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Question facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
BBC World Questions - Hungary
Jonathan Dimbleby questioning - BBC World Service

A question is what someone asks, usually when there is something that he or she does not know. In writing, a question mark ("?") comes at the end of a question.

Types of question

Sometimes a question needs a simple answer like "Yes" or "No". Sometimes a question has a more complicated answer like "Maybe", or "I don't know". There are so many types of questions and so many ways of answering questions.

Examples of these questions

People may give a short answer. People may give a long answer. It depends on the question.

  • "Guess what?"
  • "How are you?"
  • "Can I help you?"
  • "Do you speak English?"
  • "Is this your bag?"
  • "What time is it?"
  • "Where are you from?"
  • "Why are you doing that?"
  • "Who do you want to see?"
  • "When will tea be ready?"
  • "What did you say?"
  • "How old are you?"
  • "What time is the football game?"
  • "Why do you look so funny?"
  • "Why did the chicken cross the road?"
  • "Where can I find the nearest subway station?"
  • "Why do you allow people to change an online encyclopedia?"

Types

Different kinds of why questions need different kinds of answers. A question like "Why did you do that?" clearly asks for an explanation. What that explanation might be depends on context. This kind of explanation is not right or wrong: it all depends on circumstance. The question and answer may also have to do with "who", "what", "when" and "where".

There are types or forms of explanations, including:

  • explanations which are based on a principle or theory.
Who should I listen to? Answer: Mother knows best.
  • explanations which rely on a model or pattern.
Where does this part go? Answer: The pocket is on the left side of the shirt.
  • explanations which tell a story or narrative.
When did you do that? Answer: I ran away after the dog barked.
Why are you doing that? Answer: Because I'm going to build a boat.

Many kinds of explanations are made up of more than one type.

An explanation can be valid or invalid or a combination of both. Some explanations may appear reasonable, but they turn out to be misleading or wrong.

Images for kids

  • US Navy 040709-N-2568S-003 n a press conference held at the Pentagon, the Secretary of the Navy Gordon R. England outlines the procedures and answers media questions about the Combatant Status Review Tribunal

    A journalist raises her hand to ask a question at a press conference.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Pregunta para niños

kids search engine
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Question Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.