Educalingo cookies are used to personalize ads and get web traffic statistics. We also share information about the use of the site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners.
Download the app
educalingo
Our education system is increasingly embracing a black-and-white way of thinking, in which ‘learning’ and ‘play’ are diametrically opposed. ‘Learning’ is the serious stuff that happens inside a classroom and can be measured via multiple choice questions and a No. 2 pencil. ‘Play’ is frivolous, fun, and worst of all, optional.
Darell Hammond
PRONUNCIATION OF MULTIPLE CHOICE
GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF MULTIPLE CHOICE
Multiple choice is a noun.
A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.
WHAT DOES MULTIPLE CHOICE MEAN IN ENGLISH?
Multiple choice
Multiple choice is a form of assessment in which respondents are asked to select the best possible answer out of the choices from a list. The multiple choice format is most frequently used in educational testing, in market research, and in elections, when a person chooses between multiple candidates, parties, or policies. Multiple choice testing is particularly popular in the United States. Although E. L. Thorndike developed an early multiple choice test, Frederick J. Kelly was the first to use such items as part of a large scale assessment. While Director of the Training School at Kansas State Normal School in 1915, he developed and administered the Kansas Silent Reading Test. Soon after, Kelly became the third Dean of the College of Education at the University of Kansas. The first all multiple choice, large scale assessment was the Army Alpha, used to assess the intelligence and more specifically the aptitudes of World War I military recruits. The items of a multiple choice test are often colloquially referred to as «questions,» but this is a misnomer because many items are not phrased as questions.
Definition of multiple choice in the English dictionary
The definition of multiple choice in the dictionary is an examination in which you have to choose an answer from a number of alternatives.
WORDS THAT RHYME WITH MULTIPLE CHOICE
Synonyms and antonyms of multiple choice in the English dictionary of synonyms
Translation of «multiple choice» into 25 languages
TRANSLATION OF MULTIPLE CHOICE
Find out the translation of multiple choice to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of multiple choice from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «multiple choice» in English.
Translator English — Chinese
选择题
1,325 millions of speakers
Translator English — Spanish
opción múltiple
570 millions of speakers
Translator English — Hindi
एकाधिक विकल्प
380 millions of speakers
Translator English — Arabic
الاختيار من متعدد
280 millions of speakers
Translator English — Russian
множественный выбор
278 millions of speakers
Translator English — Portuguese
múltipla escolha
270 millions of speakers
Translator English — Bengali
বহু নির্বাচনী
260 millions of speakers
Translator English — French
choix multiple
220 millions of speakers
Translator English — Malay
pelbagai pilihan
190 millions of speakers
Translator English — German
multiple Choice
180 millions of speakers
Translator English — Japanese
複数の選択肢
130 millions of speakers
Translator English — Korean
객관식
85 millions of speakers
Translator English — Javanese
Macem-macem pilihan
85 millions of speakers
Translator English — Vietnamese
nhiều lựa chọn
80 millions of speakers
Translator English — Tamil
பல தேர்வு
75 millions of speakers
Translator English — Marathi
बहू पर्यायी
75 millions of speakers
Translator English — Turkish
çoktan seçmeli
70 millions of speakers
Translator English — Italian
scelta multipla
65 millions of speakers
Translator English — Polish
wielokrotnego wyboru
50 millions of speakers
Translator English — Ukrainian
множинний вибір
40 millions of speakers
Translator English — Romanian
alegere multiplă
30 millions of speakers
Translator English — Greek
πολλαπλής επιλογής
15 millions of speakers
Translator English — Afrikaans
meervoudige keuse
14 millions of speakers
Translator English — Swedish
flervalsfrågor
10 millions of speakers
Translator English — Norwegian
multiple choice
5 millions of speakers
Trends of use of multiple choice
TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «MULTIPLE CHOICE»
The term «multiple choice» is quite widely used and occupies the 29.087 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
FREQUENCY
Quite widely used
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «multiple choice» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of multiple choice
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «multiple choice».
FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «MULTIPLE CHOICE» OVER TIME
The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «multiple choice» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «multiple choice» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.
Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about multiple choice
3 QUOTES WITH «MULTIPLE CHOICE»
Famous quotes and sentences with the word multiple choice.
Our education system is increasingly embracing a black-and-white way of thinking, in which ‘learning’ and ‘play’ are diametrically opposed. ‘Learning’ is the serious stuff that happens inside a classroom and can be measured via multiple choice questions and a No. 2 pencil. ‘Play’ is frivolous, fun, and worst of all, optional.
