A reporter’s question
Ask what another person would need to understand the story.
In conversation
A reporter cannot rely on being present when the event happened. The question must help make the context understandable to someone else.
In an interview, ask about the sequence, the people involved and the decision. Invite the speaker to explain the part that seems obvious to them.
Then summarise what you understood. A short check can reveal where the interviewer and speaker have been using the same words for different things.