The document provides guidance on developing skills for answering questions in the Core Exam Paper. It outlines that there are three types of comprehension questions and emphasizes the importance of using synonyms and inferences to answer all question types. Specific advice includes being able to select words for literal comprehension questions, noticing details, inferring, and explaining. The document also lists 5 facts on how to tackle the different questions.

1. Approaching the Core Paper:
Comprehension and Effect
LO: Develop our skills at
answering all questions
within the Core Exam
Paper
Grade D/C Grade E Grade G/F
Use synonyms and
inferences to answer all
types of comprehension
questions
Be able to select words
required to answer a basic
literal comprehension
question
Understand that there are
three types of
comprehension question
and be able to recognise
the wording of each type
BLP Skills:
noticing, inferring, explaini
ng
5 facts on how
to tackle
questions on the
core paper

2. Bewilderwood, By Sharon Sweeney
In the reedy banks of the Norfolk Broads lurks Mildred, a beastly four metre long
creature that looks like a crocodile, with a mouthful of sharp teeth and a spiky green
back. It’s not a freak of nature brought on by global warming but a children’s character
brought to life at Bewilderwood, the UK’s first environmentally-friendly adventure
park, which opened this week.
Spread over a large area of woodland and marshland, Bewilderwood is a magical
playground of treehouses, aerial ropewalks and zipwires, reached by boat or boardwalk –
all built from sustainable wood. The whole site is pesticide-free so there’s no danger of
chemicals filtering into the surrounding low-lying wetlands. Some 14,000 broadleaf
trees, including oak, sweet chestnut and birch have been planted. There is a snack shack
on the jetty and a cafe selling reasonably priced, locally sourced and mainly organic food
– ostrich burgers and unfussy sandwiches, pure fruit smoothies and elderflower cordial –
but you could just as easily bring a picnic.
So far, so green. But it’s the magical forest folk who inhabit the site that will fire
children’s imaginations – Mildred, the vegetarian Crocklebog who lives in the Scary Lake;
Swampy, a Marsh Boggle; a giant spider called Thornyclod; and Twiggles, goblin-like
creatures that hate litter and mess. It’s just not Disneyland.

3. From this piece of reading you could be asked to
answer short questions like…
• What is the name of the four metre long creature
mentioned in the first line, and what type of imaginary
creature is it?(2 marks)
• How would you answer this question?
1. Look at the number of marks. How many pieces of
information do you need?
2. Go back to the text with your highlighter
3. Find the piece(s) of information you need and
highlight them.
4. Write them onto your answer sheet in sentences.
5. THERE IS NO NEED TO WRITE IN YOUR OWN
WORDS!

4. Bewilderwood, By Sharon Sweeney
In the reedy banks of the Norfolk Broads lurks Mildred, a beastly four metre long
creature that looks like a crocodile, with a mouthful of sharp teeth and a spiky green
back. It’s not a freak of nature brought on by global warming but a children’s character
brought to life at Bewilderwood, the UK’s first environmentally-friendly adventure park,
which opened this week.
Spread over a large area of woodland and marshland, Bewilderwood is a magical
playground of treehouses, aerial ropewalks and zipwires, reached by boat or boardwalk –
all built from sustainable wood. The whole site is pesticide-free so there’s no danger of
chemicals filtering into the surrounding low-lying wetlands. Some 14,000 broadleaf
trees, including oak, sweet chestnut and birch have been planted. There is a snack shack
on the jetty and a cafe selling reasonably priced, locally sourced and mainly organic food
– ostrich burgers and unfussy sandwiches, pure fruit smoothies and elderflower cordial –
but you could just as easily bring a picnic.
So far, so green. But it’s the magical forest folk who inhabit the site that will fire
children’s imaginations – Mildred, the vegetarian Crocklebog who lives in the Scary Lake;
Swampy, a Marsh Boggle; a giant spider called Thornyclod; and Twiggles, goblin-like
creatures that hate litter and mess. It’s just not Disneyland.