I have a very poor record at multiple choice questions.
They don’t teach you just how to be in school. There’s no class on that. There’s no multiple choice test for Why Do I Feel This Way?
10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «MULTIPLE CHOICE»
Discover the use of multiple choice in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to multiple choice and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
Now at fourteen, Monica’s compulsive habits have spiraled out of control. Seeing no other way out, she creates Multiple Choice, a roulette word game that will force spontaneity into her life, and, she hopes, free her from her obsessions.
2
Mastering Multiple Choice
Readers can get the edge on SAT, LSAT, MCAT, GRE, and other entrance and professional exams by following a step-by-step system that eliminates test anxiety, reduces confusion, and ensures they finish every multiple choice exam on time. …
3
Multiple Choice Practice Tests in Mathematics for CXC
This book of ten multiple choice practice tests is designed especially for students preparing for the CXC General Proficiency examinations in Mathematics.
4
Comprehensive Review in Clinical Neurology: A Multiple …
This new review textbook, written by residents and an experienced faculty member from Cleveland Clinic, is designed to ensure success on all sorts of standardized neurology examinations.
Esteban Cheng-Ching, Lama Chahine, Eric P. Baron, 2012
5
Developing and Validating Multiple—choice Test Items
This book is intended for anyone who is seriously interested in designing and validating multiple-choice test items that measure understanding and the application of knowledge and skills to complex situations, such as critical thinking and …
6
Beyond Multiple Choice: Evaluating Alternatives To …
This collection addresses the future of selection testing, its merits and what selection testers can expect in the future.
7
Multiple Choice Questions in Urology
Based on Campbell’s Urology, Smith’s General Urology.
March Monroe endures her daughter’s animosity when they wind up sharing a radio station internship, a situation that is complicated by her tired marriage, her angry adolescent son, and a mid-life crush.
9
Multiple Choice Questions in Computer Science
The present book aims to provide a thorough account of the type of questions asked in various competitive examinations conducted by UPSC, public sector organizations, private sector companies etc. and also in GATE It covers almost all the …
10
Annotated Multiple Choice Questions: Australian Medical Council
The Australian Medical Council (AMC) has prepared this guide and self-assessment tool to assist overseas-trained doctors who are preparing for the AMC AMCQ examination.
V. C. Marshall, A. Lindesay Clark, P. Devitt, 1998
10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «MULTIPLE CHOICE»
Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term multiple choice is used in the context of the following news items.
A night in Japan’s robot hotel
Doane asked him if robots, which rely on a set of multiple choice responses to any question asked, could really replace staff like the hotel … «CBS News, Jul 15»
Iowa Educators Say Civics Exam For High School Students Isn’t …
(ABC9 News) — It’s a 100 questions long and all multiple choice, but should it be a prerequisite to getting a high school diploma in Iowa? «Siouxland Matters, Jul 15»
Top 5 EdTech Tips: Socrative
Quizzes can range from multiple choice, true/false, Short Answer and Open-Response questions. Remember, formative assessments are … «GPB, Jul 15»
Fil-Am teen reaps 9 medals for PH at Int’l History Olympiad
Lim received the Philippines’ first gold for Historical Linguistics, a 100-question multiple choice exam testing students’ knowledge of basic … «Inquirer.net, Jul 15»
The Bar Exam Is Brutal, But the Founding Fathers Can Help
Over the course of two or three days, law school graduates need to answer hundreds of essay, multiple choice and other questions about … «Huffington Post, Jul 15»
How to Leverage Machine Learning via Predictive APIs
classification: multiple choice answers, each corresponding to a class like email’s “spam vs. ham,” it uses predictive analysis to answer the … «ProgrammableWeb, Jul 15»
Parents, Educators React to PSSA Changes and Expected Score …
The test brought material not yet taught in class, and format changes like word problems for math instead of multiple choice. Now, preliminary … «ErieTVNews, Jul 15»
Let teachers handle education
… encourage cramming) should be replaced by a well-designed judicious mix of multiple choice questions (MCQs) and open ended questions, … «The Asian Age, Jul 15»
A new gateway for would-be mortgage advisers
It is made up of six units, with five of those each comprising an exam of 20 multiple choice questions, an online digital workbook and case study … «Mortgage Strategy, Jul 15»
Survival of the fittest
#Steve, ever the practical cowboy, asked Doc, “Is this a multiple choice? Was this a rhetorical question or can we pick for you?” #Dud then … «Dailysunnews, Jul 15»
REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. Multiple choice [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/multiple-choice>. Apr 2023 ».
