diff --git a/app/views/quizzes/quizzes/_form_question.html.erb b/app/views/quizzes/quizzes/_form_question.html.erb
index 3a3e030d9b4..87262728394 100644
--- a/app/views/quizzes/quizzes/_form_question.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/quizzes/quizzes/_form_question.html.erb
@@ -29,6 +29,29 @@
   </div>
   <div class="clear"></div>
   <div class="text">
+    <%# explanations for ungraded quizzes - basically the same sans references to "correct" answers %>
+    <div tabindex="0" class="multiple_choice_question_survey_quiz_explanation explanation subheader">
+      <%= t("Enter your question and multiple answers.") %>
+    </div>
+    <div tabindex="0" class="true_false_question_survey_quiz_explanation explanation subheader">
+      <%= t("Enter your question text.") %>
+    </div>
+    <div tabindex="0" class="short_answer_question_survey_quiz_explanation explanation subheader">
+      <%= t("Enter your question text.  \nStudents will see the question followed by a small text box to type their answer.") %>
+    </div>
+    <div tabindex="0" class="fill_in_multiple_blanks_question_survey_quiz_explanation explanation subheader">
+      <%= t("Enter your question, specifying where each blank should go. Students must type answers into text boxes at each blank.") %>
+    </div>
+    <div tabindex="0" class="multiple_answers_question_survey_quiz_explanation explanation subheader">
+      <%= t("This question will show a checkbox next to each answer.") %>
+    </div>
+    <div tabindex="0" class="multiple_dropdowns_question_survey_quiz_explanation explanation subheader">
+      <%= t("Enter your question, specifying where each dropdown should go.  Then define possible answers for each dropdown.") %>
+    </div>
+    <div tabindex="0" class="missing_word_question_survey_quiz_explanation explanation subheader">
+      <%= t("Define text to go before and after the dropdown and build a set of possible answers.") %>
+    </div>
+
     <div tabindex="0" class="multiple_choice_question_explanation explanation subheader">
       <%= t('explanations.multiple_choice', "Enter your question and multiple answers, then select the one correct answer.") %>
     </div>
diff --git a/public/javascripts/quizzes.js b/public/javascripts/quizzes.js
index b4c6717d7df..334d5fb3bed 100644
--- a/public/javascripts/quizzes.js
+++ b/public/javascripts/quizzes.js
@@ -654,12 +654,19 @@ define([
       result.textValues = ['answer_weight', 'answer_text', 'answer_comment', 'blank_id', 'id', 'match_id'];
       result.htmlValues = ['answer_html', 'answer_match_left_html', 'answer_comment_html'];
       result.question_type = question_type;
-      $formQuestion.find(".explanation").hide().filter("." + question_type + "_explanation").show();
+
+      var is_survey_quiz = $("#questions").hasClass('survey_quiz');
+      if (is_survey_quiz && $formQuestion.find("." + question_type + "_survey_quiz_explanation").length > 0) {
+        $formQuestion.find(".explanation").hide().filter("." + question_type + "_survey_quiz_explanation").show();
+      } else {
+        $formQuestion.find(".explanation").hide().filter("." + question_type + "_explanation").show();
+      }
+
       $formQuestion.attr('class', 'question').addClass('selectable');
       $formQuestion.find(".missing_word_after_answer").hide().end()
         .find(".matching_answer_incorrect_matches_holder").hide().end()
         .find(".question_comment").css('display', '').end();
-      if ($("#questions").hasClass('survey_quiz')) {
+      if (is_survey_quiz) {
         $formQuestion.find(".question_comment").css('display', 'none').end()
           .find(".question_neutral_comment").css('display', '');
       }