An English reading questions from a middle school in China.
It’s interesting. No offence，is it easy for native English speakers?
Yes. It’s English comprehension. Most 10 to 12 year-olds should be able to pass that test.
Oh, thank you. But what’s the meaning of passing a test? Like getting 60/100?
I find question 29 to be ambiguous, it could have multiple correct answers.
It’s really hard to tell which of the answers is ‘best’ when multiple of them are ‘good’. Answer A may be good, but D also seems good to me, even C wouldn’t be bad. Only B is a bad answer there, I feel, as it only refers to the first paragraph rather than the whole text.
The other two questions are more straightforward.
If you get 60 out of 100 it means you understood at least some of the text, questions and answers. 25/100 would be the average if you just randomly guessed answers, so you’re showing some understanding of English at 60/100.
That’s for sure, but students need to take a high grade as high as they can. For example, the passing line is 60/100, but we need to make it in to 90/100 or even 98/100.
Why do you need to make it to 90/100 or 98/100?
The results, if they are correct, show you that you have mastered the topic at that level, in that case English Comprehension. It allows you to know, for yourself, that you can read a text and understand what is meant by it. It permits further deduction and allows you to think properly about a subject without erring in the wrong/incorrect direction.
Well, there’s a test that decide what high school we student can go in June. It’s so important that our parents and teachers even told us that if we can’t go to a good high school we will be ‘doomed’.
100/100 is best. We should always strive for perfection even if we know that we cannot attain it.
Good luck then!
Reading a lot of English will help and so will interacting with others in English as you are doing now.
Yeah, thank you.
Right. I will try my best to make it.
1 Like
I see that you care and if you are as good at other topics as you are in English, you shouldn’t have any problems. The secret is: Practice, practice, practice but I’m sure you already know that.
Sure. I will try my best.
1 Like
Gerard Amatin is correct in that question 29 is ambiguous, with multiple correct answers.
I bring this to your attention because as I passed from my schooling into my career the most difficult test I was ever required to take consisted of 125 questions, five questions of which were pure mathematics. The other 120 questions were like question 29. All answers were correct; but you had to pick the most correct answer. Questions like that are designed to test comprehension, your understanding of the minute differences of the topic.
Actually, I’m really impressed by your test, especially as it is a middle school test.
1 Like
Welcome to the wonderful world of the English language, where one word can mean ten different things depending upon the context in which it is used…
2 Likes
Only in China would you need a test score of 90 to 98 when the rest of the native English speaking population would be lucky to get a 60/70? 
The very best of luck to you in your endeavors! 
1 Like
In a test, it may be right, but while talking in english, you will find out that most of the students learn english just for the test, writing "八股文“(It means a type of article written for high score without a true meaning at all). Most students in china may perform well in english tests, but they are not good at chatting like the thing I’m doing.
You’re doing very well! Should I worry that you’re a very sophisticated chatbot? Others have tried. Best of luck either way!
1 Like