Multiple-choice questions
Multiple-choice questions are acknowledged to be by far the most common in large-scale assessment when testing detailed comprehension of a text (Khalifa & Weir, 2009: 83). Seen as an “objective” technique (Alderson, 2000: 205), “multiple-choice” usually provides candidates with four options and can be marked mechanically. This type of questions allows testers to control the range of possible answers to comprehension questions, and, to some extent, to control the students’ thought processes when responding. Below is an example: