What is the name of a communicative activity where students ask and answer questions to find information they do not know, for example 'spot the differences'?

• A. Information gap activity
• B. Role play
• C. Debates
• D. Dictation

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is information gap activities, where learners must exchange details they don’t already have in order to complete a task. In this type of activity, one student holds pieces of information that the other student doesn’t, so they have to ask questions and give answers to fill in the missing bits. The spot the differences example fits this perfectly: each student works with a slightly different picture, and only by questioning and describing can they identify all the discrepancies and finish the task. This creates a genuine need to communicate, because without asking and listening, nothing would be resolved.

Other activities involve different aims. Role play focuses on acting out real-life situations and using language in context, which can involve information exchange but isn’t defined by needing to uncover unknown information to complete a task. Debates center on arguing points of view rather than gathering hidden details. Dictation is about listening and writing down what is heard, not about negotiating missing information to reach a shared conclusion.