Olvasott szöveg értése - Task 3
Angol középszintű érettségi, 2019. május
- Read the following article about a difficult test question and then read the half sentences that follow the text.
- Your task is to match the half sentences based on the information in the text.
- Write the letters in the white boxes next to the numbers.
- Remember that there are three extra letters that you will not need.
- When you have entered all your answers, click on the button Check answers.
- If you make a mistake, please try again until all your answers are correct.
'Impossible' exam question leaves Chinese students puzzled
Primary school students at a school in China had this question on a test: "If a ship has 26 sheep and 10 goats on board, how old is the ship's captain?"
The question caused a heated debate on Chinese social media. "This question makes no logical sense at all. Does the teacher even know the answer?" Some, however, defended the school, saying, "This question forces children to explain their thinking and gives them space to be creative. We should have more questions like this."
The local Education Department says the test was intended to "examine the ability to think independently." The traditional Chinese method of education heavily emphasises notetaking and repetition, which critics say doesn’t encourage creative thinking.
And, of course, there's always that one person who has the right answer. "The total weight of 26 sheep and 10 goats is 7,700kg, based on the average weight of each animal. In China, if you're driving a ship that has more than 5,000kg of cargo, you need to have had a boat license for five years. The minimum age for getting a boat license is 23, so he's at least 28."