5401-1906-Report-by-the-Examiners-of-Queen-s-College — Page 4

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, OCT. 26, 1906.

1961

31. Grammar.-Definitions of the different parts of speech were fairly well known, and the boys readily picked them out in sentences given them by the examiner, in Class VII.

32. In Class VI the answering was very fair and general; but some of the definitions learned were too long, and were not understood by the boys.

33. Questions were fairly well auswered by the majority of Class V. Here as in Class VI the definitions were too long, and the boys were inclined to repeat what they had learned in a very mechanical way.

34. Written papers were set to the Classes IV, III, II and I, and a good knowledge of the subject was shewn by nearly every boy examined. Analysis and parsing were good throughout. The best results were obtained in III A, where the average number of marks was over 80 per cent. III C and IV C, the weakest Divisions, were fair. It is interesting to compare these results in the theoretical study of the language with the weakness shewn, when a practical knowledge of grammar is required in conversation or composition.

SHAKESPEARE.

35. Papers on Henry V were set to a few boys in Class I A. On the whole the answers were good: the papers written by several boys were excellent, and long quotatious were given correctly. In oral answers [ B were somewhat feeble and uncertain.

GEOGRAPHY.

36. The plan of Hongkong was well known by Class VII, the boys having no difficulty in pointing out the principal streets and buildings.

37. Most of the definitions of land and water have been correctly learned by Class VI, but they should be taught by reference to a map.

38. In Class V the outlines of Europe and Asia were fairly well known, though some of the boys were not very ready in pointing out places on the map.

39. Written papers were set to Classes IV, III, II, and I. The results on the whole were disappointing.

40. Class IV A and B have a fair knowledge of the geography of China; in IV C the results were poor, several boys failing to secure quarter marks.

41. Class III A displayed a fair knowledge of the geography of Europe; in B and C the answers were moderate.

42. In Class II both Divisions did moderately.

43. Class IA shewed a fair knowledge of the geography of Europe, and B were poor.

44. Map drawing in the Upper School was very faulty. Very few boys shew any ability to draw the correct outline of a country. Sketch maps of rivers were attempted by

very few.

HISTORY.

45. This subject appears to present great difficulty to the majority of the boys, and many of them spent their time in attempting only half the questions set. Several pages of foolscap were devoted to answering questions which required a few lines only, and much matter was introduced which had no bearing on the questions.

46. In Class I A some good work was done, some of the papers being very good. In B, the result was bad. A sketch map illustrating Wellington's Peninsular Campaign was asked for, but was not attempted by a single boy.

47. Class II did moderately.

48. Class III A did fairly well. In Divisions B and C the results were moderate.

49. The History papers were full of mistakes in spelling, composition and grammar.

HYGIENE.

50. Classes I to V were examined in this subject. In the Lower School very easy papers were set.

Out of 32 papers written by Class V, 11 obtained 60 per cent. or more of marks, and 7 of these received 80 per cent. or over.