Short comprehension questions test your ability to understand brief Spanish notices, messages, advice lists, and audio clips to find key facts. In the Junior Cycle examination, you extract information such as times, places, reasons, and instructions.
Text Formats and Reading Strategy
Practise with real Spanish notices and website timetables; find their main message and one useful detail. You do not need to translate every word in a passage to score full marks.
- Notices and signs show opening hours, directions, or rules in public places.
- Messages and emails cover meeting points, transport updates, or routine plans.
- Advice lists (consejos) give practical instructions on familiar topics.
- Short stories and news items describe events, accidents, or celebrations.
- Read the questions first to know what details to find.
- Scan the text to locate specific facts.
- Skim the title and passage to identify the main message.
Spanish Question Words and Target Details
Question words tell you what specific information to find.
| Question Word | English Meaning | What to Scan For |
|---|---|---|
| ¿Dónde? / ¿Adónde? | Where? / Where to? | Places or locations |
| ¿Cuándo? | When? | Times, days, or months |
| ¿Quién? | Who? | People, names, or jobs |
| ¿Por qué? | Why? | Reasons or purposes |
| ¿Cómo? | How? | Transport, descriptions, or feelings |
| ¿Cuánto/a? / ¿Cuántos/as? | How much? / How many? | Prices, quantities, or numbers |
Read the full sentence around the keyword to confirm the exact detail.
Decoding Rules, Advice, and Prohibitions
Signs and advice lists use phrases that state what you must, must not, or need to do.
| Spanish Phrase | English Meaning |
|---|---|
| Está prohibido | It is forbidden / not allowed |
| No se permite | It is not permitted |
| Hay que / Es necesario | One must / It is necessary |
| Hace falta | It is needed / necessary |
| Evita | Avoid |
Advice points often begin with a command verb, such as apaga (switch off), lava (wash), or guarda (keep/store). Check for negative words like nunca (never) or sin (without), which completely change the meaning.
Aural Stimuli and Precision in Answers
For listening tasks, read the questions first to know which facts to listen for.
Jot down numbers, times, and key nouns during the first playing, then verify them during the replay.
- Éxito means success (exit is salida).
- Librería means bookshop (library is biblioteca).
- Asistir means to attend (to assist is ayudar).
Key terms
- Está prohibido
- It is forbidden or not allowed.
- Hace falta
- It is necessary or needed.
- El horario
- The timetable or schedule.
- La salida
- The exit; departure in travel information.
- El consejo
- A piece of advice.
- Peligro
- Danger or hazard.
- Porque / ¿Por qué?
- 'Porque' (one word, unaccented) means because; '¿Por qué?' (two words, accented) means why.
Check yourself
What is the main message of Mateo’s text?
He cannot go to the park because he must accompany his brother to hospital.
Which Spanish question word asks for a reason that is typically introduced by 'porque'?
¿Por qué? (Why?).
What does library rule 2 mean?
Eating or drinking at the tables is forbidden (not allowed).
What does 'el horario' indicate when displayed on a train station board?
The timetable or schedule.