The idea of testing students' faculties has prompted educators to pepper their question papers with many problematic questions, which, to a certain extent, is understandable. But what is not understandable is a math problem in an examination paper for grade five students in Xuzhou, Jiangsu province, because it is illogical, says an article in Yangtze Evening News. Excerpts:

Some unusual (or trick) questions, which seem quite difficult, are actually aimed at testing how much attention students have paid to current affairs and hot social issues, as well as to test their capacity to think outside the box. In fact, the public has approved of these seemingly unusual questions, because they are aimed at developing students' faculties.

But the problem in fifth-graders' math question is ridiculous. It goes like this: Xiaoming's mom spent 8 yuan on 15 apples, 20 peaches and one watermelon, how old is she? Since the age of Xiaoming's mom has nothing to do with what she bought, where is the logic in the question?

Among other things, mathematic is taught to students to cultivate logical thinking and to sharpen their reasoning skills. But for that, there has to be an innate logic between the questions they are asked and the answers they are supposed to give. Although more people say students should not be restricted to give specific answers to specific questions so that they can give full play to their divergent thinking, that is possible only in case of subjective topics related to history or Chinese language. Since science is all about correctness and objectivity, it doesn't have room for divergent, contradictory or meaningless answers to questions.

The math question has been widely criticized by netizens. And rightly so, because it is related to neither quality education nor divergent thinking, and causes nothing but confusion.

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(China Daily 04/30/2014 page9)