Download the educalingo app
Discover all that is hidden in the words on 
1
: having several answers from which one is to be chosen
a multiple-choice question
2
: composed of multiple-choice questions
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
These aren’t factual or rote memorization questions — these are a kind of multiple-choice brain teasers that tell you a whole bunch of different facts and then asks you to sort them out.
—
Geoffrey A. Fowler, Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2023
When Dyer and his colleagues posed the movie emoji task using a multiple-choice format, for example, the accuracy improvement was less of a sudden jump and more of a gradual increase with more complexity.
—Stephen Ornes, Quanta Magazine, 16 Mar. 2023
Wonderlic test: The general aptitude test involves 50 multiple-choice questions over 12 minutes.
—Scott Horner, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Feb. 2023
Users must be 18 years old and in the US to participate in the multiple-choice trivia rounds, which will be livestreamed on the official @TikTok account.
—Mia Sato, The Verge, 16 Feb. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘multiple-choice.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1914, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of multiple-choice was
in 1914
Dictionary Entries Near multiple-choice
Cite this Entry
“Multiple-choice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/multiple-choice. Accessed 14 Apr. 2023.
Share
Last Updated:
30 Mar 2023
— Updated example sentences
Subscribe to America’s largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Multiple choice (MC),[1] objective response or MCQ (for multiple choice question) is a form of an objective assessment in which respondents are asked to select only correct answers from the choices offered as a list. The multiple choice format is most frequently used in educational testing, in market research, and in elections, when a person chooses between multiple candidates, parties, or policies.
A multiple choice question, with days of the week as potential answers
Although E. L. Thorndike developed an early scientific approach to testing students, it was his assistant Benjamin D. Wood who developed the multiple-choice test.[2] Multiple-choice testing increased in popularity in the mid-20th century when scanners and data-processing machines were developed to check the result. Christopher P. Sole created the first multiple-choice examination for computers on a Sharp Mz 80 computer in 1982. It was developed to aid people with dyslexia cope with agricultural subjects, as Latin plant names can be difficult to understand and write.[citation needed]
StructureEdit
Multiple choice items consist of a stem and several alternative answers. The stem is the opening—a problem to be solved, a question asked, or an incomplete statement to be completed. The options are the possible answers that the examinee can choose from, with the correct answer called the key and the incorrect answers called distractors.[3] Only one answer may be keyed as correct. This contrasts with multiple response items in which more than one answer may be keyed as correct.
Usually, a correct answer earns a set number of points toward the total mark, and an incorrect answer earns nothing. However, tests may also award partial credit for unanswered questions or penalize students for incorrect answers, to discourage guessing. For example, the SAT Subject tests remove a quarter point from the test taker’s score for an incorrect answer.
For advanced items, such as an applied knowledge item, the stem can consist of multiple parts. The stem can include extended or ancillary material such as a vignette, a case study, a graph, a table, or a detailed description which has multiple elements to it. Anything may be included as long as it is necessary to ensure the utmost validity and authenticity to the item. The stem ends with a lead-in question explaining how the respondent must answer. In a medical multiple choice items, a lead-in question may ask «What is the most likely diagnosis?» or «What pathogen is the most likely cause?» in reference to a case study that was previously presented.
The items of a multiple choice test are often colloquially referred to as «questions,» but this is a misnomer because many items are not phrased as questions. For example, they can be presented as incomplete statements, analogies, or mathematical equations. Thus, the more general term «item» is a more appropriate label. Items are stored in an item bank.
ExamplesEdit
Ideally, the multiple choice question (MCQ) should be asked as a «stem», with plausible options, for example:
(The correct answers are B, C and A respectively.)
A well written multiple-choice question avoids obviously wrong or implausible distractors (such as the American city of Detroit being included in the third example), so that the question makes sense when read with each of the distractors as well as with the correct answer.
A more difficult and well-written multiple choice question is as follows:
Consider the following:
- An eight-by-eight chessboard.
- An eight-by-eight chessboard with two opposite corners removed.
- An eight-by-eight chessboard with all four corners removed.
Which of these can be tiled by two-by-one dominoes (with no overlaps or gaps, and every domino contained within the board)?
