Which of the following is an open-ended question?

• A. What Kind of Information About Sharks Are You Looking For?
• B. Do You Need Information About Sharks?
• C. Is This About Sharks?
• D. When Do You Need It?

Answer: (A)

Open-ended questions invite you to describe your information needs in detail, which helps tailor the search and point you to the most relevant resources. The best choice asks, “What Kind of Information About Sharks Are You Looking For?” because it requires you to specify topics, depth, format, and purpose. That can lead to precise guidance like wanting background on shark species for a classroom project or seeking current research on migration patterns. The other prompts tend to limit you to a yes/no answer or a single detail, so they don’t reveal the scope or type of information needed. For example, “Do you need information about sharks?” can be answered with a simple yes, without clarifying whether you want general overviews, statistics, or scholarly articles. “Is this about sharks?” confirms the topic but adds no specifics. “When do you need it?” helps with timing but still doesn’t identify the exact information you’re after.