单选题
In ancient times the most important examinations
were spoken, not written. In the schools of ancient Greece and Rome,
testing usually consisted of saying poetry aloud or giving speeches.
In the European universities of the Middle Ages, students who were
working for advanced degrees had to discuss questions in their field of study
with people who had made a special study of the subject. This custom exists
today as part of the process of testing candidates for the doctor's
degree. Generally, however, modern examinations are
written. The written examination, where all students are tested on the
same question, was probably not known until the nineteenth century.
Perhaps it came into existence with the great increase in population and the
development of modern industry. A room full of candidates for a state
examination, timed exactly by electric clocks and carefully watched over by
managers, resembles a group of workers at an automobile factory.
Generally, during examinations teachers and students are expected to act
like machines. One type of test is sometimes called an
"objective test". It is intended to deal with facts, not personal
opinions. To make up an objective test the teacher writes a series of
questions, each of which has only one correct answer. Along with each
question the teacher writes the correct answer and also three statements that
look like correct answers to students who have not learned the material
properly.
单选题
In the Middle Ages students ______.
A. took objective tests
B. specialized in one subject
C. were timed by electric clocks
D. never wrote exams
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】[解析] 细节题。由第一段第一句In ancient times the most important examinations were spoken，not written．可知，古代没有笔试。
单选题
The main idea of paragraph three is that ______.
【答案解析】[解析] 细节题。文章的第三段提到：The written examination was not known until the nineteenth century．Perhaps it came into existence with the great increase in popula—tion and the development of modern industry．因此，笔试是19世纪才为大家所知，可能是由于人口的增加和现代工业的发展。