- I only
- II only
- I and II only
- I and III only
- I, II, and III
AdvantagesEdit
There are several advantages to multiple choice tests. If item writers are well trained and items are quality assured, it can be a very effective assessment technique.[4] If students are instructed on the way in which the item format works and myths surrounding the tests are corrected, they will perform better on the test.[5] On many assessments, reliability has been shown to improve with larger numbers of items on a test, and with good sampling and care over case specificity, overall test reliability can be further increased.[6]
Multiple choice tests often require less time to administer for a given amount of material than would tests requiring written responses.
Multiple choice questions lend themselves to the development of objective assessment items, but without author training, questions can be subjective in nature. Because this style of test does not require a teacher to interpret answers, test-takers are graded purely on their selections, creating a lower likelihood of teacher bias in the results.[7] Factors irrelevant to the assessed material (such as handwriting and clarity of presentation) do not come into play in a multiple-choice assessment, and so the candidate is graded purely on their knowledge of the topic. Finally, if test-takers are aware of how to use answer sheets or online examination tick boxes, their responses can be relied upon with clarity. Overall, multiple choice tests are the strongest predictors of overall student performance compared with other forms of evaluations, such as in-class participation, case exams, written assignments, and simulation games.[8]
DisadvantagesEdit
The most serious disadvantage is the limited types of knowledge that can be assessed by multiple choice tests. Multiple choice tests are best adapted for testing well-defined or lower-order skills. Problem-solving and higher-order reasoning skills are better assessed through short-answer and essay tests.[citation needed] However, multiple choice tests are often chosen, not because of the type of knowledge being assessed, but because they are more affordable for testing a large number of students. This is especially true in the United States and India, where multiple choice tests are the preferred form of high-stakes testing and the sample size of test-takers is large respectively.
Another disadvantage of multiple choice tests is possible ambiguity in the examinee’s interpretation of the item. Failing to interpret information as the test maker intended can result in an «incorrect» response, even if the taker’s response is potentially valid. The term «multiple guess» has been used to describe this scenario because test-takers may attempt to guess rather than determine the correct answer. A free response test allows the test taker to make an argument for their viewpoint and potentially receive credit.
In addition, even if students have some knowledge of a question, they receive no credit for knowing that information if they select the wrong answer and the item is scored dichotomously. However, free response questions may allow an examinee to demonstrate partial understanding of the subject and receive partial credit. Additionally if more questions on a particular subject area or topic are asked to create a larger sample then statistically their level of knowledge for that topic will be reflected more accurately in the number of correct answers and final results.
Another disadvantage of multiple choice examinations is that a student who is incapable of answering a particular question can simply select a random answer and still have a chance of receiving a mark for it. If randomly guessing an answer, there is usually a 25 percent chance of getting it correct on a four-answer choice question. It is common practice for students with no time left to give all remaining questions random answers in the hope that they will get at least some of them right. Many exams, such as the Australian Mathematics Competition and the SAT, have systems in place to negate this, in this case by making it no more beneficial to choose a random answer than to give none.
Another system of negating the effects of random selection is formula scoring, in which a score is proportionally reduced based on the number of incorrect responses and the number of possible choices. In this method, the score is reduced by the number of wrong answers divided by the average number of possible answers for all questions in the test, w/(c – 1) where w is the number of wrong responses on the test and c is the average number of possible choices for all questions on the test.[9] All exams scored with the three-parameter model of item response theory also account for guessing. This is usually not a great issue, moreover, since the odds of a student receiving significant marks by guessing are very low when four or more selections are available.
Additionally, it is important to note that questions phrased ambiguously may confuse test-takers. It is generally accepted that multiple choice questions allow for only one answer, where the one answer may encapsulate a collection of previous options. However, some test creators are unaware of this and might expect the student to select multiple answers without being given explicit permission, or providing the trailing encapsulation options.
Critics like philosopher and education proponent Jacques Derrida, said that while the demand for dispensing and checking basic knowledge is valid, there are other means to respond to this need than resorting to crib sheets.[10]
Despite all the shortcomings, the format remains popular because MCQs are easy to create, score and analyse.[11]
Changing answersEdit
The theory that students should trust their first instinct and stay with their initial answer on a multiple choice test is a myth worth dispelling. Researchers have found that although some people believe that changing answers is bad, it generally results in a higher test score. The data across twenty separate studies indicate that the percentage of «right to wrong» changes is 20.2%, whereas the percentage of «wrong to right» changes is 57.8%, nearly triple.[12] Changing from «right to wrong» may be more painful and memorable (Von Restorff effect), but it is probably a good idea to change an answer after additional reflection indicates that a better choice could be made. In fact, a person’s initial attraction to a particular answer choice could well derive from the surface plausibility that the test writer has intentionally built into a distractor (or incorrect answer choice). Test item writers are instructed to make their distractors plausible yet clearly incorrect. A test taker’s first-instinct attraction to a distractor is thus often a reaction that probably should be revised in light of a careful consideration of each of the answer choices. Some test takers for some examination subjects might have accurate first instincts about a particular test item, but that does not mean that all test takers should trust their first instinct.
