Which description best fits a closed-ended question?

Which description best fits a closed-ended question?

• A. It invites a detailed, narrative answer
• B. It seeks a yes-or-no or short answer
• C. It encourages a long explanation
• D. It asks for an opinion with justification

Answer: (B)

Closed-ended questions yield brief, definite responses, usually yes or no or a short answer. The description that fits this type best is the one that seeks a yes-or-no or short answer, because it emphasizes a concise reply rather than asking for detail or justification. This makes it easy to record and analyze responses quickly. By contrast, prompts that invite a detailed narrative, encourage a long explanation, or ask for an opinion with justification point to open-ended questions, which are meant to elicit more expansive and thoughtful replies. For example, asking, "Did you complete the task on time?" is a closed-ended prompt, whereas "Describe how you approached the task and what challenges you faced" invites a longer, open-ended response.

Closed-ended questions yield brief, definite responses, usually yes or no or a short answer. The description that fits this type best is the one that seeks a yes-or-no or short answer, because it emphasizes a concise reply rather than asking for detail or justification. This makes it easy to record and analyze responses quickly. By contrast, prompts that invite a detailed narrative, encourage a long explanation, or ask for an opinion with justification point to open-ended questions, which are meant to elicit more expansive and thoughtful replies. For example, asking, "Did you complete the task on time?" is a closed-ended prompt, whereas "Describe how you approached the task and what challenges you faced" invites a longer, open-ended response.