Framework and Application of Question Chains for High School Eng-lish Reading Instruction Based on Thinking Capacity

This study explores the design and application of question chains in high school English reading instruction to enhance students' thinking capacities in line with the New English Curriculum Standards (2020). Question chains are hierarchical, logical, and systematic tools that guide students from comprehension to high-er-order thinking. The research develops a framework to address challeng-es such as coherence, question quality, and learner diversity. A case study de-mon-strates the implementation of question chains in pre-, while-, and post-reading phases. Results show that question chains effectively boost student engagement and cognitive development, though challenges like time constraints and teacher expertise persist. The study concludes with recommendations for cross-disciplinary integration, technology use, and teacher training. This re-search offers both theoretical insights and practical strategies to improve Eng-lish reading instruction and foster critical and creative thinking skills.