Notable multiple-choice examinationsEdit
- ACT
- AIEEE in India
- AP
- ASVAB
- AMC
- Australian Mathematics Competition
- CFA
- CISSP
- CLEP
- COMLEX
- CLAT
- Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education
- F = ma, leading up to the United States Physics Olympiad
- FE
- GCE Ordinary Level
- GED
- GRE
- GATE
- IB Diploma Programme science subject exams
- IIT-JEE in India, which had, until 2006, a high-stakes phase after the initial MCQ based screening phase
- Indonesian National Exam
- LSAT
- MCAT
- Multistate Bar Examination
- NCLEX
- PLAB for non-EEA medical graduates to practice in the UK
- PSAT
- SAT
- Test of English as a Foreign Language
- TOEIC
- USMLE
- NTSE
- NEET(UG) in India
- NET CSIR
- PPSC in Pakistan
See alsoEdit
- Concept inventory
- Extended matching items
- Objective test
- Test (student assessment)
- Closed-ended question
ReferencesEdit
- ^ Park, Jooyong (2010). «Constructive multiple-choice testing system». British Journal of Educational Technology. 41 (6): 1054–1064. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8535.2010.01058.x.
- ^ «Alumni Notes». The Alcalde. 61 (5): 36. May 1973. ISSN 1535-993X. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
- ^ Kehoe, Jerard (1995). «Writing multiple-choice test items». Practical Assessment, Research & Evaluation. 4 (9).
- ^ Item Writing Manual Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine by the National Board of Medical Examiners
- ^ Beckert, Lutz; Wilkinson, Tim J.; Sainsbury, Richard (2003). «A needs-based study and examination skills course improves students’ performance». Medical Education. 37 (5): 424–428. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2923.2003.01499.x. PMID 12709183. S2CID 11096249.
- ^ Downing, Steven M. (2004). «Reliability: On the reproducibility of assessment data». Medical Education. 38 (9): 1006–1012. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2929.2004.01932.x. PMID 15327684. S2CID 1150035.
- ^ DePalma, Anthony (1 November 1990). «Revisions Adopted in College Entrance Tests». New York Times. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
- ^ Bontis, N.; Hardie, T.; Serenko, A. (2009). «Techniques for assessing skills and knowledge in a business strategy classroom» (PDF). International Journal of Teaching and Case Studies. 2 (2): 162–180. doi:10.1504/IJTCS.2009.031060.
- ^ «Formula Scoring of Multiple-Choice Tests (Correction for Guessing)» (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2011-05-20.
- ^ Jacques Derrida (1990) pp.334-5 Once Again from the Top: Of the Right to Philosophy, interview with Robert Maggiori for Libération, November 15, 1990, republished in Points (1995).
- ^ «Multiple-Choice Tests: Revisiting the Pros and Cons». Faculty Focus | Higher Ed Teaching & Learning. 2018-02-21. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
- ^ Benjamin, Ludy T.; Cavell, Timothy A.; Shallenberger, William R. (1984). «Staying with Initial Answers on Objective Tests: Is it a Myth?». Teaching of Psychology. 11 (3): 133–141. doi:10.1177/009862838401100303. S2CID 33889890.
Help your third grader navigate tricky homographs with this multiple-choice worksheet that provides students valuable practice using sentence-level context clues to determine correct word meaning. This worksheet is a great tool to help kids master the distinction between words that are spelled the same but have different meanings and strengthen their vocabulary skills.
