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Basic 3 · English Language

Information Texts, Comprehension Questions, Story Details and Adverbs of Time

In this topic you will listen to information texts, answer different types of questions, add details to stories and use adverbs of time.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

  • Listen to and discuss information texts
  • Ask and answer factual, inferential and vocabulary questions
  • Add details to narrative stories
  • Use adverbs to express time

What you already know

  • Self-correction and adverbs

Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.

Lesson 1

Strand
Oral Language
Sub-strand
Listening Comprehension
Indicator
B3.1.7.1.1 – Listen to and interact actively within information texts

Introduction

An information text gives facts. It teaches us about real things.

Listening to an Information Text

"Mosquitoes are small insects. Female mosquitoes bite people to get blood. Some carry malaria. Mosquitoes lay eggs in still water. To stop mosquitoes, cover water containers, clear gutters and sleep under treated nets."

Facts from the text
QuestionFact
What are mosquitoes?small insects
Where do they lay eggs?in still water
How can we stop them?cover water, clear gutters, use nets
Ways to stop mosquitoes: covered water, clean gutters and a mosquito net
Figure 1: Stopping mosquitoes Draw one way to stop mosquitoes.Illustration: Sirbus

New words

information text
Writing that gives facts.
insect
A small creature with six legs.
still water
Water that does not flow.

Summary

  • Information texts give facts.
  • Mosquitoes breed in still water and can carry malaria.

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. Where do mosquitoes lay eggs?

    • A. Still water
    • B. Sand
    • C. Trees
    • D. Fire
    Show answer
    Answer: Still waterThe text says so.

  2. 2. Information texts give facts.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueThey teach real things.

  3. 3. A small creature with six legs is an ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: insectThat is an insect.

  4. 4. Give two ways to stop mosquitoes.

    Show answer
    Answer: Any two: cover water, clear gutters, use treated nets.From the text.

Lesson 2

Strand
Reading
Sub-strand
Comprehension
Indicator
B3.2.7.1.2 – Ask and answer factual inferential and vocabulary questions about level-appropriate texts

Introduction

Different questions check different kinds of understanding.

Types of Questions

Question types
TypeWhat it asksExample (mosquito text)
factualfacts in the textWhere do mosquitoes lay eggs?
inferentialwhat the text suggestsWhy should we clear gutters?
vocabularymeaning of wordsWhat does "still" mean here?

New words

factual
Based on facts in the text.
inferential
Working out what is not directly said.
vocabulary
Words and their meanings.

Summary

  • Factual answers are in the text.
  • Inferential and vocabulary questions need thinking.

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. "What does 'still' mean?" is a…

    • A. Vocabulary question
    • B. Factual question
    • C. Song
    • D. Command
    Show answer
    Answer: Vocabulary questionIt asks for meaning.

  2. 2. Inferential questions need thinking beyond the text.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueWe work them out.

  3. 3. Questions about facts in the text are ______ questions.

    Show answer
    Answer: factualThat is factual.

  4. 4. Answer: Why should we clear gutters?

    Show answer
    Answer: So water does not collect for mosquitoes to breed.This is inferred.

Lesson 3

Strand
Writing
Sub-strand
Narrative Writing
Indicator
B3.4.10.1.1 – Add more details of a story structure to narrative stories

Introduction

Good stories have a beginning, middle and end, with interesting details.

Adding Details to Stories

Story structure
PartWhat it hasExample detail
beginningcharacters and setting"On a hot afternoon in Tamale…"
middlea problem"…Adwoa lost her new sandals."
endthe solution"…her dog found them under the bed."

Tip: Add details: colours, sounds, feelings and places.

New words

setting
Where and when a story happens.
problem
Something that goes wrong in a story.
detail
A small piece of information.

Summary

  • Stories have a beginning, middle and end.
  • Details make stories interesting.

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. Where and when a story happens is the…

    • A. Setting
    • B. Problem
    • C. Ending
    • D. Title
    Show answer
    Answer: SettingThat is the setting.

  2. 2. Details make stories more interesting.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueThey help us picture events.

  3. 3. Something that goes wrong in a story is the ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: problemThat is the problem.

  4. 4. Add a detail to: "Adwoa lost her sandals."

    Show answer
    Answer: E.g. Adwoa lost her shiny new red sandals.Add colour or feelings.

Lesson 4

Strand
Grammar Usage
Sub-strand
Using Adverbs
Indicator
B3.5.6.1.2 – Use adverbs correctly to express time

Introduction

Some adverbs tell us when something happens.

Adverbs of Time

Adverbs of time
AdverbExample
yesterdayI visited Grandma yesterday.
todayWe have a test today.
tomorrowWe will travel tomorrow.
nowCome here now.
soonThe bus will arrive soon.

New words

adverb of time
A word that tells when.
yesterday
The day before today.
tomorrow
The day after today.

Summary

  • Adverbs of time tell when an action happens.
  • Yesterday, today and tomorrow are adverbs of time.

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. Which tells when?

    • A. tomorrow
    • B. quickly
    • C. loudly
    • D. happily
    Show answer
    Answer: tomorrowIt tells time.

  2. 2. "Soon" is an adverb of time.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueIt tells when.

  3. 3. The day before today is ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: yesterdayThat is yesterday.

  4. 4. Write a sentence using "tomorrow".

    Show answer
    Answer: E.g. I will go to church tomorrow.It tells when.

Lesson 5

Strand
Extensive Reading
Sub-strand
Reading
Indicator
B3.6.1.1.1 – Read a variety of age and level- appropriate books and summarize them

Introduction

Today we read and summarise an information text.

Reading and Summarising

"The African elephant is the largest land animal. It lives in grasslands and forests. Elephants eat grass, leaves and fruit. In Ghana, you can see elephants at Mole National Park in the Savannah Region. We must protect elephants from hunters."

Summary: The elephant is the largest land animal, and Ghana's elephants live at Mole National Park.

Elephants at Mole National Park
Figure 2: Elephants at Mole National Park Draw an elephant.Photo: Matti Blume, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

New words

largest
Biggest of all.
national park
Protected land for wild animals.
protect
To keep safe.

Summary

  • The elephant is the largest land animal.
  • Elephants live at Mole National Park in Ghana.

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. Where can you see elephants in Ghana?

    • A. Mole National Park
    • B. Makola Market
    • C. Kumasi Zoo only
    • D. Lake Volta
    Show answer
    Answer: Mole National ParkThe text says so.

  2. 2. Elephants eat grass and leaves.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueThe text says so.

  3. 3. Protected land for wild animals is a national ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: parkThat is a national park.

  4. 4. Write a one-sentence summary.

    Show answer
    Answer: The elephant is the largest land animal and Ghana's elephants live at Mole National Park.Main points.

Homework

  1. Write a short story with a beginning, middle and end. Add two details.