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Monday, May 7, 2007

Lousy test question for fourth graders

My fourth-grade daughter is taking a series of standardized tests in school this week, called the ERB tests. Her teachers handed out a practice test last week, and when I was going over it, I came across a question in the math section that I think has several possible correct answers:

Sara wants to measure how much applesauce she made this fall. If she uses metric, which unit should she use?
A) gram
B) liter
C) kilogram
D) centimeter

I've shown this question to a movie director, a screenwriter, and a magazine editor, and they think its a lousy question, too. I've even heard a decent argument for d).

What do you think? Weigh in here: Link to PDF file of discussion (read from bottom up) (At request of QuickTopics's owner, who said his server load meter is pegged, I have removed the conversation link.)

posted by Mark Frauenfelder at 11:15:09 AM permalink | Other blogs' comments

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