See in a Lesson Plan
View answer key
Add to collection
Assign digitally
Grade
Third Grade
Subject
Reading & Writing
Grammar
Language and Vocabulary
Language
Homophones and Homographs
View aligned standards
L.3.4.a
RF.3.4.c
-
Defenition of the word multiple-choice
- offering several alternative answers from which the correct one is to be chosen; or consisting of such questions; «multiple-choice questions»; «a multiple-choice test»
- offering several alternative answers from which the correct one is to be chosen; or consisting of such questions
Antonyms for the word multiple-choice
-
- true-false
See other words
-
- What is japanese rose
- The definition of multiflora rose
- The interpretation of the word multiflora
- What is meant by multidimensional language
- The lexical meaning multicultural
- The dictionary meaning of the word multichannel recorder
- The grammatical meaning of the word multibank holding company
- Meaning of the word genus mullus
- Literal and figurative meaning of the word mullus
- The origin of the word multiplex operation
- Synonym for the word multiple correlation coefficient
- Antonyms for the word multiple regression
- Homonyms for the word multiple star
- Hyponyms for the word multiple voting
- Holonyms for the word multiplicand
- Hypernyms for the word multiplicative
- Proverbs and sayings for the word multiplied
- Translation of the word in other languages multiplier factor
In an English Language exam, you may come across questions about words in context. These are multiple-choice questions that ask you to consider the meaning of a word. You can identify them by paying close attention to how the questions are worded. To answer words in context questions, you should look for the circumstances surrounding the passage each question is based on.
Words in Context Meaning
«Words in context» refers to how words change meaning in different circumstances. Words often mean slightly different things depending on their context.
Context is the set of facts and circumstances that surround a word or phrase in a text.
Context sometimes changes the meaning of words. For example, the word «restrain» means different things depending on its context.
- I had to restrain my laughter when he fell over that chair!
- The coach had to restrain the football team captain to keep a fight from breaking out.
- These tariffs were designed to restrain international trading.
What changes the meaning of «restrain» in each of these examples? The circumstances surrounding them!
- In the first example, the fact that something funny happened made it clear «restrain» means to control emotions.
- In the second example, the mention of a possible fight indicates «restrain» means to physically hold back.
- In the third example, the verb «designed» and the reference to international trade made it clear that «restrain» means to limit trade.
When answering questions about words in context, you are really just identifying how the meaning of a word changes based on the circumstances that surround it.
Words in Context Identification
There are two primary types of context: Immediate context and broad context.
Immediate context includes the words, phrases, and sentences of the passage surrounding the word.
Broad context includes the larger historical, biographical, and genre considerations in which the passage was written.
Here is how you identify each type of context.
Identifying Immediate Context
Ask yourself some questions.
- What is the situation being described in this passage?
- What is the tone the author takes in this passage?
- What other words in this passage can help me understand how this word is being used?
- What similar words does the author use in this passage?
Identifying Broad Context
Ask yourself some questions.
- When was this passage written or published?
- Where was this passage written or published?
- Who wrote this passage? What do I know about them?
- What type of genre is this passage?
- What do I know about the political, social, or economical situation in which this passage was written?
Fig. 1 — Look out for the big, big picture.
Words in Context Questions
The purpose of words in context questions is to check your understanding of how circumstances can change the meaning of the words or the passage around them. Understanding the effects of context is important for understanding language AND the world around you.
Context changes everything. Everything you read, write, watch, listen to, or do is shaped by context. Think about what it’s like to learn about your favorite author. You probably first read their books with an idea of what it meant. However, once you learned more about the author’s life and the time period they lived in, this probably changed what their writing meant to you. The context of their writing changed what their writing means.
Words in context questions are great practice for identifying and explaining context. They remind you of how circumstances can change what something means. Identifying context and how it changes meaning is a key feature of critical thinking.
Words in Context Examples
Words in context questions are multiple choice questions. Just like other multiple choice questions, they appear immediately after a reference passage from a story, poem, or essay.
A reference passage is the passage of text a question refers to. It appears before each set of multiple choice questions.
Here is an example of a reference passage in an English Language exam:
Fig. 2 — Example passage.
Words in context questions are based on reference passages. Reference passages have numbered lines so you can easily refer to the correct lines when answering questions about the passage.
Words in context questions include a list of possible word or phrase choices to answer the question. Your job is to select the word or phrase that best answers the question, considering the context of the passage.
In the passage, the author uses the phrase «revolutionary methods» primarily to:
(A) Contrast the needs of modern women against those of historical women.
(B) Emphasize the humanity of women.
(C) Compare the methods of modern women to those of historical men.
(D) To criticize the suffrage movement.
Did you get C for this question? If so, you’re right! If you didn’t, or simply if you want a little more information, the following section contains how you might arrive at this answer.
How to Answer Words in Context Questions
To answer words in context questions, read the reference passage, identify context clues, predict the answer, and test out each possibility. Follow this 4-step process to effectively answer questions about words in context.
1. Read the Reference Passage
Before looking at the questions, read the reference passage closely. Mark any words, phrases, or sentences that reflect the author’s purpose.
