Blaming others for mistakes in English exam is immature and unfair
I am a Form Seven student sitting this year's A-levels and I would like to respond to the online rage of fellow candidates over a 'confusing' composition topic in the Use of English examination. Candidates were asked to decide whether to donate money for space exploration or improvement of healthcare and education in China.
Many candidates mistakenly thought that 'space exploration' meant 'opening up new land' and 'developing inland areas', and are now threatening to complain to the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority.
But is this really a fair accusation or really an injustice being done to these candidates? I think not. Pointing fingers at others when their own substandard English levels are to blame is surely quite immature.
Space exploration is simply not the way we say 'open up new land' in 'authentic' English. Yes, space may mean land, and exploration can mean 'discover new places' in Chinese but the point of language studies is that you cannot simply substitute one language for another word for word. The angry candidates want an explanation but there can be none - it is just the way English works, just as there are some inexplicable expressions in Chinese that baffle foreigners. This misinterpretation arises out of a lack of immersion and understanding of English.
I strongly advise candidates to read more English newspapers (why, reading the SCMP is an excellent way to learn English) to increase exposure to the everyday usage of English. You will be less tempted to break words apart in your interpretation then.
