Explicit questions have clear, obvious answers directly stated in the text and usually start with who, what, where, and when. Implicit questions require inferring answers that are not directly stated and usually start with why or how, forcing the reader to think deeply and search the text for implied meanings and interpretations.

1. Explicit Questions
 clear and obvious; leaves no doubt as to
the intended meaning
 Synonyms: “literal”, “factual”, “right there
in the text”

2.  Examples:
 Asking and answering “right there” questions
found in the reading material
 Locating directly stated main ideas
 Locating significant and irrelevant details
 Placing items in correct sequence or order
 Reading and carrying out directions

3.  Explicit questions usually start with:
 who,
 what,
 where,
 and when.
 These first four ‘wh’ questions are explicit
questions where the answer is found
directly in the text.

4. Implicit Questions
 not directly stated
 Synonyms: “inferential”, “interpretive”,
“think and search”

5.  Examples:
 Asking and answering “think and search” questions
(the reader has to deduce the answers from the
reading material)
 Asking and answering questions that call for
interpretation (the answer is not found directly in the
material)
 Drawing conclusions and generalizations
 Predicting the outcomes
 Summarizing what was read
 Sensing the author’s mood and purpose

6.  Implicit questions usually start with
 “why” or
 “how”.
 When asking why, the answer is not
spelled out in the text.
 Students must infer the answer based on
what was going on in the story.
 For example, why did she say that? Or,
why did she do that?