2. Identify Context Clues
After reading the passage, take a moment to identify context clues.
Context clues are anything that gives you an idea of the context of a passage.
Here are some context clues you might identify:
- Words that indicate the author’s tone and attitude toward the subject
- Sentences that indicate the genre of the passage.
- Information on the location, time period, or other historical aspects of the passage.
- Information on the author.
- Words and phrases that give you a sense of the author’s purpose.
3. Predict the Answer
Don’t look at the answer choices at first. Instead, try to make an educated guess. What do you think the right answer might be, without looking at the answer choices? This will help anticipate possible answers.
For example, you might think of a synonym for «compromise.» You find your guess isn’t in the list of options. However, the synonym you guessed most closely aligns with one of the answer options! You just made things a lot easier on yourself by trying to make an educated guess first.
Fig. 3 — Make educated not random predictions.
4. Test out Each Possibility
Once you have an educated guess, it’s time to consider the answer options. Take a moment to try out each answer. For example, if the question asks you to select the best synonym for a word, just replace that word with each answer option. See which one makes the most sense.
Words in Context — Key Takeaways
- «Words in context» refers to how words change depending on their context, the set of facts and circumstances that surround a word or phrase.
-
The purpose of words in context questions is to check your understanding of how context changes things.
-
Words in context questions appear immediately after a reference passage and include a list of possible word choices to choose from.
-
To identify words in context questions, read each question closely to see what it asks you and how it phrases the question.
-
To answer words in context questions, read the reference passage, identify context clues, predict the answer, and test out each possibility.
mul·ti·ple-choice
(mŭl′tə-pəl-chois′)
adj.
1. Offering several answers from which the correct one is to be chosen: a multiple-choice question.
2. Consisting of questions of this type: a multiple-choice test.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
multiple-choice
adj
(Education) having a number of possible given answers out of which the correct one must be chosen
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
mul′tiple-choice′
adj.
1. consisting of several possible answers from which the correct one must be selected.
2. made up of multiple-choice questions: a multiple-choice exam.
[1925–30]
Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| Adj. | 1. | multiple-choice — offering several alternative answers from which the correct one is to be chosen; or consisting of such questions; «multiple-choice questions»; «a multiple-choice test»
true-false — offering a series of statements each of which is to be judged as true or false; «a true-false test» |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
-
1
multiple-choice
[͵mʌltıp(ə)lʹtʃɔıs]
представляющий возможность выбора, альтернативный
multiple-choice test [examination] — письменный тест [экзамен], в котором учащийся из нескольких ответов выбирает правильный
НБАРС > multiple-choice
-
2
multiple-choice
a представляющий возможность выбора, альтернативный
multiple-choice test — письменный тест, в котором учащийся из нескольких ответов выбирает правильный
English-Russian base dictionary > multiple-choice
-
3
multiple choice
Большой англо-русский и русско-английский словарь > multiple choice
-
4
multiple-choice
Большой англо-русский и русско-английский словарь > multiple-choice
-
5
multiple choice
Универсальный англо-русский словарь > multiple choice
-
6
multiple-choice
Универсальный англо-русский словарь > multiple-choice
-
7
multiple choice
English-Russian electronics dictionary > multiple choice
-
8
multiple choice
The New English-Russian Dictionary of Radio-electronics > multiple choice
-
9
multiple choice
1 (a) альтернативный
2 (n) представляющий возможность выбора
Новый англо-русский словарь > multiple choice
-
10
multiple choice
Англо-русский словарь по авиационной медицине > multiple choice
-
11
multiple choice
Англо-русский словарь по психоаналитике > multiple choice
-
12
multiple choice
English-Russian dictionary of technical terms > multiple choice
-
13
multiple choice
1) альтернати́вный
2)
образ
с вы́бором одного́ пра́вильного отве́та
The Americanisms. English-Russian dictionary. > multiple choice
-
14
multiple choice
English-Russian scientific dictionary > multiple choice
-
15
multiple-choice
с широким выбором; многовариантный
Англо-русский словарь по рекламе > multiple-choice
-
16
multiple choice
The English-Russian dictionary on reliability and quality control > multiple choice
-
17
multiple-choice response
соц.выборочный ответ, ответ на вопрос с многовариантным выбором
*
See:
Англо-русский экономический словарь > multiple-choice response
