[thetoddgreen]

So I have run into another wording issue, this time which is truly problematic in my opinion. It could just be Wiley CPAexcel, so I want to know if anyone else has encountered this kind of thing in other courses or even the exam. If it’s on the exam, I am worried…

The question asks “Variations between business cycles are most likely attributable to which of the following factors?”

Using ‘attributable’ at it’s actual definition, it would be asking what causes variations between business cycles. However, here are the answers

a) the law of diminishing returns, b) comparative advantage, c) duration and intensity, and d) opportunity cost

I immediately noticed C), but not for it to be the answer. I was thinking, oh… if it asked what measures the variations between business cycles, that would be it. However, it is asking what is the reason for variations between business cycles – so that one is out!

Low and behold, CPAexcel is saying that is the correct answer. For the reasoning being that they are not using ‘attributable’ in it’s correct form…

Am I the only one running into things like this??

[aaronmo]

I had that freaking question in Becker, and many like it…

Here's the bad news: if you ask for clarification, you'll get a nonsense answer. If LUCKY they might acknowledge it's a BS question.

Here's the good news…I've gotten far fewer non-sense arbitrary questions like that on the real exams.

[aaronmo]

So what I'm saying is I absolutely agree with you, it's a non-sense answer…it's annoying and frustrating when you're trying to learn, but try and let them go and not get to you. I usually had 4-5 complete horse crap questions in each section with Becker, Andy I remember in accounting classes, using Wiley, fighting on exams for points with those questions.

I think they have some kids writing them without editing or something.

[Author]

Replies