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Chris
15-09-2005, 15:17
This should be interesting - the BBC is running English and maths tests:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4246472.stm

The English test is online this week, next week it's the maths test. Post your scores here and let's see how brainy CF is. I'll add a multi-choice poll to collect our results next week once the maths test has also been available.

For now, suffice it to say I got 20/20 at English. :D

edit - to correct the link

bmxbandit
15-09-2005, 15:23
well, this is what i got... (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4249224.stm?score=badger&)

(try this link instead, folks :) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4246472.stm))

Dave Stones
15-09-2005, 15:24
your link is duff.... look at my score :D:D:D

here (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4249224.stm?score=Infinity&)

;)

in the real test i got 19 though :) good enough for dave

Salu
15-09-2005, 15:27
20...only 1 made me think. The one where the hyphen was missing.....19 I think?

bmxbandit
15-09-2005, 15:30
i'm pretty suspicious of 19, mainly cos it's the only one i got wrong :P

i would've though an exclamation mark could've been put there instead of the comma. :shrug:

orangebird
15-09-2005, 15:33
:D 20 (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4249224.stm?score=20&)

zovat
15-09-2005, 15:34
19 for me - but I'm annoyed about the one I got wrong ;) (but then again I was in the lowest set for English language at school :( )

Chris
15-09-2005, 15:35
i'm pretty suspicious of 19, mainly cos it's the only one i got wrong :P

i would've though an exclamation mark could've been put there instead of the comma. :shrug:

Yes, but it was not incorrect with the comma instead of an exclamation mark. The lack of a hyphen was, on the other hand, incorrect.

But that was the only one that really made me pause to think!

Millay
15-09-2005, 15:38
I got twelve but those of you who have the misfortune to read my posts would understand why!

Nemesis
15-09-2005, 15:39
I must be good :D
Link (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4249224.stm?score=80&)

LemonyBrainAid
15-09-2005, 15:47
It didn't work...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4249224.stm?score=Ah,%20forget%20the%20score,%20th is%20guy%20just%20owns&

gazzae
15-09-2005, 15:47
14/20

Jules
15-09-2005, 15:53
17/20 which is amazing considering the state of my spelling (thank god for spell checkers lol)

ikthius
15-09-2005, 15:58
I will play fair and say
this is proper:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4249224.stm?score=13&

this is what I want:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4249224.stm?score=full_degree_in_english&

ik

tabatha
15-09-2005, 16:12
20/20...Without taking the test.....!!!!
Chris T link gave my score as soon as the page opened...
Any other links so I can try for real...???
Should the...Score=20... be in the link...???

Chris
15-09-2005, 16:38
20/20...Without taking the test.....!!!!
Chris T link gave my score as soon as the page opened...
Any other links so I can try for real...???
Should the...Score=20... be in the link...???

Yes ... as many have noticed, the link in my first post gives you my score at the end of my test. :dunce:

This links to the start of a new test:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4246472.stm
:)

SMHarman
15-09-2005, 16:52
14 Metaphores / Similies bah humbug.

danielf
15-09-2005, 16:57
19, I spelled accommodation wrong :(

ScaredWebWarrior
15-09-2005, 17:01
I must be good :D
Link (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4249224.stm?score=80&)
But that's way lower than mine! Link (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4249224.stm?score=More_than_anyone&)

Seriously, though, not a very probing test. And rather 'old school' too.

Ramrod
15-09-2005, 17:07
14/20-but in my defence English wasn't my first language..... :D

marky
15-09-2005, 17:12
12/20 but i think i got the david beckham one right so 13/20 :)

ScaredWebWarrior
15-09-2005, 17:18
14/20-but in my defence English wasn't my first language..... :D
That's no defence. Everyone knows that foreigners are better at English that the natives. lol.

danielf
15-09-2005, 17:21
14/20-but in my defence English wasn't my first language..... :D

It's not mine either, and I got 19 :)

Graham
15-09-2005, 17:23
20...only 1 made me think. The one where the hyphen was missing.....19 I think?

Likewise and likewise :)

punky
15-09-2005, 17:26
I got 18...

Chris T/orangebird: I can't for the life of me see where that hyphen was supposed to be, could you tell me?

Graham
15-09-2005, 17:27
I got 18...

Chris T/orangebird: I can't for the life of me see where that hyphen was supposed to be, could you tell me?

"long-lost", not "long lost".

It's a sneaky one that!

punky
15-09-2005, 17:32
"long-lost", not "long lost".

Cheers mate. Could you explain the reason why?

Martin
15-09-2005, 17:42
15/20 bloody metaphors!

