Better way of phrasing the exam question

I REFER to the letter “Error in reading exam question” ( The Star, Nov 9) and the subsequent letters on the topic. The question “If you had the opportunity to move to another part of Malaysia, where would you choose to live?” is logically and grammatically confusing and is also flawed for these reasons.

Firstly, since the word “opportunity” takes precedence over “move”, an answer should also address this irrelevant issue.

Secondly, the phrase “part of Malaysia” is ambiguous; “live in” is a better term for the colloquial term “move to”.

Thirdly, as it uses the modal verb, would that then impose a requirement (of relocating)? The ensuing event is imagined rather than real.

However, answering in the past simple or past simple perfect tense may be beyond the capability of an SPM student.

Fourthly, the question does not explicitly exclude the possibility of not relocating.

If the student says there will never be an opportunity because the guardians will never entertain such a thought, or that the student’s hometown is a perfect area to live in, then an examiner must give a pass to such an answer.

The question is better succinctly presented in the present tense as “Which Malaysian city other than your hometown do you prefer to live in?”

TOUGH QUESTION Semenyih