Year 3 · Unit 9 · Lesson 2 of 5
Answering Well: Turn Answers into Marks
"She looked down at her soaked shoes and felt tears prick her eyes."
A student gives this, copied from the passage, as the answer to "Why was Lena upset?" Why does it score badly?
It is lifted: copied, not explained. It also does not say why she was upset. A good answer explains in your own words: "She was upset because the full bus had left without her, and she feared she would miss her solo."
Master the essentials
Complete sentences
Unless told otherwise, answer in full sentences.
"The concert hall was on the other side of the river."
Own words
Do not lift (copy) whole sentences. Change the words and the structure.
"clutching her violin case" → "holding her violin case tightly"
Answer exactly what is asked
Underline the key words in the question: why, how, two reasons.
"Why" needs a reason, not a description.
Match the tense
Answer in the tense of the question.
"What did the driver do?" → "He drove past without stopping."
Marks = points
One mark per clear point.
2 marks: two separate points.
Point + evidence
For inference, give your point, then the clue that supports it.
"She was dedicated: she practised every evening for six months."
Passage · written for this course
The Last Bus
1The rain had not stopped all afternoon, and by six o'clock the streets of the old town were shining like wet glass. Lena stood at the bus stop, clutching her violin case against her chest as if it were a sleeping child. The concert hall was on the other side of the river, and the concert started at seven.
2She checked her watch for the third time in a minute. The number 12 bus was supposed to come every fifteen minutes, but tonight the timetable seemed to be a work of fiction. Around her, people huddled under umbrellas, grumbling quietly or staring at their phones.
3For six months Lena had practised every evening, long after her friends had gone out to play. Her fingers had blistered and healed and blistered again. Tonight, for the first time, she would play a solo in front of a real audience, and her teacher, Mr Rossi, had warned her that the conductor did not wait for anyone.
4At twenty past six, a bus finally appeared, but it was full. The driver shook his head apologetically and drove on, spraying muddy water over the waiting crowd. Lena looked down at her soaked shoes and felt tears prick her eyes.
5Then an elderly man beside her, who had been silent all this time, touched her arm. "The bridge is only fifteen minutes on foot," he said, "if you know the short cut. I used to play the cello myself, a long time ago." He smiled, opened a large black umbrella, and held it over both of them.
6They reached the concert hall at five minutes to seven. Lena turned to thank him, but he had already disappeared into the crowd. That night, as she lifted her bow, she played as if the music were a thank-you letter to a stranger whose name she would never know.
See it done
1. "Give two reasons why Lena was worried." (2 marks)
"Her bus was very late, and her teacher had warned her that the conductor would not wait for anyone." Two separate points, one mark each.
2. "How do we know that Lena was dedicated?"
Point plus evidence: "She practised every evening for six months, even after her friends had gone out to play."
Common mistake: Copying the sentence where the answer is. Examiners call this lifting, and it often earns no marks even when the answer is in it.
10 questions with instant feedback
Choose the best answer. The passage is above.
Passage · written for this course
The Last Bus
1The rain had not stopped all afternoon, and by six o'clock the streets of the old town were shining like wet glass. Lena stood at the bus stop, clutching her violin case against her chest as if it were a sleeping child. The concert hall was on the other side of the river, and the concert started at seven.
2She checked her watch for the third time in a minute. The number 12 bus was supposed to come every fifteen minutes, but tonight the timetable seemed to be a work of fiction. Around her, people huddled under umbrellas, grumbling quietly or staring at their phones.
3For six months Lena had practised every evening, long after her friends had gone out to play. Her fingers had blistered and healed and blistered again. Tonight, for the first time, she would play a solo in front of a real audience, and her teacher, Mr Rossi, had warned her that the conductor did not wait for anyone.
4At twenty past six, a bus finally appeared, but it was full. The driver shook his head apologetically and drove on, spraying muddy water over the waiting crowd. Lena looked down at her soaked shoes and felt tears prick her eyes.
5Then an elderly man beside her, who had been silent all this time, touched her arm. "The bridge is only fifteen minutes on foot," he said, "if you know the short cut. I used to play the cello myself, a long time ago." He smiled, opened a large black umbrella, and held it over both of them.
6They reached the concert hall at five minutes to seven. Lena turned to thank him, but he had already disappeared into the crowd. That night, as she lifted her bow, she played as if the music were a thank-you letter to a stranger whose name she would never know.
1."Why did Lena feel tears prick her eyes?" Which is the best answer?
Not quite. This is incomplete: it does not explain why the full bus upset her. Answer: C. "She was upset because the full bus had left without her, so she feared she would miss her solo.".
Not quite. This is lifted and does not give a reason. Answer: C. "She was upset because the full bus had left without her, so she feared she would miss her solo.".
Correct. It explains why, in her own words, with the full reason.