Ramrod
15-09-2005, 18:13
It's not mine either, and I got 19 :) :Peace:
__________________

That's no defence. Everyone knows that foreigners are better at English that the natives. lol.Ah! But I'm not foreign........so the rot's set in! :D

Hom3r
15-09-2005, 18:26
12/20

marky
15-09-2005, 18:28
12/20
that makes me so happy i thought i was on my own at the bottom :D

smicer07
15-09-2005, 19:04
19/20. Got the first one wrong. Must have been warming up ;)

MetaWraith
15-09-2005, 20:05
20/20
I wonder how many CF members would correctly punctuate the famous "had had had .... had" sentence?

homealone
15-09-2005, 20:10
18/20 - I came over all unnecessary, with a couple of spellings ;)

nffc
15-09-2005, 20:12
20, pile of p*ss, I'm also supposed to be one of the younger, illiterate ones... :rolleyes:

dilli-theclaw
15-09-2005, 20:15
I got 17/20
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4249224.stm?score=17&
But then I'm crap at English anyway :(

homealone
15-09-2005, 20:42
I got 17/20
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4249224.stm?score=17&
But then I'm crap at English anyway :(

I think that some people can be good, or bad, at different parts of using any language. The important bit is getting your meaning across, so whether, or weather, you are ok writing it, might not matter, if you communicate mainly verbally, for example. :)

makikomi
15-09-2005, 20:53
20/20 here, but I'd modestly say that my English was better than most anyhow. :D

Edit: I've been told that that sounds a little patronising... My apologies if it does; it was not intended that way. :erm:

homealone
15-09-2005, 21:13
20/20 here, but I'd modestly say that my English was better than most anyhow. :D


ok - just as a suggestion ;)

'I'd modestly say, "my English was better than most", anyhow?' - as i did feel you asked a question? :p: :D

Graham
15-09-2005, 22:00
"long-lost", not "long lost".

Cheers mate. Could you explain the reason why?

In all honesty, no! I know "long-lost" probably should be hyphenated, because I've seen in that way before, but I can't tell you why.

But Wikipedia comes to the rescue... :)

* * * * *

"Except for noun-noun and adverb-adjective compound modifiers, when a compound modifier appears before a term, the compound modifier is generally hyphenated in order to prevent any possible misunderstanding, such as light-blue paint, twentieth-century invention, cold-hearted person, and award-winning show. Without the hyphens, there is potential confusion about whether 'light' applies to 'blue' or 'paint', whether 'twentieth' applies to 'century' or 'invention', etc."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyphen

* * * * *

So if it wasn't hyphenated to join the words, it could be read as "long (lost brother)".

makikomi
16-09-2005, 00:09
ok - just as a suggestion ;)

'I'd modestly say, "my English was better than most", anyhow?' - as i did feel you asked a question? :p: :D

Nope, or I'd have used a question mark. ;)

SMHarman
16-09-2005, 10:25
I got 18...

Chris T/orangebird: I can't for the life of me see where that hyphen was supposed to be, could you tell me?
"I've found my long lost brother," said Julia

This brother in the above sentence could be a
long lost-brother, so he is long (tall) and lost

or it could be long-lost brother a brother that has been long lost, hence the need for a hyphen.

punky
16-09-2005, 10:39
But Wikipedia comes to the rescue... :)

Nice one mate :tu:

clarie
16-09-2005, 13:57
19 :angel:

nffc
20-09-2005, 13:19
The maths one's up now.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4263590.stm

However one of the questions is wrong... the one attached.

Anyone able to explain why?

... I got 20 though.

bmxbandit
20-09-2005, 13:27
Anyone able to explain why?

... I got 20 though.
could be +2 or -2.

are you allowed to use a calculator? i'm not, so its taking a while... :erm:
EDIT: full marks though :D

Graham
20-09-2005, 13:40
However one of the questions is wrong... the one attached.

Anyone able to explain why?

... I got 20 though.

I got 19 out of 20, but actually *two* of the questions are dubious.

Question 12 has two repeated answers ie answers 1 and 2, and answers 3 and 4 are the same, and I picked the wrong one (also I'm pretty sure it should be "square metres", not "metres squared")

Question 17 gives the answers 2 and -2 but *both* of these could be right since (-2)^2 = 4!
__________________

PS I did use the calculator, even though I could have done it long hand, but I wasn't going to spend that much time on it! :)

MetaWraith
20-09-2005, 13:42
The maths one's up now.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4263590.stm

However one of the questions is wrong... the one attached.

Anyone able to explain why?

