Fear of Clowns

I just took a commonly confused words test devised by some yokum. I don't know, the test might score each individual answer properly, maybe not. Here are the results it gave me,

• You scored 92% Beginner,
• 100% Intermediate,
• 87% Advanced,
• and 82% Expert!

And my percentiles within my age and gender group,

• You scored higher than 32% on Beginner
• You scored higher than 68% on Intermediate
• You scored higher than 23% on Advanced
• You scored higher than 84% on Expert

I'd hate to witness average grammatical skills is I am ranked a "genius" even though almost 70% of people in my group did better in the "beginner" category. I suggest this test is biased towards experts.

(via Steve Verdon)

UPDATE: This test is a load of crap. I just noticed explanations of the answers are posted by the designer of the test. Look at the explanation for question #4. One point is given for someone who chooses "I wish you would study for you're test," but zero for someone who chooses "I hope you would study for your test" - because "wish is the better choice. 'To order or entreat' is the intended meaning here." How are we to know the test designer's "intended meaning"? Is this a psychic or a grammar test?

Question #25 is flawed as well. One can certainly think that speeding in a car is risque. There's plenty of rock songs about it.

Question #42 is just ridiculous. The author claims one cannot say, "That information is impertinent to this case," explaining that "impertinent" means "not pertinent". Whaa?

Question #40 is also similarly odd. The explanation for why one cannot say, "The water from the river flows through the canal into the ocean," is "Water does not flow from one body of water through a canal into another body of water." Has the designer never heard of the Suez Canal which connects the River Nile and the Red Sea? There are many such examples ... Venice?

If this test accurately ranked me an English Genius, I am an English Supergenius! Which is not the case. The test is severely flawed. I fear for anyone who can get all the answers "correct"!

// posted by Erik @ 3/30/2005 02:49:00 PM
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