Passive voice

MohammadReza

Hi
Is the following test correct, either from point of structure or its options?

Where is my bike? I think it may ----------------.
a. steal
b. stolen
c. been stolen
d. be stolen

DavidCrosbie

@MohammadReza, the way to find out is to test the test. Get a number of students (the more, the better) at the appropriate level to answer.

The test will fail

• if everybody chooses the right answer
  or

• if everybody chooses the wrong answer

Each distractor (wrong answers) will fail if nobody chooses it.

I suspect the distractors may be appropriate for learners with one first language but inappropriate for speakers of another language.

If one distractor is obviously wrong, it makes the test item easier. If two distractors are obviously wrong, the item is easier still. If three distractors are obviously wrong, the item is useless.

DavidCrosbie

There's another way to test a test.

Give the test to a class of students with a teacher who knows them well. Get the teacher to rank the students i.e. put them in order from strongest to the weakest.

If your test is a good one, the strongest students should pass and the weakest students should fail.