Plain English Meaning
Questions that have a short, fixed answer rather than ones that ask the student to think things through and explain.
Full Definition
Questions that can be answered with a short, specific response — typically yes, no, or a single fact — and which do not invite explanation, reasoning, or elaboration from the learner.
Context Anchor
Seen in aviation instruction when an instructor is choosing how to ask questions during a lesson, briefing, or review.
Derivation
Called 'closed-ended' because the answer is closed off — there is little room for the student to take the response anywhere beyond the specific fact being asked for. The opposite is 'open-ended,' where the answer is left open for discussion.
Why Pilots Care
They allow quick verification of facts during training but can limit deeper understanding if overused.
Intuition Check
Closed-ended questions are not automatically poor questions. They are useful when the instructor needs a clear, specific answer, but they are weak for getting the student to explain their reasoning.
Example Sentence 1
The instructor asked a closed-ended question — 'What is the never-exceed speed for this aircraft?' — to confirm the student had memorised the V-speed.
Example Sentence 2
After the flight the instructor switched to closed-ended questions to verify the student had noted the actual landing distance used.