-
18
multiple choice question
- вопрос с несколькими вариантами ответов
Англо-русский словарь нормативно-технической терминологии > multiple choice question
-
19
multiple-choice selection
- выбор с несколькими вариантами
Англо-русский словарь нормативно-технической терминологии > multiple-choice selection
-
20
multiple-choice path
Большой англо-русский и русско-английский словарь > multiple-choice path
Страницы
- Следующая →
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
См. также в других словарях:
-
Multiple Choice — (deutsch: Mehrfachauswahl) ist ein in Prüfungen, Tests und Umfragen verwendetes Format, bei dem zu einer Frage mehrere vorformulierte Antworten zur Auswahl stehen. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Unterschiedliche Formate und Begrifflichkeiten 1.1… … Deutsch Wikipedia
-
Multiple-Choice — (kurz: MC, deutsch: Mehrfachauswahl) ist ein in Prüfungen, Tests und Umfragen verwendetes Format, bei dem zu einer Frage mehrere vorformulierte Antworten zur Auswahl stehen. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Beispiele 2 Unterschiedliche Formate und… … Deutsch Wikipedia
-
Multiple-choice — (kurz: MC, deutsch: Mehrfachauswahl) ist ein in Prüfungen, Tests und Umfragen verwendetes Format, bei dem zu einer Frage mehrere vorformulierte Antworten zur Auswahl stehen. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Beispiele 2 Unterschiedliche Formate und… … Deutsch Wikipedia
-
Multiple choice — (kurz: MC, deutsch: Mehrfachauswahl) ist ein in Prüfungen, Tests und Umfragen verwendetes Format, bei dem zu einer Frage mehrere vorformulierte Antworten zur Auswahl stehen. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Beispiele 2 Unterschiedliche Formate und… … Deutsch Wikipedia
-
multiple choice — UK US (also multiple choice) adjective ► a multiple choice examination or question involves choosing the correct answer from a list of possible answers: »The test contains a lot of multiple choice items … Financial and business terms
-
multiple choice — adj a multiple choice examination or question shows several possible answers, and you have to choose the correct one … Dictionary of contemporary English
-
multiple-choice — adjective giving you several answers from which you have to choose the one you think is correct … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
-
multiple-choice — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ (of a question in an examination) accompanied by several possible answers, from which the candidate must choose the correct one … English terms dictionary
-
multiple-choice — ☆ multiple choice [mul′tə pəlchois′ ] adj. designating a question for which one of several proposed answers is to be selected, or a test made up of such questions … English World dictionary
-
Multiple choice — MCQ redirects here. For the 1974 John Wayne crime drama movie, see McQ. For the album by Pork, see Multiple Choice (album). Multiple choice is a form of assessment in which respondents are asked to select the best possible answer (or answers) out … Wikipedia
-
multiple-choice — adjective offering several alternative answers from which the correct one is to be chosen; or consisting of such questions (Freq. 1) multiple choice questions a multiple choice test • Ant: ↑true false * * * adj 1 : having several answers from… … Useful english dictionary
предоставляющий возможность выбора
прилагательное ↓
- представляющий возможность выбора, альтернативный
multiple-choice test [examination] — письменный тест [экзамен], в котором учащийся из нескольких ответов выбирает правильный 
Мои примеры
Словосочетания
multiple-choice examination — письменный экзамен, в котором учащийся из нескольких ответов выбирает правильный
multiple-choice machine — обучающая машина с выборочным вводом ответов
multiple-choice menu — меню с широким выбором блюд; многопозиционное меню; богатое меню
multiple-choice question — вопрос с многовариантным ответом; задание на выбор из множества
multiple-choice quiz — контрольный вопрос, допускающий несколько ответов
multiple-choice response — ответ на вопрос с многовариантным выбором; выборочный ответ
multiple-choice — альтернативный
multiple-choice alternative — многовариантная альтернатива; многовариантный выбор
multiple choice question — вопрос с несколькими вариантами ответов; многоальтернативный вопрос
multiple-choice reaction test — тест на реакцию множественного выбора; тест на реакцию сложного выбора
Примеры с переводом
There are 10 multiple-choice questions on the exam.
На экзамене есть десять вопросов с несколькими вариантами ответов.
Перевод и значение MULTIPLE-CHOICE в английском и русском языках
transcription, транскрипция: [ ͵mʌltıp(ə)lʹtʃɔıs ]
a
представляющий возможность выбора, альтернативный
multiple-choice test examination — письменный тест экзамен , в котором учащийся из нескольких ответов выбирает правильный
Англо-Русско-Английский словарь общей лексики, сборник из лучших словарей.
English-Russian-English dictionary of general lexis, the collection of the best dictionaries.
2012