diff --git a/pybatfish/client/internal.py b/pybatfish/client/internal.py
index 9c7bf96a..1f94d28e 100644
--- a/pybatfish/client/internal.py
+++ b/pybatfish/client/internal.py
@@ -15,44 +15,13 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 from pybatfish.client import restv2helper
-from pybatfish.datamodel.answer import Answer
-from pybatfish.util import get_uuid
-
-from . import workhelper
-from .options import Options
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from pybatfish.client.session import Session
 
 
-def _bf_answer_obj(
-    session: Session,
-    question_str: str,
-    question_name: str,
-    background: bool,
-    snapshot: str,
-    reference_snapshot: str | None,
-    extra_args: dict[str, Any] | None,
-) -> Answer | str:
-    if not question_name:
-        question_name = Options.default_question_prefix + "_" + get_uuid()
-
-    # Upload the question
-    restv2helper.upload_question(session, question_name, question_str)
-
-    # Answer the question
-    work_item = workhelper.get_workitem_answer(session, question_name, snapshot, reference_snapshot)
-    workhelper.execute(work_item, session, background, extra_args)
-
-    if background:
-        return work_item.id
-
-    # get the answer
-    return session.get_answer(question_name, snapshot, reference_snapshot)
-
-
 def _bf_get_question_templates(session: Session, verbose: bool = False) -> dict:
     return restv2helper.get_question_templates(session, verbose)
diff --git a/pybatfish/client/session.py b/pybatfish/client/session.py
index 8f7d3756..fa1c482c 100644
--- a/pybatfish/client/session.py
+++ b/pybatfish/client/session.py
@@ -632,6 +632,45 @@ def generate_dataplane(
         answer_dict = workhelper.execute(work_item, self, extra_args=extra_args)
         return str(answer_dict["status"].value)
 
+    def answer_question(
+        self,
+        question_str: str,
+        question_name: str,
+        background: bool,
+        snapshot: str,
+        reference_snapshot: str | None,
+        extra_args: dict[str, Any] | None,
+    ) -> Answer | str:
+        """
+        Upload, execute, and return the answer for a question.
+
+        Subclasses can override this method to change how questions are
+        answered (e.g. to use a different backend).
+
+        :param question_str: JSON string representing the question
+        :param question_name: unique name for the question
+        :param background: if True, return immediately with work item ID
+        :param snapshot: snapshot on which to answer the question
+        :param reference_snapshot: reference snapshot for differential questions
+        :param extra_args: extra arguments to pass with the question
+        :return: Answer object, or work item ID string if background=True
+        """
+        if not question_name:
+            question_name = Options.default_question_prefix + "_" + get_uuid()
+
+        # Upload the question
+        restv2helper.upload_question(self, question_name, question_str)
+
+        # Answer the question
+        work_item = workhelper.get_workitem_answer(self, question_name, snapshot, reference_snapshot)
+        workhelper.execute(work_item, self, background, extra_args)
+
+        if background:
+            return work_item.id
+
+        # Get the answer
+        return self.get_answer(question_name, snapshot, reference_snapshot)
+
     def get_answer(self, question: str, snapshot: str, reference_snapshot: str | None = None) -> Answer:
         """
         Get the answer for a previously asked question.
diff --git a/pybatfish/question/question.py b/pybatfish/question/question.py
index 9212516a..2856f617 100644
--- a/pybatfish/question/question.py
+++ b/pybatfish/question/question.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 
 import attr
 
-from pybatfish.client.internal import _bf_answer_obj, _bf_get_question_templates
+from pybatfish.client.internal import _bf_get_question_templates
 from pybatfish.datamodel import Assertion, AssertionType, BgpRoute, VariableType
 from pybatfish.datamodel.answer.base import Answer
 from pybatfish.exception import QuestionValidationException
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ def __dir__(self):
 class QuestionBase:
     """All questions inherit functionality from this class."""
 
-    def __init__(self, dictionary, session):
+    def __init__(self, dictionary: dict, session: "Session"):
         self._dict = deepcopy(dictionary)
         self._session = session
 
@@ -160,8 +160,7 @@ def answer(
         _validate(self.dict())
         if include_one_table_keys is not None:
             self._set_include_one_table_keys(include_one_table_keys)
-        return _bf_answer_obj(
-            session=session,
+        return session.answer_question(
             question_str=self.json(),
             question_name=self.get_name(),
             background=background,