Asking Appropriate Questions Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: RI.3.1

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

I had a professor that always said that being successful comes from not answering the right questions, but from asking the right questions. I am pretty sure he stole that quote from somewhere, but after a quick Google I can’t find it. Being able to ask questions is a paramount skill in life that can help you persuade and even convince people you are trustworthy. These worksheets will take you through a variety of tasks that will help you learn how to put together well thought out query quicker.

Asking Appropriate Questions Worksheets:

Ask and Answer - Use one of the terms below to complete each question. Then write an answer on the line.

Asking about a Picture - Create three queries about the picture below.

Using Question Words - You will be given a list of statements that you must form a challenge for.

It's Good to Meet You! - When you meet people for the first time, there is often an opportunity to get to know someone a little bit by asking them about themselves. When wondering about someone you have just met, it is most appropriate not to be too personal.

Crazy Pictures - Write a question about each picture.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words - What do you want to know about it? For a series of queries to get the information you would like to know.

Using More Question Words - Use the words who, what, where, when, why, how, which, and how much to form questions. Complete each blank below by filling in the correct term.

Seven Questions - Study the picture. See how many different things you would like to know. You will be given seven chances.

Go Ahead and Ask! - Write a question that asks for the information in the answer.

Getting to Know You - Use the terms below as prompts to create questions that will help you get to know one of your classmates better.

The Question Game - Partner #1: Study the picture. Try to think of every possible question that your partner could ask about the picture. Write down every question you think of. Partner #2: Write down every appropriate question you can think to ask about the picture.

The Job Interview - Imagine that you are applying for a job at the library. Your main responsibility will be to read stories to children during story time on the weekends.

Be A Reporter - Imagine that you are a reporter with your school newspaper. You have been given an assignment to interview your teacher for the Personality of the Week column.

Can I Ask That? - Look at each picture. Then write three appropriate questions about each picture.

The Art of Conversation - Imagine that you have been selected to attend AllCounty Chorus, and you are the only representative from your school. Get to know some of the other students by starting a friendly conversation.

How to Ask Appropriate Questions


Here are some useful ways that will help you ask better and appropriate questions.


Plan Your Question


It is very important to plan your question before you begin to speak. In your head, you should be fully aware of the construction and structure of the question. This is to make sure that you do not make any mistakes while actually asking. Mistakes can create confusions that will result in wrong answers. It is best to plan an outline in your head.


Know Your Purpose


Before you ask your question, you should be aware of the purpose of asking. There are many different reasons why questions are being asked. Questions are meant to obtain facts and opinions. You should know what sort of facts you want to gain through your question. This will also help you in constructing the question in a better way.


Use Neutral Wording


Your questions should use neutral wordings. This is because only the neutral wordings will get you the unbiased answers.


Speak Your Listeners Language


It is very important to speak your listener's language. This does not necessarily mean to shift to another language, although that would be good if possible. But you can use the phrases and words that your listener can understand. Your question should also be related to their frame of work.


Ask Only Essential Questions


Nobody likes to be loaded with unnecessary and useless questions. Make sure that the questions that you are asking are valid. Sometimes the answer to the question is very obvious and this can annoy the listener.


Ask Open-Ended Questions


It is always best to start a conversation with the help of a question. Asking questions that have a plain and simple answer of either yes or no will get you nowhere. However, if you will ask open-ended questions then you will be able to invite the listener to a conversation where you can discuss further elements of the same topic.


How to Get the Information You Want


There are many different times where there is information that we need from another party, but it slippery slope to get to that without asking a direct question. If we are direct with our query it can often be a bad thing, whether it could insult the other party or it could potentially comprise what you are trying to do altogether. So how to find this information out without being direct? A great way to achieve this is to ask what are called leading questions. These types of queries often push the respondent to answer a certain way. What I like to do is prompt the conversation with several leading questions into an area that the respondent is uncomfortable with and then as a subtly placed prompt for the respondent to give me what I am actually after. This often catches them off guard and then the information comes flowing out. This is much like how a boxer softens up his opponent by throwing simple jabs and takes their time to form the knockout blow.