A good reading answer makes a point and then shows where in the passage that point comes from. This lesson gives you a short routine to do that every time, in Kadazandusun or in the language of the question.
It sits inside the wider SPM subjects and learning resources section. The same habit is practised again in revising a short response with a checklist.
What counts as evidence in a reading answer?
Evidence is a specific detail in the passage that proves your answer is right. It can be a word, a phrase, an action, a number or a repeated idea.
A statement such as “the writer cares about the village” is a claim. It becomes an answer only when you add the detail that shows it, such as what the writer does or says.
The three-step routine
Use the same order every time, so you do not have to decide how to start.
- Claim. Answer the question in one short sentence, using the question’s own key word.
- Quote. Give the shortest piece of the passage that proves the claim, inside quotation marks.
- Link. Add one sentence saying how the quote proves the claim.
Step 3 is the one students forget. The quote is present but the reader has to guess why it was chosen.
Worked example on an original passage
Read this short original passage, written for practice and not taken from any exam paper.
Pak Jaimin walked to the padi field before sunrise every morning. When the river rose in the rainy month, he did not wait for help. He called the neighbours, and together they moved the rice seedlings to higher ground before noon.
Question: What shows that Pak Jaimin is a responsible person?
| Unsupported answer | Supported answer | |
|---|---|---|
| Claim | Pak Jaimin is responsible because he is a good farmer. | Pak Jaimin is responsible because he acts quickly to protect the crop. |
| Quote | (none) | He “did not wait for help” and moved the seedlings “before noon”. |
| Link | (none) | This shows he solved the problem himself and did not leave it until later. |
The first answer uses a word from the passage’s world (farmer) but points to no detail. The second can be checked line by line against the text.
A common mistake: evidence that does not match the claim
Suppose a student answers the same question with the quote “walked to the padi field before sunrise”. That line proves he is hardworking or punctual, not that he handled the flood responsibly.
Before you write a quote, ask one question: does this line prove my claim, or only something nearby? If it proves something nearby, change the claim or find a better line.
Check yourself
Use the same passage. Question: How do we know Pak Jaimin works well with others? Write a claim, a quote and a link.
Answer
Claim: Pak Jaimin works well with others because he asks his neighbours to join him.
Quote: “He called the neighbours, and together they moved the rice seedlings”.
Link: The word “together” shows the job was shared, and calling them shows he started the teamwork himself.
If you quoted “walked to the padi field before sunrise”, the link would be weak, because that line shows effort on his own, not cooperation.
What to study next
Once supporting answers feels natural, practise tightening them in revising an original short response using a checklist. The structured-answer self-review tool lets you check a written answer against the same claim, quote and link steps on your own device.
If you want a teacher to read your practice answers with you, see online one-to-one Kadazandusun tuition. Which parts are assessed in school and which can be prepared online is something to confirm with your teacher and the current assessment arrangements.