What a short-answer question is: A short-answer question (la risposta breve) asks you to answer a question about the text in a few words or a short phrase — not a full essay. What's marked is whether your answer is correct and supported by the text, NOT your writing style. Sometimes the question tells you to use your own words («con parole tue»); other times you may lift the words straight from the text.
- la risposta breve
- short answer (a few words or a short phrase)
- con parole tue / con parole proprie
- in your own words (paraphrase — don't copy)
- secondo il testo
- according to the text (the answer is in the passage)
- rispondere (a una domanda)
- to answer (a question)
- parafrasare / riformulare
- to paraphrase (say the same idea in different words)
- copiare parola per parola
- to copy word-for-word (avoid when told to use own words)
Content over style: In a short-answer reading question, content correctness is what earns the mark — not long sentences or perfect grammar. Give the right information, briefly, and you score. A minor language slip in a reading answer is usually not penalised.
The rules of a short answer: Keep it short — a few words or a phrase. Answer the question that was actually asked. Use your own words when the question says «con parole tue»; otherwise you may lift the words from the text. And don't over-write — extra padding doesn't earn extra marks and risks contradicting yourself.
| Regola | Che cosa significa |
|---|---|
| Sii breve | poche parole o una frase, non un intero paragrafo |
| Rispondi esattamente alla domanda | rispondi a ciò che è chiesto, non a qualcos'altro |
| Parole tue, se richiesto | riformula quando c'è scritto «con parole tue» |
| Copiare è permesso, se non richiesto | se non servono parole tue, puoi prendere le parole dal testo |
| Non scrivere troppo | evita il riempitivo: non dà punti e può contraddirsi |
Read the instruction: The little instruction matters: «con parole tue» means you must paraphrase — copying the line word-for-word can lose the mark. If it doesn't say that, you're free to take the words straight from the text.
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A reliable routine: Read the question first so you know exactly what's asked, locate the part of the text that answers it, note the key information, then write a short, precise answer (own words if asked) and check it actually answers the question. Because you can re-read, this is quick and reliable.
Nail the short answer — 5 steps
1
Read the question
What is it actually asking? Underline the key word (who? what? why? how much?).
2
Locate the relevant part of the text
Scan for the line that answers it — the text stays in front of you, so re-read it.
3
Note the key information
Pick out only the words that answer the question — ignore the rest.
4
Write a short, precise answer
A few words or a phrase. Use your own words if the question says «con parole tue».
5
Check it answers the question
Re-read the question and your answer — does it respond to exactly what was asked?
Read Q → Locate → Note → Write short → Check
Answer the question asked: Before you move on, re-read the question and your answer side by side. A common slip is answering a slightly different question — make sure your few words respond to exactly what was asked.
Answering short questions on a real text: Here is a short text — the kind Paper 2 (Reading) gives you. The text stays in front of you, so you locate each answer. Read it once (tap 🔊 to hear it, or Mostra traduzione if you get stuck), then we'll take a two-part short-answer question through the routine.
La sagra del quartiere: Sabato scorso il quartiere di Sant'Anna ha festeggiato la sua sagra annuale nella piazza del mercato. Al mattino c'erano giochi per i bambini e un corso di cucina, in cui i vicini hanno imparato a preparare i biscotti tradizionali. Nel pomeriggio un gruppo musicale ha suonato canzoni della regione.
La festa si è conclusa con una cena all'aperto tutti insieme. Ogni famiglia ha portato un piatto da condividere con gli altri. Marta, una delle organizzatrici, ha detto che la cosa più bella della festa non è stato il cibo, ma vedere tutti i vicini insieme, che chiacchieravano e ridevano dopo un anno così faticoso.
- la sagra annuale
- the yearly street / neighbourhood festival
- il corso di cucina
- the cookery course
- i biscotti tradizionali
- the traditional biscuits
- la cena all'aperto
- the open-air dinner
- condividere
- to share
Answering a short question
Due domande brevi, passo dopo passo
- (a) Read the question — «Secondo il testo, che cosa hanno imparato a preparare i vicini nel corso di cucina?» Locate the line: «…un corso di cucina, in cui i vicini hanno imparato a preparare i biscotti tradizionali.»
- (a) Write a short answer — «Hanno imparato a preparare i biscotti tradizionali.» A few words, straight from the text — that's enough.
- (b) Read the question — «Secondo Marta, qual è stata la cosa più bella della festa? Rispondi con parole tue.» Locate: «la cosa più bella… non è stato il cibo, ma vedere tutti i vicini insieme». Now paraphrase.
- (b) Write in your own words — «Per Marta, la cosa più bella è stata ritrovarsi con tutti i vicini, non il cibo.»
Own words means reword: Part (b) said «con parole tue», so we reworded «vedere tutti i vicini insieme» as «ritrovarsi con tutti i vicini». Same idea, different words — copying the line whole could lose the mark.
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Where marks are lost: Most short-answer marks are lost not to hard Italian but to careless habits: copying word-for-word when own words are required, answering a different question, writing far too much, or leaving it blank out of caution. Compare the two columns.
Buone strategie
- Answer the exact question that was asked.
- Paraphrase in your own words when «con parole tue» is stated.
- Keep it short — a few words or a phrase.
- Always write something supported by the text; never leave it blank.
Errori tipici
- Copy the line word-for-word when own words are required.
- Answer a slightly different question from the one asked.
- Write a long paragraph full of padding.
- Leave the answer blank because you weren't certain.
Never leave it blank: If the answer is in the text, a blank scores zero but a brief, text-supported attempt can score. Locate the line, write a few words — even an imperfect answer beats no answer at all.