Madfloridian's Journal - The Talking Pineapple. A test question with no answer? Could end a teacher's career.

Things are getting way beyond unbelievable, and just plain stupid. I have said often that when I was giving the FCAT and monitoring around the classroom, I could see questions I could not answer. There were questions that made no sense, and there were answers to those questions that were just as nonsensical. I could not have chosen a good response no matter how hard I tried.

Here is an example of such a test item.

Talking pineapple question on state exam stumps ... everyone!

In the story, a take-off on Aesop’s fable about the tortoise and the hare, a talking pineapple challenges a hare to a race. The other animals wager on the immobile pineapple winning — and ponder whether it’s tricking them.

When the pineapple fails to move and the rabbit wins, the animals dine on the pineapple.

Students were asked two perplexing questions: why did the animals eat the talking fruit, and which animal was wisest? Teachers, principals and parents contacted by The News said they weren’t sure what the answers were.

“My reaction is horror that a question that’s so obviously confusing should be used on a test that is going to be used to determine our kid’s future and the future of our children’s schools,” said parent Leonie Haimson, of Class Size Matters, who first posted the question on her blog.

Here is more about the test item and the story.

From Anthony Cody at Education Week:

The Pineapple Story Tests Us: Have Test Publishers become Unquestionable Authorities?

The story is an absurd tale of a talking pineapple, who challenges a hare to a race. The story must be read to comprehend the controversy.

The questions that follow make even less sense. Students are asked
1. Why did the animals eat the pineapple?  a. they were annoyed  b. they were amused  c. they were hungry  d. they wanted to 

2. Who was the wisest?  a. the hare  b. moose  c. crow  d. owl

Pearson, the largest test publisher in the world, has said that company policy forbids them from commenting. This story is remarkable for several reasons. First of all, the patent absurdity of the questions. In today's data-driven world, the scores these student achieve could be used to end a teacher's career.

The entire story and question sequence is at this link.

UPDATE: I just read that state officials in NY pulled that item from the test.

Amazing what happens when people take notice of such a ridiculous thing.