... I got 20 though.
x^2 +3Y -7 = 0 When y=1 Reduces to X^2-4=0 (X^2=4)
Thus it has 2 correct answers, namely +2 and -2

Nugget
20-09-2005, 13:44
x^2 +3Y -7 = 0 When y=1 Reduces to X^2-4=0 (X^2=4)
Thus it has 2 correct answers, namely +2 and -2

I'm not sure, but I think you need to get your keyboard repaired ;)

bmxbandit
20-09-2005, 13:44
Question 12 has two repeated answers ie answers 1 and 2, and answers 3 and 4 are the same, and I picked the wrong one (also I'm pretty sure it should be "square metres", not "metres squared")
28.08 metres is very different from 28.08 metres squared!
ether "square metres" or "metres squared" is fine.

Nemesis
20-09-2005, 13:54
x^2+3y-7=0

Reduces to ..

x^2+3(1)-7=0
x^2+3-7=0
X^2+3=7
X^2=7-3
X^2=4
x=root(4)
x=2

__________________

x^2 +3Y -7 = 0 When y=1 Reduces to X^2-4=0 (X^2=4)
Thus it has 2 correct answers, namely +2 and -2

How -2, even with

X^2-4=0 .... x has to be +2

Martin
20-09-2005, 13:59
13 right! Jeez i feel all xyz now!!!

marky
20-09-2005, 14:11
20/20 at least i'm ok at maths i did rubbish in the english one ;)

Hom3r
20-09-2005, 14:25
I got 10

when I did maths I added nimbers NOT letters

Graham
20-09-2005, 14:31
Thus it has 2 correct answers, namely +2 and -2

How -2, even with

X^2-4=0 .... x has to be +2

2^2 = 4

-2^2 = 4

If you square a negative number you get a positive one.

Nemesis
20-09-2005, 14:33
Got it :D Ta

Graham
20-09-2005, 14:36
[QUOTE=Graham]Question 12 has two repeated answers ie answers 1 and 2, and answers 3 and 4 are the same, and I picked the wrong one (also I'm pretty sure it should be "square metres", not "metres squared")
28.08 metres is very different from 28.08 metres squared!

Yes, I know, but both "pairs" of answers were identical.

either "square metres" or "metres squared" is fine.

Hmm, I thought there was a difference, I'll have to check sometime.

SMHarman
20-09-2005, 14:38
You would say 28.08 square meteres, but write 28.08m2 so saying this linearly would be 28.08 metres squared. Symantecs?

bmxbandit
20-09-2005, 14:44
You would say 28.08 square meteres, but write 28.08m2 so saying this linearly would be 28.08 metres squared.

is this the confusion?
28.08 metres squared means 28.08 m2
28.08 metres square means 788 m2

Symantecs?
semantics? or is this linked to anti-virus software ;)

liamboyle06
20-09-2005, 15:24
18 in the Maths - without any calculator
14 in the English last week - never was my good subject

Chris
20-09-2005, 16:02
I'm doing the business traveller thing this week but will add a multiple-choice poll when I get a chance, so you can give your maths and english scores.

Unless another passing Mod with a few minutes to spare would like to step in, I won't be offended. :)

And I haven't had a chance to take the maths test yet!

danielf
20-09-2005, 16:21
Damn, got one wrong (x-1)(x-1). Didn't use a calculator though...

The 2/5 ratio can be answered by seeing what answers add up to the total :)

Graham
20-09-2005, 17:54
is this the confusion?
28.08 metres squared means 28.08 m2
28.08 metres square means 788 m2

YES! I *knew* there was something niggling me about it!!

Thanks :)

marky
20-09-2005, 17:59
788.48;)

nffc
20-09-2005, 18:34
Damn, got one wrong (x-1)(x-1). Didn't use a calculator though...

The 2/5 ratio can be answered by seeing what answers add up to the total :)
It's a perfect square. (x+y)^2 = x^2 + 2xy + y^2

Can we have superscript/subscript please mods?

And as stated, squaring negative numbers gets a positive as the two negatives cancel out. So -2 and +2 are BOTH right although it doesn't accept -2.

cara08
20-09-2005, 18:35
english 17/20
maths 18/20

nffc
20-09-2005, 18:36
x^2+3y-7=0

Reduces to ..

x^2+3(1)-7=0
x^2+3-7=0
X^2+3=7
X^2=7-3
X^2=4
x=root(4)
x=2

__________________

x^2 +3Y -7 = 0 When y=1 Reduces to X^2-4=0 (X^2=4)
Thus it has 2 correct answers, namely +2 and -2

How -2, even with

X^2-4=0 .... x has to be +2
It's a square which by definition has two solutions since there are two ways of getting it... viz the quadratic formula (unsure how to gat this to look right)

for ax^2 + bx + c = 0 x is given by

-b +/- root (b^2-4ac) all / 2a

There are ALWAYS TWO solutions.

