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Passage
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So
Much to Learn
Types of Examination Questions
in the US and the UK:
The two main types of examination questions are
multiple choice and essay, but other types are
blank-filling and matching, and different teachers
use different types, e.g., a typical exam might
consist of 50 multiple choice questions for one
point each and two essay questions for 25 points
each. |
College Study:
In American
colleges and universities, students have many
choices about the subjects they study, their
class schedule, and the teachers of their classes.
In this way, students can create a schedule
that is most suitable for them. They can also
fulfill the requirements of their degree. Therefore,
students carry most of the responsibility for
managing their academic life, although academic
advisors are available to help them.
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Essay-type questions:
These are also called discussion questions,
because the student is expected to discuss a
topic and provide facts, reasons, examples,
etc. to support the answer, with the grade depending
mainly on how well the answer is supported not
just on the student's opinion.
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Some talked of jobs they already had; others of jobs they would
get. With all this assurance
of four years of college
study, they felt ready and able to conquer
the world.
The approaching
exam, they knew, would be a snap.
The professor had said they could bring any books or notes they
wanted, requesting only that they did not talk to each other
during the test.
Jubilantly,
they filed into the classroom. The professor passed out the
papers. And their smiles broadened
as the students noted there were only five essay-type
questions.
Three hours passed. Then the professor began to collect the
papers. The students no longer looked confident. On their faces
was a frightened expression. No one spoke as the professor faced
the class with the papers in her hand.
She surveyed
the worried faces before her, then asked: “How many completed
all five questions?”
Not a hand was raised.
“How many answered four?” Still no hands.
“Three? Two?”
The students shifted
restlessly
in their seats.
“One, then? Certainly somebody finished one.” But the class
remained silent. The professor put down the papers. “That is
exactly what I expected,” she said.
“I
just want to impress
upon you that, even though you have completed four years of
engineering, there are still many things about the subject you
don’t know. These questions you could not answer are relatively
common in everyday practice.” Then, smiling, she added: “You
will all pass this course, but remember that even though you
are now college graduates,
your education has just begun .”
The
years have obscured
the name of this professor, but not the lesson she taught.
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(321
words) |
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