Using AI to Create Reading-Comprehension Quizzes

Course Context

This summer (2026) I taught an intensive, four-week Composition course (ENGL 1020) for the first time.

In doing so, I had to figure out time-saving ways to compress a normal 15-week semester into just four week. This was my challenge, and is what ultimately lead me to dipping my toe into the world of AI and how it could be beneficial for myself and my colleagues–many of whom are adamantly against using AI in any capacity.

The Assignment Challenge

For two of my essays, I had students write essays based on a single novel, so it was important for them to comprehend the reading in its entirety. While I have taught John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men previously, it was during a regular semester, so I was able to create a great number of short quizzes based on reading assignments.

This summer, however, students were required to read multiple chapters at a time. Rather than rewriting quizzes based on this (which are extremely time consuming and oftentimes somewhat biased based on my personal understandings and feelings toward the novel, I thought I’d take MS Copilot for a spin to create new quizzes.

Using Microsoft Copilot

For example, I typed:

“Create a 25-question, multiple choice quiz based on John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men for chapters 1, 2, and 3 that tests for reading comprehension in a college classroom.”

Within seconds, Copilot created the quiz, but there were no correct answers included. I modified my request by asking for correct questions, which it immediately produced.

I proceeded to go through each question to verify the validity of each question as well as the corresponding answer. Although I made a few minor changes in verbiage, everything Copilot produced was correct, so I then copied/pasted the questions/answers into the Brightspace quiz tool.

Results and Reflection

In the end, I did this three times to test comprehension in the novel. Not only was I surprised by the quick and accurate creation of the quizzes, I also realized how it asked some questions that I hadn’t considered which made me rethink my own quizzes from the past and how my own internal biases might have worded them.

Overall, this made me wonder how else I might save time and therefore create a much better work/life balance for even full-term semesters.