1. b + root(b^2-4ac) / 2a
2. b - root(b^2-4ac) / 2a

Even when the determinant is negative you can use i.

danielf
20-09-2005, 18:53
It's a perfect square. (x+y)^2 = x^2 + 2xy + y^2

Can we have superscript/subscript please mods?

And as stated, squaring negative numbers gets a positive as the two negatives cancel out. So -2 and +2 are BOTH right although it doesn't accept -2.

I know that, I just thought I recognised the answer, so I didn't do the sums...:dozey:

MetaWraith
20-09-2005, 19:05
[Tongue in cheek mode to overdrive]
The "Big Question" here is, should CF mods be required to achieve a certain standard on these tests? If so, how high should the bar be?
[/Tongue in cheek mode]

BBKing
20-09-2005, 19:31
20/20 for the maths :)

Graham
20-09-2005, 22:44
[Tongue in cheek mode to overdrive]
The "Big Question" here is, should CF mods be required to achieve a certain standard on these tests? If so, how high should the bar be?
[/Tongue in cheek mode]

Are you suggesting that the CF Mods should be denied alcohol to be able to pass these tests...?? ;)

clarie
20-09-2005, 22:54
19/20 and got one wrong cos I didn't think you were allowed to use a calculator so I tried and failed to do it in my head.

MetaWraith
20-09-2005, 22:59
Are you suggesting that the CF Mods should be denied alcohol to be able to pass these tests...?? ;)Well as they say, don't drink and moderate.

Or was that drink in moderation ? :D

homealone
20-09-2005, 22:59
english 17/20
maths 18/20

English 18/20

maths 20/20

I did use a calculator & 'writing things down', for some of the maths, though ;)

Raistlin
04-07-2008, 13:50
This week, English:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/4246472.stm

16/20 for me - got some of the first questions wrong because I couldn't remember the definitions :D

danielf
04-07-2008, 13:53
17/20 for me. I didn't know one word, had one spelling error, and forgot what the other one was. (I took it yesterday).

Hugh
04-07-2008, 14:04
20/20

punky
04-07-2008, 14:13
18/20 which isn't bad as I got C in English GCSE.

I didn't know what taciturn means, and I spelt neces... neccess, ne necesser...um, whatever it is, wrong :) Its one of those words that screws with my dyslexia. I can never remember how to spell it regardless how much I try.

Angua
04-07-2008, 14:39
17/20 got metaphor & simile muddled and a couple of punctuations wrong.

Wicked_and_Crazy
04-07-2008, 14:40
:confused: Thats nearly 3 years old

danielf
04-07-2008, 14:46
:confused: Thats nearly 3 years old

It's in the 'most popular stories' box on the beeb site though ;)

Raistlin
04-07-2008, 15:11
How strange.....

Wicked_and_Crazy
04-07-2008, 15:38
It's in the 'most popular stories' box on the beeb site though ;)

I think thats to see how smart people really are ;)

danielf
04-07-2008, 15:42
I think thats to see how smart people really are ;)

What's your score then, smartypants? :D

PeteTheMusicGuy
04-07-2008, 15:47
What's your score then, smartypants? :D

20/20 :D

Wicked_and_Crazy
04-07-2008, 15:52
What's your score then, smartypants? :D


19/20

Looks like your brain is failing you, you got 19/20 last time :p:

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/577840-post18.html

danielf
04-07-2008, 15:57
19/20

Looks like your brain is failing you, you got 19/20 last time :p:

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/577840-post18.html


:LOL: :D

Jules
04-07-2008, 17:10
17 out of 20

Raistlin
04-07-2008, 17:32
19/20

Looks like your brain is failing you, you got 19/20 last time :p:

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/577840-post18.html




Ah.....well done, you found it.

I figured that it must have already been discussed as soon as it was pointed out how old it was.

So.....the dilema.....do I moderate myself and merge the threads, or do I hope that none of the Team notice the duplication and let it run as is :D ?


(Seriously though, gotta be the oldest thread merger on record if it gets done :D )

---------- Post added at 17:32 ---------- Previous post was at 17:13 ----------

Threads merged, please don't create multiple threads for the same topic - naughty Moderator :nono:


Gotta be a first, moderating yourself (and possibly the oldest thread resurrection I've ever done) - total accident though, even the best of us get it wrong sometimes :D

Sorry, won't do it again :dunce: