standardized_tests epitome of incomprehensibility For me, teaching them is worse than doing them. Not the teaching itself, but the weight on my shoulders of six anxious people whose degrees and careers will be delayed if they do badly. While I wouldn't exactly go back in time and kill the people who invented a particular English-skills exam - murder is against my etiquette code - I'd definitely go back in time and gently encourage them to consider different career paths. "Oooh, you like puzzles! Have you considered becoming the crossword puzzle writer? ...And you over here - computer programmers make good money, or at least they will in a couple of decades." 170709 ... e_o_i (And then they'll reply: "Well, have you ever considered NOT being a writer? You use too many adverbs. Really. You use too many fucking adverbs.") (To which I'll say, "Hey, have you ever thought how interesting it was that 'fucking' can be used as an adverb? You don't usually see gerund adverbs except in swear words. Isn't that fascinating?") (Upon which they'll get sick of me and send me back to the future. After that I'll only be able to write dialogue in parentheses, just because.) 170709 what's it to you? who go blather from