5. • What is the name of the four metre long
creature mentioned in the first line, and what
type of imaginary creature is it?(2 marks)
• You might answer like this:
• Mildred, the vegetarian Crocklebog
From this piece of reading you could be asked to
answer short questions like…

6. From this piece of reading you could be asked to
answer short questions like…
• Give three facts from the second paragraph (‘Spread over ...
bring a picnic’) which tell you that the designers of the park
are concerned about protecting the environment. [3 marks]
• How would you answer this question?
1. Look at the number of marks. How many pieces of
information do you need?
2. Go back to the text with your highlighter
3. Find the phrases you need and highlight them.
4. Write them onto your answer sheet. You will need the
phrase and then an explanation in full sentences.

7. Bewilderwood, By Sharon Sweeney
• Spread over a large area of woodland and marshland,
Bewilderwood is a magical playground of treehouses,
aerial ropewalks and zipwires, reached by boat or
boardwalk – all built from sustainable wood. The whole
site is pesticide-free so there’s no danger of chemicals
filtering into the surrounding low-lying wetlands. Some
14,000 broadleaf trees, including oak, sweet chestnut and
birch have been planted. There is a snack shack on the
jetty and a cafe selling reasonably priced, locally sourced
and mainly organic food – ostrich burgers and unfussy
sandwiches, pure fruit smoothies and elderflower cordial
– but you could just as easily bring a picnic.

8. Bewilderwood, By Sharon Sweeney
• Spread over a large area of woodland and
marshland, Bewilderwood is a magical playground of
treehouses, aerial ropewalks and zipwires, reached by
boat or boardwalk – all built from sustainable wood. The
whole site is pesticide-free so there’s no danger of
chemicals filtering into the surrounding low-lying
wetlands. Some 14,000 broadleaf trees, including
oak, sweet chestnut and birch have been planted. There is
a snack shack on the jetty and a cafe selling reasonably
priced, locally sourced and mainly organic food – ostrich
burgers and unfussy sandwiches, pure fruit smoothies and
elderflower cordial – but you could just as easily bring a
picnic.

9. From this piece of reading you could be asked to
answer short questions like…
• Give three facts from the second paragraph (‘Spread over ...
bring a picnic’) which tell you that the designers of the park
are concerned about protecting the environment. [3 marks]
• You might answer like this:
• The designers ensured that buildings were made from
sustainable wood. The made sure no pesticides were used so
they could protect the wetlands and they planted many
(broad-leaf) trees

10. Comprehension Qs: When a question is asking you to
put information in your own words they are looking
for synonyms
Now have a go at these two questions, concentrating on choosing your synonyms carefully
These types of questions have similar wording. Look
at the questions below. Which key words in each
question show you that you need to find a synonym?
a) Using your own words, explain what the writer
means by ‘real driving force’ (line 41); 2 marks
b) In your own words, explain what the writer means
by ‘dappled sunshine’ (line 47); 2 marks
2 marks

11. Comprehension Qs: When a question is asking you to
put information in your own words they are looking
for synonyms
a) ‘real driving force’ = The detail which most
motivated him to open the park.
b) ‘dappled sunshine’ = Sunshine which casts a
speckled pattern on the ground because of the
shadows of the leaves.

12. Summarising Questions:
From paragraphs 2 to 7 (‘Spread over … called
Peaceful Paths’), write a summary of what
parents would particularly like about
Bewilderwood. Write a paragraph of about
50–70 words. 7 marks
We have done this before. Remember what you
need to look for. You will then know what you
need to include.

13. Summarising Questions:
1. features in the park (crocklebogs etc.) are aimed specifically at
young children
2. it is concerned with protecting the environment
3. the food is suitable for children/unfussy/organic
4. it is possible to bring a picnic
5. features in the park encourage children not to leave litter
6. it isn’t a conventional theme park/pre-computer etc.
7. there are traditional/adventurous/healthy activities/zip wires etc.
8. it appeals to older as well as young children/all people
9. there are quiet places
10. the maze is thoughtfully designed
11. it’s good value for money
• N.B. Some of the above points are inferential

14. Chilly
Understand that there are three
types of comprehension question
and be able to recognise the wording
of each type
Red Hot!
I can use synonyms and inferences to
answer all types of comprehension
questions
Warming Up
I am able to select words required to
answer a basic literal comprehension
question
ProgressCheck!
WWW?
EBI?