[22 ] In ancient times the most important examinations were spoken, not written. In the schools of ancient Greece and Rome, testing usually consisted of saying poetry aloud or giving speeches.
[ 22 ] In the European universities of the Middle Ages, students who were working for advanced degrees had to discuss questions in their field of study with people who had made a special study of the subject. This custom exists today as part of the process of testing candidates for the doctor's degree.
Generally, however, modern examinations are written. [23] The written examination, where all students are tested on the same question, was probably not known until the nineteenth century. Perhaps it came into existence with the great increase in population and the development of modern industry. A room full of candidates for a state examination, timed exactly by electric clocks and carefully watched over by managers resembles a group of workers at an automobile factory. Generally, during examinations teachers and students are expected to act like machines.
[ 24 ] One type of test is sometimes called an "objective" test. It is intended to deal with facts, not personal opinions. To make up an objective test the teacher writes a series of questions, each of which has only one correct answer. Along with each question the teacher writes the correct answer and also three statements that look like correct answers to students who have not learned the material properly.
What did Middle Ages' students do about exams?
【解题思路】
1．四项均以they开头，时态均为一般过去时。2．一项含有tests，一项含有were timed by。
结论：本题与考试有关，they可能指代学生。
【解析】短文在开头处即指出，在古代，最重要的考试是口试，而不是笔试。在中世纪欧洲的一些大学里，想获得高级学位的学生需要与在该领域从事专业研究的人进行辩论。故选C。