ASA Question #27

[David Emerling]

Originally posted by Dakota
This question is very poorly constructed.

While c) is the only feasibly correct answer, you get there by process of elimination - a, b, and d are obviously wrong, leaving us with the vaguely worded c. It is not proper wording of the answer, IMO, since there is no such entity as an "illegal substitute", leaving you with the generic meaning of "the substitution was not legal."

One would expect, from the scenario offered, that the answer would have something to do with the proper ruling; instead to have the correct answer be, simply, that an unreported substitute is illegal is both confusing and overly generic.

I agree with your analysis. However, I think we should all also agree that this is still a poor question.

tcannizzo clearly has the necessary understanding to properly rule on this play, yet, his confusion resides on a semantic technicality.

What's the POINT of this question? What are the test administrators trying to reveal about the umpire's knowledge, or lack thereof?

Wouldn't it be simpler if choice (C) simply read, "B1 is liable as an unreported substitute"?

A good question should minimize the extent that the test-taker has to interpret the nuances of the question - especially if those nuances are largely semantic in nature - like this question.

The POINT this question is testing is excellent. The WAY in which it is being tested is poor.

David Emerling
Memphis, TN

[Edited by David Emerling on Mar 6th, 2006 at 02:29 PM]