Common Mistakes Students Make Answering 'What' Questions

📚 Quick Study Guide: Mastering 'What' Questions

• 🎯 Directness is Key: Answer precisely what is asked. Avoid irrelevant details or tangents that don't directly address the 'what'.
• 🔍 Specificity Matters: Provide concrete, factual information. Vague or generalized answers often miss the mark and don't fully explain 'what' is being asked.
• 🚫 Avoid Redundancy: Do not simply rephrase or repeat the question in your answer. Get straight to the point with the necessary information.
• 💡 Contextual Awareness: Understand the underlying intent of the 'what' question. Is it asking for a definition, a cause, an identification, a purpose, or a characteristic? Tailor your response accordingly.
• ✍️ Clarity and Conciseness: Use clear, simple language. Be brief but ensure your answer is comprehensive enough to fully explain 'what' is required.
• ✅ Proofread Thoroughly: Always review your answer for grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and overall clarity. A well-written answer enhances understanding.

🧠 Practice Quiz: Test Your 'What' Question Skills

1. What is the primary purpose of photosynthesis in plants?

1. To make plants green and healthy.
2. To convert light energy into chemical energy, producing glucose and oxygen.
3. To allow plants to grow tall.
4. To absorb water from the soil.

2. What defines a noun in English grammar?

1. A word that describes an action.
2. A word that expresses a state of being.
3. A word that names a person, place, thing, or idea.
4. A word that modifies a verb.

3. What was the main cause of World War I?

1. A complex web of alliances, imperialism, militarism, nationalism, and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
2. Germany wanted more land.
3. Many countries disliked each other.
4. The invention of new weapons.

4. What is the function of a topic sentence in a paragraph?

1. To make the paragraph longer.
2. To introduce the main idea or controlling point of the paragraph.
3. To provide supporting details.
4. To conclude the paragraph.

5. What is the capital city of Australia?

1. Sydney.
2. Melbourne.
3. Canberra.
4. Perth.

6. What is the definition of plagiarism?

1. Using too many quotes in an essay.
2. Copying someone else's work without permission.
3. Presenting someone else's work or ideas as your own, without proper attribution.
4. Forgetting to cite one source.

7. What distinguishes a simile from a metaphor?

1. A simile uses 'like' or 'as' to compare two unlike things, while a metaphor directly states one thing is another without 'like' or 'as'.
2. Both are figures of speech.
3. A simile is longer than a metaphor.
4. A metaphor is more poetic.