Which of the following will be a more appropriate assessment of language learning at a HOTS level ?

Correct option is C

The correct answer is (c).
Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) in language assessment refer to the abilities that go beyond basic comprehension and recall. They include application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Option (c) asks the learner to analyze a real-life problem—water shortage in the village—evaluate the situation, and propose a viable solution in the form of a formal communication (letter to the Panchayat president). This requires critical thinking, empathetic reasoning, and effective articulation, thus engaging multiple cognitive processes simultaneously.

Information Booster

1. Analytical Skill Involvement: Requires breaking down a real-life issue to understand its components.
2. Problem-Solving Orientation: Demands formulation of a creative and context-relevant solution.
3. Formal Language Use: Necessitates structured and formal communication (letter writing).
4. Contextual Application: Links academic content with real-life socio-civic issues.
5. Expression of Empathy and Responsibility: Encourages learners to think about community welfare and civic engagement.

Additional Knowledge

• (a) Write a newspaper report using the verbal clues given: While this engages writing skills and structure awareness, the use of clues makes it more of a guided and lower-level creative task than a fully analytical one.
• (b) Complete the crossword puzzle: This is a low-order cognitive activity focused on recall and word recognition, not on application or analysis.
• (d) Write an article on “water shortage” in your village: This option allows some scope for original thinking and expression but lacks the analytical and solution-oriented component found in option (c). It remains mostly descriptive rather than evaluative or problem-solving.