In ancient times the most important examinations² 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 candidates³ for the doctor's degree.

Generally, however, modern examinations are written. The written examination¹, 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 automobile⁴ factory. Generally, during examinations teachers and students are expected to act like machines.

One type of test is sometimes called an "objective⁵" 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 learned⁶ the material properly.

1. In the Middle Ages students ______.
A. took objective tests B. specialized⁷ in one subject
C. were timed by electric clocks D. never wrote exams

2. The main idea of paragraph 3 is that ______.
A. workers now take examinations
B. the population has grown
C. there are only written exams
D. examinations are now written and timed

3. The kind of exams where students must select answers are ______.
A. personal
B. spoken
C. objective
D. written

4. Modern industry must have developed ______.
A. before the Middle Ages
B. around the 19th century
C. in Greece or Rome
D. machines to take tests

5. It may be concluded that testing ______.
A. should test only opinions
B. should always be written
C. has changed since the Middle Ages
D. is given only in factories

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