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Tutors Verbal Reasoning CD

Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 7:10 am
by Uncle-Sam
Hi,

I have a question I don't understand.

Tutors Verbal Reasoning Vol 2 CD

Test 12 - Find the opposite word

Q11
(round, allot, time)
(share, generous, watch)

The Answer is given as time and share

I don't understand it. Any expert advice please...

Thanks

Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 10:05 am
by LuluQueen
That is clearly wrong. Probably just an error.

Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 9:58 am
by Mike
Hi

Multiply - Divide
Time - Share

Regards

Mike

Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 11:07 am
by bucks mum1
Would perhaps have made more sense if the word was TIMES rather than TIME but perhaps I am missing something.

Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 11:40 am
by Mike
Hi

It is important to remember that these questions are verbal reasoning, the reasoning element being the key. With a multiple-choice type question the student can eliminate obvious incorrect options, i.e.

Round is not the opposite of share, generous or watch.

Allot is not the opposite of share, generous or watch.

Therefore time must be the correct answer from the first set of words.

Time is not the opposite of generous or watch.

Therefore share must be the correct answer from the second set of words.

We accept that time could possibly be changed to times.

Regards

Mike

Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 12:34 pm
by Snowdrops
I have to agree, the word Time does not seem to be the correct answer, even after your explanations Mike.

Much more sensible to add an 's' and then there can be no misunderstanding :)

Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 12:47 pm
by Milla
yup, don't get it at all, sorry. I think the assumption that because it can't be the others, therefore it must be right puts one on vaguely dodgy ground too. What if the person started the working out in the other order, beginning with time and, quite rightly (!) saw no opposite correlation between time and share (still can't see it myself)? And I can't see "timeS" making it any clearer. If reasoning, in this context, means settling for the best of a bad job, then any answer could be deemed correct purely on the basis of the others not being.

Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 12:59 pm
by yoyo123
I agree timeS and share , most 10/11 year olds would identify with these terms. Time not so obvious Mike.

Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 1:15 pm
by Mike
Hi milla

There is no assumptions in the facts that of the nine possible answer options, eight of them are definitely incorrect.

Times and share appear in the KS2 Numeracy Vocabulary, relating to multiplication and division.

Opposite questions in verbal reasoning tests ask for the "most opposite" answer and reasoning is a key element in answering some of the questions accurately or giving a better chance than guessing when the student is not familiar with the words in the list or the words are out of context.

We will make the change from time to times to make the question more accurate.

Regards

Mike

Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 1:53 pm
by yoyo123
:D
Thanks Mike