threw the beans out of the
window. Jack was very sad and went to sleep without dinner.
1.___________________________________________________________________________________
2.___________________________________________________________________________________
3.___________________________________________________________________________________
4.___________________________________________________________________________________
5.___________________________________________________________________________________

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 Practice Answer Key
Name __________________________ Date _________

Read the passage from The Little Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe by Joseph Kronheim.
1. Once upon a time, there was a Little Old Woman who lived in a Shoe. This shoe stood near a great 2.
2. forest and was so large that it served as a house for the Old Lady and all her children, of which she had
3. so many that she did not know what to do with them.
4. But the Little Old Woman was very fond of her children, and they only thought of the best way to please
5. her. Strong-arm, the eldest, cut down trees for firewood. Peter made baskets of wicker-work. Mark was
6. chief gardener. Lizzie milked the cow, and Jenny taught the younger children to read.
7. Now, this Little Old Woman had not always lived in a Shoe. She and her family had once lived in a nice
8. house covered with ivy, and her husband was a wood-cutter, like Strong-arm. But there lived in a huge
9. castle beyond the forest, a mean giant, who one day came and laid their house in ruins with his club;
10. after which he carried off the poor wood-cutter to his castle beyond the forest. When the Little Old
11. Woman came home, her house was in ruins and her husband was nowhere to be seen.
Answer the Questions-tell the line number(s) where you found the answers.
1. What served as a house for the Little Old Woman and all of her children? 1 - shoe
2. Where was her home located? 1,2 - near a great forest
3. Which of the children milked the cows? 6 - Lizzie
4. How do you know there are more than just the five children named in the story? 6 - Jenny’s job was to
   teach the younger children to read which indicates there are other children in the family
5. Who did the same kind of work as the father? 5, 8 - Strong-arm
6. When did they live in a house covered with ivy? 7, 8 - before their other house was turned into ruins
7. Who lived in a castle beyond the forest? 9 - mean giant
8. Why do they live in a shoe and not a regular house? 9 - a mean giant came by and ruined their home
9. Which two children had jobs that would help feed the family? 5, 6 - Mark and Lizzie
10. What happened to the Little Old Woman’s husband? 9, 10 When the mean giant ruined the house,
    he carried off her husband to his castle beyond the forest
11. What do you think might happen next in the story? will vary
12. Would you like to live in a giant show? Why or why not? will vary

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 Homework Answer Key
Name __________________________ Date _________

Read fable The Cat and the Birds by Aesop. Match the 5 W and H words with the correct ending
question. Next, answer each of the questions.
A Cat was growing very thin. As you have guessed, he did not get enough to eat. One day he heard that
some Birds in the neighborhood were ailing and needed a doctor. So, he put on a pair of spectacles, and
with a leather box in his hand, knocked at the door of the Bird’s home.
The Birds peeped out, and Dr. Cat, with much care, asked how they were. He would be very happy to give
them some medicine.
“Tweet, tweet,” laughed the Birds. “Very smart, aren’t you? We are very well, thank you, and more so,
if you only keep away from here.»
Be wise and shun the quack.
1 C WHERE A …was the cat growing? Very thin
2 F WHEN B …needed a doctor? Birds in the neighborhood
3 A HOW C …did the cat store the medicine? In a leather box
4 E WHAT D …did the birds laugh? They knew the visitor was the
cat
5 B WHO E …were the first words from the birds? Tweet, tweet
6 D WHY F …do you think the story takes place? Answers will vary
Read the passage from Jack and the Beanstalk. Write 5 questions/answers for the passage.
Once upon a time, there lived a poor widow and her son Jack. One day, Jack’s mother told him to sell their
only cow. Jack went to the market and on the way, he met a man who wanted to buy his cow. Jack asked,
“What will you give me in return for my cow?” The man answered, “I will give you five magic beans!” Jack
took the magic beans and gave the man the cow. But when he reached home, Jack’s mother was very angry.
She said, “You fool! He took away your cow and gave you some beans!” She threw the beans out of the
window. Jack was very sad and went to sleep without dinner.
1. (all will vary)_________________________________________________________________________
2.___________________________________________________________________________________
3.___________________________________________________________________________________
4.___________________________________________________________________________________
5.___________________________________________________________________________________

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