Teacher Discussion Forums

A student recently brought me one of those hairsplitting multiple choice questions that Taiwanese test writers love to dream up. Maybe someone can help.

Here goes.

Q: Is this man your father?

Pick the best answer:

A: 1- Yes, this is.
2- No, that's not.
3- Yes, it is.

I prefer 1., but to my mind, there's something a little off about all these anwers. A native speaker would say Yes, he is, or Yes, this is my father, but these are not options. Any help?

Hmmmmm

If the person asking a question were holding up a photo, 3 would be OK in my English. However, if the man in question were present he probably wouldn't take kindly to being referred to as "this man" or "it" within earshot. I know I wouldn't.

What do you think about multiple-choice tests written by people with poor English?

a. Annoy and useless they is.

or

b. Seek answer correct is waste of time yes.

or

c.This is silly silly stupid of test.

In fact all multiple choice tests, with their necessity to rely on fine shades of meaning, are a pain. It is quite astounding that so many people are judged in a professional (or preparing for it) context in this way.

I can remember a multiple choice where one of the answers was:
I'm bored, let's do something, and another was:
I'm bored, let's do someone.

Both seem grammatically correct to me, although the latter option is somewhat antisocial to say the least.

In English Lit we did Shakespeare, Dickens and a lot of other writers, and they were very social occasions

Right on, Woodcutter. How do highschools expect students who can't even handle S-V agreement to tackle questions like this?

Where is alternative no. 4?

4. You had better ask my mother.

Harzer