What type of question is intended for students but not expected to have an answer?

The type of question intended for students but not expected to have an answer is a rhetorical question. Rhetorical questions are designed to provoke thought or emphasize a point rather than to elicit a response. They often encourage students to reflect on the topic at hand, allowing for deeper engagement with the material.

In instructional settings, rhetorical questions can be particularly effective as they invite students to think critically about their knowledge and opinions without requiring an immediate answer. This method can stimulate discussion or highlight contradictions and complexities within a subject area, fostering a more profound understanding.

In contrast, open-ended questions seek responses and encourage discussion, while closed-ended questions often require a definitive answer and may lead to yes or no responses. Clarifying questions, meanwhile, aim to gather more information or ensure understanding from the student. Each of these other question types serves a different purpose in education, but none embodies the characteristic of not expecting an answer like rhetorical questions do.