Who this is for: Cambridge IGCSE English First Language (0500) students preparing for Paper 1 Reading who need a clear method for answering comprehension questions on non-fiction texts such as the holograms passage.
What query it owns: how to answer different comprehension question types on the holograms text in Cambridge IGCSE English First Language Paper 1.
Why this is safe: this page owns the holograms-comprehension revision-guide angle, while Tutopiya’s Answering Different Comprehension — Holograms subtopic page owns the learning resource and the free Holograms comprehension quiz owns the practice.

Paper 1 Reading in Cambridge IGCSE English First Language (0500) tests how well you understand, analyse and respond to non-fiction passages. The holograms text is a typical Comprehension Text A exercise — it combines factual content with writer’s attitude questions that demand precise command-word technique. This guide shows you how to answer state, explain and infer questions on this passage without wasting words or losing marks.

Key takeaways

• State questions want a direct fact from the text — quote or paraphrase closely, keep it brief.
• Explain questions need a point plus a reason — show how or why, not just what.
• Infer questions ask you to read between the lines — support your interpretation with textual evidence.
• Use the PEE structure (Point, Evidence, Explanation) for explain and infer responses.
• Stay within the word limit — every extra word risks irrelevance and lost marks.

What are holograms comprehension questions in Cambridge IGCSE English First Language?

The holograms passage is a non-fiction Comprehension Text A resource that trains students to handle varied question types on a single extended text. Questions progress from straightforward retrieval to inference and writer’s attitude. Tutopiya’s Answering Different Comprehension — Holograms subtopic page provides the full passage, model answers and examiner-style feedback.

Command words for Paper 1 comprehension — what each demands

Command word	What the examiner wants	How long to write
State	A direct fact from the text — no opinion, no explanation	1 sentence, often under 10 words
Identify	Name or pick out something specific	1 short phrase or sentence
Explain	Say what happens and why — cause and effect	2–3 sentences with a reason
Infer	Draw a conclusion the text implies but does not state directly	2–3 sentences with evidence
Give evidence	Quote or closely paraphrase to support a point	Short quotation or precise paraphrase
Suggest	Offer a reasonable interpretation based on the text	1–2 sentences with justification

State vs explain vs infer — what examiners compare

Feature	State	Explain	Infer
Depth	Surface fact only	Fact + reason	Implied meaning + evidence
Own words?	Can quote briefly	Must show understanding	Must interpret, not copy
Evidence needed?	Optional	Helpful	Essential
Typical marks	1 mark	2–3 marks	2–4 marks
Example stem	”State one use of holograms mentioned in the text."	"Explain why the writer finds holograms surprising."	"What can you infer about the writer’s attitude to technology?”

Holograms comprehension in past-paper wording: worked stems

1. “State one application of hologram technology described in the passage.” Scan for a named use (e.g. medical imaging, entertainment, education). Write one concise fact. Mark-scheme reward: accurate retrieval from the correct section of the text.

2. “Explain how the writer conveys a sense of wonder about holograms.” Point: the writer uses vivid imagery / enthusiastic vocabulary. Evidence: quote a phrase. Explanation: link the language choice to the feeling of amazement. Reward: language feature identified + textual evidence + effect explained.

3. “What can you infer about the future of hologram technology from paragraph 4?” The writer implies holograms will become more widespread / accessible. Evidence: quote the suggestive phrase. Explanation: the optimistic tone or forward-looking language signals confidence in growth. Reward: valid inference supported by the text.

4. “Give one piece of evidence that holograms are still developing.” Quote or closely paraphrase a sentence showing limitations, ongoing research or recent advances. Reward: precise, relevant evidence.

Test yourself with the free Holograms comprehension quiz once you can distinguish state, explain and infer responses.

How to answer holograms comprehension questions — step by step

1. Read the question and underline the command word — state, explain or infer.
2. Locate the relevant paragraph(s) in the holograms passage before writing.
3. Draft your answer using PEE for explain/infer: Point, Evidence, Explanation.
4. Count words if a limit is given — cut anything that does not earn marks.
5. Check you have answered what was asked, not a neighbouring question.
6. Confirm with the Holograms comprehension quiz.

How this connects to other Paper 1 comprehension resources

The holograms text sits within Comprehension Text A alongside Answering Different Comprehension Qs — Artefacts and Content for Comprehension. The Cambridge IGCSE English First Language resource hub links every Paper 1 subtopic.

Common mistakes students make

• Explaining when the question only asks to state — wastes words and time.
• Copying long quotations when a brief paraphrase earns the same mark more efficiently.
• Making inferences with no textual evidence — examiners need proof from the passage.
• Exceeding the word limit — marks are capped and extra writing may be ignored.
• Answering from general knowledge about holograms instead of what the text actually says.

When you need more support

If Paper 1 comprehension questions keep costing marks, work through the Holograms comprehension quiz, then get focused help from a Cambridge IGCSE English First Language tutor.

Frequently asked questions

What command words appear in Paper 1 comprehension? State, identify, explain, infer, suggest and give evidence — each demands a different depth of response.

How do I answer an infer question? Draw a reasonable conclusion the text implies, support it with a quotation or close paraphrase, and explain your reasoning.

What is the difference between state and explain? State asks for a fact only; explain asks for a fact plus the reason or process behind it.

How do I revise holograms comprehension? Read the passage actively, practise each command word type, then take the Holograms comprehension quiz.

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