Test-question smartass

[Talon]

A little background first. Late last year I unfortunately got fired from my job at Bingo-**** (http://www.customerssuck.com/board/showthread.php?t=3628) As far as getting a new one, after 3 years in the call center/telecom field, I'd had enough. I hadn't gone insane or started smoking/drinking yet, best to quit while I was ahead.

So I decided to get my butt enrolled in a bachelor of applied technology program. I also tried studying for the A+ cert exam, but wasn't able to finish before classes started. Program's hard as hell, need 60% grade just to pass. And I've just been through hell week. 2 written tests, 1 practical/lab test, and 2 scripting/programming assignments all due in the same week. (head explodes)

The last test I wrote on thursday had a question "what's the output of so-and-so Linux command". Just one problem, the command in question was incorrectly spelled "ifcofnig". Me being the smartass I just couldn't resist: I wrote next to the question "Output will be an error message. However, ifconfig (the correct spelling) will give this:", and I wrote the output on the actual answer space.

I wonder if I'll lose a mark for that one :roll:

[BookstoreEscapee]

Personally I'd give you an extra point for that one...but then it's not up to me ;)

[myswtghst]

I had a TA for my anatomy lab in college who gave me credit on pop quizzes if, when I didn't know the answer, I wrote something that made her laugh. :) Worked out well for my grade.

[LionMan]

Correct answer to output to ifconfig:

samson% ifconfig
usage: ifconfig [-h] [-m] [-v] [-z] [-L] interface
[ af [ address [ dest_addr ] ] [ netmask mask ] [ prefixlen n ]
[ alias | -alias ] ]
[ up ] [ down ] [ metric n ] [ mtu n ]
[ nwid network_id ] [ nwkey network_key | -nwkey ]
[ powersave | -powersave ] [ powersavesleep duration ]
[ hidessid | -hidessid ] [ apbridge | -apbridge ]
[ [ af ] tunnel src_addr dest_addr ] [ deletetunnel ]
[ arp | -arp ]
[ media type ] [ mediaopt opts ] [ -mediaopt opts ] [ instance minst ]
[ preference n ]
[ vlan n vlanif i ]
[ agrport i ] [ -agrport i ]
[ anycast | -anycast ] [ deprecated | -deprecated ]
[ tentative | -tentative ] [ pltime n ] [ vltime n ] [ eui64 ]
[ link0 | -link0 ] [ link1 | -link1 ] [ link2 | -link2 ]
ifconfig -a [-b] [-h] [-m] [-d] [-u] [-v] [-z] [ af ]
ifconfig -l [-b] [-d] [-u] [-s]
ifconfig -C
ifconfig interface create
ifconfig interface destroy

Yep, very useful :)

[TNT]

Who knows? Maybe the mistake was intentional... a test to see who's looking at the details.

[Dave1982]

*slight thread hijack*

I did something similar on a Lab Practical in college. The problem involved a sealed lead box of mass x containing y grams of one radioactive substance and z grams of a different radioactive substance. After a certain length of time goes by, what is the mass of the box and its contents?

This problem was really very poorly worded. If we assume a sealed container (ie the byproducts from the decay of the contents don't escape) then the box and its contents should mass the same as they did at the beginning. I actually went up to the instructor (who had not written the problem; the DEPARTMENT HEAD had) to ask if this was a trick question. She assured me it was not, though she did see where I was coming from.

Ultimately, I answered about like this. "The box and it's contents will still mass x + y + z grams. However, it will now contain THIS much of substance 1 and THIS much of substance 2 and THIS much decay products." I got full marks for my answer.

[lordlundar]

My science teacher had a wicked sense of humour. He would give two points for a correct answer, but he was more concerned if you actually tried to solve it. So if you showed some work that pointed in the right direction, you go 1 point. He also said that you got 1 point to a max of 10 (out of 100) for putting "Because God made it so".:D

[It's me]

Ultimately, I answered about like this. "The box and it's contents will still mass x + y + z grams. However, it will now contain THIS much of substance 1 and THIS much of substance 2 and THIS much decay products." I got full marks for my answer.

Minus the amount of energy released during the decay process....

[reformedwaitress]

He also said that you got 1 point to a max of 10 (out of 100) for putting "Because God made it so".:D

That reminded me of this (http://web.archive.org/web/20041124174443/http://www.enzine.net/exam/), which I have always loved. While it is not a test from anyone I know, I do know a few people who filled out their AP Chem tests a lot like this cause, well, they had no earthly clue! :lol:

I love these kinds of things. Our Chem teacher used to always have a "extra credit" question where you could receive up to 20 extra points. The question was always something we had never learned in class, wasn't always chemistry and you didn't even have to necessarily get the answer right, you just had to make him laugh. I loved that teacher. He kicked mondo butt.

[BookstoreEscapee]

I like the question that says "The reaction between X and Y is a substitution reaction. Explain what this statement means" "It means that there is a substitution reaction when there is a reaction between X and Y"

Now THAT'S an English major's answer! :lol: When in doubt, take the question as literally as possible!

meow meow meow meow meow hiss!

My HS geometry teacher gave partial credit for showing work, too. As long as you were on the right track, you got something even if your answer was wrong.

[Talon]

Lionman please tell me you're either studying Linux or actually have a system running Linux? I'd hate to think you had all that output committed to memory.

If you did, can I get you to write my Linux final exam? :)