Exam Techniques: How to Answer Tense Questions Using RET: By Million Abebe (MA in English and B. Ed. Degree in Pedagogical Sciences): Updated 2023
Attention Please!
======
☞ To be successful on exam, you need not only subject knowledge but also 'Exam Techniques" knowledge is very very essential!
======
☞ To be successful on exam, you need not only subject knowledge but also 'Exam Techniques" knowledge is very very essential!
- You have to develop your exam techniques!
- Toftaa qormaataa horadhu!
- የፈተና አሰራር ችሎታችሁንም አዳብሩ!
Note:
✍ If you want to download all Exam Techniques for free,
✍ If you want to download all handouts on Tenses and Passive for free, click the next links:
✍ If you want to download all materials for free,
Overview
You can answer any question about tense by applying RET (If you like to read about RET, you can see the link below Exam Taking Strategy: Part II).
RET is reason + elimination techniques or it is process of looking for wrong choices and eliminating them based on clue/reason. It is opposite to the traditional way which choosing the correct choice based on clue/reason. The next discussion has 3 sections: 3 key interrelated principles, how to apply (theoretical descriptions) and application (Practical descriptions/explanations).
1.1. Assuring: you should assure/make sure that the question is about tense or not. (See
"two techniques how to assure" section.)
1.2. Knowing: assuring that the question is about tense is not enough, you have to know specifically what is asked. (See "two common ways: how tense questions are asked".)
1.3. Eliminating: look for clue/reason and then eliminate all unrelated choices, based on clue/reason. (See "Five techniques how to answer tense question by applying RET".)
2.1. "Two techniques how to assure": Verb forms and Time expressions
1. 3 Key Interrelated Principles
To apply RET to answer questions about tense, at least there are 3 key interrelated principles that should be followed.1.1. Assuring: you should assure/make sure that the question is about tense or not. (See
"two techniques how to assure" section.)
1.2. Knowing: assuring that the question is about tense is not enough, you have to know specifically what is asked. (See "two common ways: how tense questions are asked".)
1.3. Eliminating: look for clue/reason and then eliminate all unrelated choices, based on clue/reason. (See "Five techniques how to answer tense question by applying RET".)
2. How to apply RET: Theoretical descriptions
- Verb forms: mostly in tense questions (multiple choices questions), one verb is used/given in different forms on different choices.. .
- Time expressions: ... different time expressions are given on different choices...
2.2. "Two common ways: how tense questions are asked"
- Giving 'time expressions' and asking for tense: Time expressions like adverbs/prepositions/conjunctions... are given and ask to use/choose appropriate type of tense.
- Giving tense and asking for time expression: You could be given tense and asked to use/to choose appropriate time expressions.
For both, look questions number 1 and 2 respectively below.
2.3. "Five techniques how to answer any tense question by applying RET"
1. The committee ______ the issue thoroughly at the meeting yesterday. (G-12: NE: 2012)
A. discusses B. is discussed
C. was discussed D. discussed
2. Ten years have passed ________ my mother died. (G-12: NE: 2012)
A. when B. since C. during D. for
3.2. Sample Explanations
Q. The committee ______ the issue thoroughly at the meeting yesterday. (G-12: NE: 2012)
A. discusses B. is discussed
2.3. "Five techniques how to answer any tense question by applying RET"
- Using rules + elimination techniques
- Using time expression + elimination techniques
- Using blank space + elimination techniques
- Using subject + elimination techniques
- Using 'absence of time expression' + elimination techniques
3. Applications: Practical Explanations
3.1. Sample Questions1. The committee ______ the issue thoroughly at the meeting yesterday. (G-12: NE: 2012)
A. discusses B. is discussed
C. was discussed D. discussed
2. Ten years have passed ________ my mother died. (G-12: NE: 2012)
A. when B. since C. during D. for
3.2. Sample Explanations
Q. The committee ______ the issue thoroughly at the meeting yesterday. (G-12: NE: 2012)
A. discusses B. is discussed
C. was discussed D. discussed
Explanation 1
This question is about tense (clue: verb forms: ...). You can answer it in two steps by applying elimination techniques. Choices A&B could be eliminated as the question is about simple past (clue: 'yesterday': see rules.). Both choices C&D are simple past: the only difference is that one is passive (C) and the other is active (D).
In this case, take the subject as a clue and make sure that whether it is 'doer' or 'receiver'. Look, in this question "The committee" is the subject and it is the doer who discussed the issue. So, eliminate choice C.
In this case, take the subject as a clue and make sure that whether it is 'doer' or 'receiver'. Look, in this question "The committee" is the subject and it is the doer who discussed the issue. So, eliminate choice C.
Ans. D
Additional explanation
The above question and other related could be answered by using "rule + elimination techniques" and/or using "subject + elimination techniques".
- Using rules + elimination techniques is process of eliminating wrong choices based on rules. Rule: Past time indicators like yesterday, last week/month/year... are used with past tense.
- Using subject + elimination techniques is process of taking the given subject as a clue and making sure whether it is used as doer' or 'receiver' or whether the given tense is 'passive' voice or 'active' voice!
- If the subject is doer, use active and eliminate passive choice/s.
- If the subject is receiver, use passive voice and eliminate active choice/s.
- If the subject is receiver, use passive voice and eliminate active choice/s.
Look in the above question, the subject 'committee' is 'doer': group of people who discussed the issue or who did the action (made discussion).
Q. Ten years have passed ________ my mother died. (G-12: NE: 2012)
A. when B. since C. during D. for
Q. Ten years have passed ________ my mother died. (G-12: NE: 2012)
A. when B. since C. during D. for
Explanation 2
Using "blank space" + elimination techniques, you can answer (in one step) this question and other related questions that ask to use appropriate time expressions. Look the blank space is followed by starting point (clue: "my mother died"). All the choices should be eliminated except B (clue: rule 'since + starting point). Ans. B
Q. The hens ________ plenty of eggs in three weeks' time. (G-12: NE: 2012)
A. have laid B. have been laid C. have been lied D. have lied
Explanation 3
You can answer this question in only two steps. Choices B&C should be eliminated as the question is about active voice (clue: the subject "the hens" is doer of action). Choice D should also be eliminated as we use the verb "laid" for eggs. Ans. A
Q. The whole story _________ by the kids in a few days. (G-12: NE: 2012)
A. had forgotten B. was forgotten C. forgets D. forgot
A. had forgotten B. was forgotten C. forgets D. forgot
Explanation 4
This question could be answered in one step. The question is about passive (clue: 'story' is receiver of action.). Based on this, all the choices could be eliminated except B.Ans. B
Q. I will raise your case ____ I see the manager. (G-12: NE: 2012)
A. immediately B. for C. when D. since
A. immediately B. for C. when D. since
Explanation 5
In this question, you are asked to use appropriate time expression. Simply by applying (only) elimination techniques, you can answer it in two steps. Choices B&D should be eliminated (clues are rules, see rules.). Choice C should also be eliminated (clue: we use "immediately".... see rules). Ans. A
Rules:
for + length of time
since + starting point
for two or more immediate actions, "as soon as, immediately, when..." could be used but 'as soon as' or 'immediately' is more preferable.
for + length of time
since + starting point
for two or more immediate actions, "as soon as, immediately, when..." could be used but 'as soon as' or 'immediately' is more preferable.
Thank you teacher
ReplyDeleteThank you ♥️
DeleteThank you my teacher
ReplyDelete