Flagrant AND Intentional?

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

I hear you about the confusion between the basketball rules book definition of a word and the English language usage. Unfortunately, this really shows up on a written exam.

Here is the wording of the question:
True or False?
A flagrant foul may or may not be intentional.

See the problem?

Yes, I do see the problem. I agree that it's a major problem. The part that especially bothers me is that when I try to make an issue out of this sort of thing, people say, "You're over thinking this, it's not that difficult. Don't read anything into the question. Just take it at face value." Well, excuse me, but what can the answer possibly be without reading something into it?!?!?

I'd guess that since the rule book wording is that "a flagrant foul may or may not be intentional", the answer to the test question would be True. And if you take the definition of the word "intentional" to be what I said earlier, it makes sense. But then, that's reading something in, isn't it?

In our association, we're now allowed to take the test open book, for this very reason. The thinking goes that if we can come up with the correct answer using the book, we know enough to be able to look things up, and thus will sooner or later be able to do a decent game. It sure cuts down on the arguements.