reacting to the candidate's responses with silence

[Rimys]

Business English Lesson, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #145 "Job Interviews", question 9

Stress may be introduced into this kind of interview by asking strange questions or by reacting to the candidate's responses with ..........

(a) queries
(b) quietness
(c) silence
(d) snores

Business English Lesson, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #145 "Job Interviews", answer 9

Stress may be introduced into this kind of interview by asking strange questions or by reacting to the candidate's responses with silence.

Correct answer: (c) silence
_________________________

answer

[Beeesneees]

Look at this part of your own message:

[Justy]

The correct answer could aloso be queries. Queries means multiple questions. Silence is a better answer, but queries is also valid.

[Beeesneees]

Always choose the best possible answer in a multiple choice test. Often there are other answers that almost fit - it's part of the test.

I disagree that 'queries' would work here because 'asking strange questions' has already been mentioned. The 'or' suggests that you need to find an alternative way of introducing stress.
_________________
Cheers m' dears!

[Justy]

Beeesneees,

Actually, I believe there is a flaw in your logic, no offense.

'Quering' does not mean asking 'strange' questions, it means asking questions, and since the 'quering' is implemented by the interviewer in response to an answer given to an interviewee, that would be an alternative way of creating stress. Quering in that manner is calling 'giving the third degree' (slang). The other stressful situation was the interviewer asking strange questions, which is different.

The question is not very good, since two logical answers exist.

[Mister Micawber]

'Query' simply means 'question'. Reacting to a response with a query is the normal interview process and does not artificially introduce stress. It is not a good answer, logically or otherwise. As BN says, the directions to multiple-choice language proficiency tests reads 'choose the best answer', so even though it fits grammatically, 'queries' is patently wrong. I see no reason for the author to change the distractor.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Justy]

Queries is patently wrong? If the interviewee is lying and the interviewer begins questioning their responses that just might create stress.

I've found that some people have problems admitting when they are wrong. Since I don't want to waste anyone's time, or be confronted by rude behaviour, this will be my last post on this thread.

[Mister Micawber]

[Beeesneees]

[Justy]

que·ry   /ˈkwɪəri/ Show Spelled
[kweer-ee] Show IPA
noun, plural -ries, verb, -ried, -ry·ing.
–noun
1. a question; an inquiry.
2. mental reservation; doubt.
3. Printing . a question mark (?), esp. as added on a manuscript, proof sheet, or the like, indicating doubt as to some point in the text.
4. an inquiry from a writer to an editor of a magazine, newspaper, etc., regarding the acceptability of or interest in an idea for an article, news story, or the like: usually presented in the form of a letter that outlines or describes the projected piece.
–verb (used with object)
5. to ask or inquire about: No one queried his presence.
6. to question as doubtful or obscure: to query a statement.
7. Printing . to mark (a manuscript, proof sheet, etc.) with a query.
8. to ask questions of.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/query
All I needed to post. Now can either of you admit your mistake? I would bet not.

[Beeesneees]

You seem to be fixated on the definition of 'query', which was never in doubt.
_________________
Cheers m' dears!

[Justy]

ACTUALLY, it appears that neither of you really understood the definition of query, because if either of you did, you would have ack that there are two logical answers to the posted question.

[Beeesneees]

It appears that you do not understand the concept of 'most fitting'.
I doubt that the test will be changed and have voiced my opinion that I don't see why it should, so I will end my contribution now as I don't feel there is anything to gain by continuing this conversation.
_________________
Cheers m' dears!