FAA Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI)Assessment and CritiqueEasy
During a stage check, an evaluator tells the applicant, 'Ignore the fact that this aircraft's altimeter was just recalibrated to read 50 feet high — assuming standard conditions, what altitude satisfies a clearance of 4,500 feet?' The applicant correctly answers 4,500 feet, but the evaluator marks it wrong because the applicant supposedly should have compensated for the hinted miscalibration. What type of ineffective question did the evaluator ask?
- AToss-up question
- BOverhead question
- CTrick question
- DOversized question
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Trick question
A trick question contains a hidden qualifier or catch designed to mislead even a knowledgeable student into a technically 'wrong' answer despite correct reasoning. This differs from a puzzle question, which involves overly complex calculation, or a toss-up, which has an obvious answer.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. A toss-up question has an obvious yes/no answer, not a hidden trap.
- B. An overhead question is directed to the whole class, unrelated to trickery.
- D. An oversized question is too broad in scope, not a hidden trap.
Trick Question
An ineffective question type containing a hidden qualifier or catch that misleads a knowledgeable student into giving a 'wrong' answer.
- Undermines student confidence unfairly
- Punishes attentiveness rather than testing knowledge
- Should be avoided in favor of clear, direct questions
Memory trick: PTO-IT: Puzzle, Toss-up, Oversized, Irrelevant, Trick