Which of the following words commonly starts close-ended questions?

• A. Did
• B. Could
• C. Would
• D. Why

Answer: (A)

Close-ended questions are answered with a simple yes or no. They’re often started with an auxiliary verb that sets up a direct, brief response. Did is a common starter because it asks about a completed action in the past in a straightforward way, so the natural reply is a quick Yes or No. For instance, “Did you finish your assignment?” makes the expectation clear: a short, factual answer rather than a detailed explanation.

Why not the others? Why tends to prompt explanations and details, which is a hallmark of open-ended questions. Could and would can begin yes/no questions too, but they often introduce possibility, permission, or hypothetical meaning, which can lead to longer or more nuanced responses and aren’t as consistently used for simple past-action queries as did.