Not quite. This is too vague. Answer: C. "She was upset because the full bus had left without her, so she feared she would miss her solo.".
2.What is "lifting" in comprehension?
Correct. Lifting means copying instead of explaining.
Not quite. Lifting means copying instead of explaining. Answer: A. copying chunks of the passage as your answer.
Not quite. Lifting means copying instead of explaining. Answer: A. copying chunks of the passage as your answer.
Not quite. Lifting means copying instead of explaining. Answer: A. copying chunks of the passage as your answer.
3."Give two reasons why Lena was worried." (2 marks) Which is the best answer?
Not quite. Two clear, relevant reasons, one mark each. Answer: D. "Her bus was late, and she knew the conductor would not wait for anyone.".
Not quite. Two clear, relevant reasons, one mark each. Answer: D. "Her bus was late, and she knew the conductor would not wait for anyone.".
Not quite. Two clear, relevant reasons, one mark each. Answer: D. "Her bus was late, and she knew the conductor would not wait for anyone.".
Correct. Two clear, relevant reasons, one mark each.
4."In your own words, explain what the elderly man did to help." Which is best?
Not quite. It gives both actions in her own words. Answer: B. "He showed her a quicker way to walk to the hall and shared his umbrella with her.".
Correct. It gives both actions in her own words.
Not quite. It gives both actions in her own words. Answer: B. "He showed her a quicker way to walk to the hall and shared his umbrella with her.".
Not quite. It gives both actions in her own words. Answer: B. "He showed her a quicker way to walk to the hall and shared his umbrella with her.".
5."What did the driver do when he saw the crowd?" Which answer uses the right tense?
Not quite. The question is in the past tense, so the answer is too. Answer: B. "He drove past without stopping, shaking his head.".
Correct. The question is in the past tense, so the answer is too.
Not quite. The question is in the past tense, so the answer is too. Answer: B. "He drove past without stopping, shaking his head.".
Not quite. The question is in the past tense, so the answer is too. Answer: B. "He drove past without stopping, shaking his head.".
6.Why do questions say "in your own words"?
Correct. Rewording proves understanding.
Not quite. Rewording proves understanding. Answer: A. to test whether you understand, not just copy.
Not quite. Rewording proves understanding. Answer: A. to test whether you understand, not just copy.
Not quite. Rewording proves understanding. Answer: A. to test whether you understand, not just copy.
7.Which answer is a complete sentence?
Not quite. It has a subject and a main verb, and makes sense on its own. Answer: D. "Lena was upset because she thought she would be late.".
Not quite. It has a subject and a main verb, and makes sense on its own. Answer: D. "Lena was upset because she thought she would be late.".
Not quite. It has a subject and a main verb, and makes sense on its own. Answer: D. "Lena was upset because she thought she would be late.".
Correct. It has a subject and a main verb, and makes sense on its own.
8."How do we know Lena was dedicated?" Which is best?
Not quite. It gives clear evidence from the passage. Answer: C. "She practised every evening for six months, even after her friends had gone out to play.".
Not quite. It gives clear evidence from the passage. Answer: C. "She practised every evening for six months, even after her friends had gone out to play.".
Correct. It gives clear evidence from the passage.
Not quite. It gives clear evidence from the passage. Answer: C. "She practised every evening for six months, even after her friends had gone out to play.".
9.Before writing an answer, you should:
Correct. Key words tell you exactly what to answer.
Not quite. Key words tell you exactly what to answer. Answer: A. underline the key words in the question.
Not quite. Key words tell you exactly what to answer. Answer: A. underline the key words in the question.
Not quite. Key words tell you exactly what to answer. Answer: A. underline the key words in the question.
10.Which answer is lifted?
Not quite. It copies a whole sentence from paragraph 1. Answer: B. "Lena stood at the bus stop, clutching her violin case against her chest as if it were a sleeping child.".
Correct. It copies a whole sentence from paragraph 1.
Not quite. It copies a whole sentence from paragraph 1. Answer: B. "Lena stood at the bus stop, clutching her violin case against her chest as if it were a sleeping child.".
Not quite. It copies a whole sentence from paragraph 1. Answer: B. "Lena stood at the bus stop, clutching her violin case against her chest as if it were a sleeping child.".
Answer in your own words
Answer each question in complete sentences, in your own words. Then compare with the models below.
(a) Why was Lena so upset when the full bus drove past? (2 marks)
(b) What two things did the elderly man do to help Lena? (2 marks)
Model answers.
(a) She was upset because she needed that bus to reach the concert on time, and missing it meant she might lose her chance to play her solo.
(b) He told her about a short cut on foot to the bridge, and he held his umbrella over her to keep her dry.
Next: the Lesson 2 exit quiz. Five questions, recorded on your dashboard. Aim for 4 out of 5.