593
―
75. The paper set to Class II was fairly well done, especially in A, where of ten boys examined one obtained 85, three 80, two 75 and two 56 %. The remaining two were marked at 45 and 35 respectively. In B the results were disappointing, and shewed a great difference between the work of the two Divisions. One paper obtained 50, two 40, six 20 and one 0 %.
76. In Class I, B had a somewhat easier paper than A, though 3 questions were com- mon to both. The results in B were better than in A, where they were not so good as was to be expected.
·
77. In A five boys were examined, the highest marks-one paper-being 40 %. Iu B seven boys were examined. One paper obtained 60 % and one 50%, the rest from 45 to 35%. In no case was any geometrical reasoning employed in the answering of Question II; but the problem was correctly solved by the application of a rule learned in the Mensuration Class. Marks were taken off for this.
78. Mensuration.-The paper set in Class II was very elementary, but the results were not good. Two good papers were sent in, and four moderate ones: the rest were poor. There was a considerable difference between Divisions A and B. The two good papers were from A. Five papers in B were worth no marks. No satisfactory explanation of similar figures was given, very possibly because not having learned a definition, the boys were un- able to furnish one from their own reasoning. There is however evidence of some real understanding of the subject.
79. In Class I, five papers from A and thirteen from B were submitted. The best paper was from A, and obtained 55 %. Two papers from B obtained 45, and one 40 % All the rest were very poor. In answering Question II the only attempts made were to prove that the volume of a sphere equals that of its circumscribing cylinder. This was not what was required, but as the answers shewed some familiarity with the subject, half marks were allowed for a correct answer on these lines. Question III was attempted, though wrongly, by one boy in each Division.
80. Trigonometry.—In this subject there are a Senior and a Junior Class. In the latter, ten boys were examined. The paper was quite easy and was well done. Question IV was however too much for all the boys. There is evidently a fair understanding of the very elementary part of the subject, and it appears to be interesting.
81. In the Senior Class only four papers were examined. This probably was not a fair test of the Class as a whole. Only one paper was worth anything, and this obtained 80 % of the marks, being correct in every question but the last, which was not attempted.
CHINESE.
82. The Lower and Preparatory Schools have lessons in the Chinese Written Language for about 2 hours a day; while the entrance examination is based on the assumption of about 3 years' previous study; so that a considerable proficiency may be expected from the pupils, who have again to pass a qualifying examination before they can be admitted to the Upper School. This latter examination is yearly being made harder according to a fixed plan; so that by the beginning of 1908 it will be impossible for a Chinese boy to obtain admission to the Upper School, until he shall have qualified in the subjects of the top (Fifth) Vernacular Class.
83. The Boys are independently classified for Vernacular School; the system of pari passu promotions does not appear to be strictly followed.
84. The Vernacular School was tested in reading, both from their Reader and also from unseen passages; in dictation (unseen); and in the translation into literary Chinese of pas- sages written in Colloquial. The Readers were in the main well known. The translation was done fairly or well by all Classes above the lowest, whose weakness in this respect is probably attributable to the unintelligent method in which Chinese are taught their language. It seems a pity that the entrance examination can not be used to encourage the adoption of the modern and intelligent system of instruction followed in the College. Handwriting was good. The unseen dictation was not so satisfactory. Class IV did very well; but Class V, the highest, had an average of 10 mistakes, or about one in every 12 words. As most of them are the substitution of another character for the one dictated, a character of the same sound but bearing a different meaning, it will be understood that this is evidence of a