Could it be a suitable question and answers?

Question

Hi teachers,This is the context:At first he said nothing, but then he spoke. His voice was very strange, but I listened to him carefully, and I could understand him.‘The steps were very difficult,’ he said. ‘But most things are difficult for me.’Could it be a suitable question and answers?How many things are difficult for Merrick?a) Most things are.b) Many things are.Thanks in advance.

RandomGuy · Accepted Answer

I don't think the question is suitable for testing reading comprehension.

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Aspara GusI don't think the question is suitable for testing reading comprehension.

Hi Aspara Gus,
Thank you for your reply. I'm testing listening comprehension. But all the same, since I'm wrong, could you tell me which one is then? It made sense to me. What I really wanted to know there, were the answers.

TS

Shawn79 · Answer

For me, reading comprehension means being able to deduce something from the text, not simply looking for the exact words used. The text explicitly states "most things."

Also, if most things are difficult for Merrick, it's still true to say that many things are difficult for him. Maybe it would be better if the answers weren't both true, like making "few things" a choice instead of "many things". Or reword the question so that only one answer is correct. For example you might ask what wording was used to refer to how many things are difficult for Merrick.

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Hi Shawn,
Thank you for your suggestion and advice. Though it is for listening comprehension, so I can't change the text at all, it is from a CD.
My questions have to work for both listening comprehension and the student's ability to recognize spoken words and produce them in writing.
How about this one?
How many things aren't easy to do for Merrick?
Many of them aren't.

TS

Shawn79 · Answer

Hi TS!

I forgot you mentioned it was a listening exercise in a follow-up post.

I don't know if putting the question in the negative is a good idea. The answer would be: Some things are not difficult for Merrick. I actually think it would be good to ask "how many things did Merrick say are difficult for him?" if you just want your students to identify the words "most things" from the audio example.

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Hi Shawn,
Thank you for your reply.

No worries at all.
I really like yours, and I guess there can't be a more challenging one to test their comprehension, can there?
TS

Could it be a suitable question and answers?

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