Context-Dependent Item Sets

The original version of the exercise is followed by the problems with it and a possible corrected version. Note that there are many ways in which the exercise might be corrected. The corrections here are not necessarily the best or most creative. See what you can come up with!

Use the map below to answer the following questions:

1. What is the capital of Oregon?

a. Portland
b. Salem
c. Eugene
d. Corvallis

2. Which is the largest state in the United States of America?

3. Which state has the highest population?

Problems:

1. Students do not need to use the map to answer the questions.

Possible Correction:

Use the chart provided below to answer the following questions:

Growth Rate for the United States

State
Percent
1990–2000
Numeric Change
1990–2000
Population
1990
Population
2000
Alabama
10.1
406,513
4,040,587
4,447,100
Alaska
14.0
76,889
550,043
626,932
Arizona
40.0
1,465,404
3,665,228
5,130,632
Arkansas
13.7
322,675
2,350,725
2,673,400
California
13.8
4,111,627
29,760,021
33,871,648
Colorado
30.6
1,006,867
3,294,394
4,301,261
Connecticut
3.6
118,449
3,287,116
3,405,565
Delaware
17.6
117,432
666,168
783,600
District of Columbia
-5.7
-34,841
606,900
572,059

1. Rank the states in order from highest population to lowest population in the year 2000:

_____ Alabama
_____ Alaska
_____ Arizona
_____ Arkansas
_____ California
_____ Colorado
_____ Connecticut
_____ Delaware
_____ District of Columbia

2. Which state experienced the largest increase in population between 1990 and 2000?

3. Which state experienced the greatest decrease in population between 1990 and 2000?

The next step is to practice writing your own context-dependent item set. Continue with the subject matter you chose earlier. What objective(s) might be conducive to this type of exercise? Create one context-dependent item set (at least two questions based on a display) on that content. Compare your exercise with the guidelines to make sure that you have created a quality item.