Also, the questions in early elementary are often stupid, obvious questions. For example, a sample text might read:
"The old man decided to go outside. He put on his pants. He put on his shoes. He put on his hat."
And a "comprehension question" might read: "Why did the old man put on his hat?"
The expected answer is, "because he decided to go outside." But it's a stupid question, because this is not the '40s, and people don't always wear a hat outdoors anymore. So a gifted reader naturally concludes that the text did not give a proper reason why he wore a hat, and tries to guess, based on the little context given. Hmmm... we know he's old. "Because he's bald?"
The answer is marked wrong, and the teacher then reports the child is the one with comprehension problem, rather than the other way around.
And my son would look at that question. Conclude that the text didn't give a proper answer and write nothing and get a zero. The teacher would then wonder if the child is being defiant, refusing to do homework, or when this happens for an entire assignment and so he doesn't turn it in, he is not organized and needs "study skills".
