Subqueries cannot (multiple choice)

[emsik1001]

Hi

I have done an access test and there is one question that where currently all answers seems to incorrect for me. (only one is incorrect).

Q: Subqueries cannot:

a) use group by or group functions
b) retrieve data from a table different from the one in the outer query
c) join tables
d) appear in select, update, delete, insert statements.


I would appreciate explanations why one of this is incorrect :)

Regards
Emil

[NeoPa]

A, B & D are incorrect (subqueries can do all these things).
I don't even understand C. It is a meaningless statement as far as I can see (It's not right or wrong so much as senseless).

A subquery is a data source. How can a data source be said to "join tables"?

[Stewart Ross]

Hi. There is an art in designing multiple choice questions - and you have found one of the ambiguous ones.

The answers considered 'incorrect' are known as distractors, and when a multiple-choice question is poorly designed (like this one) the game is given away by the length of the answers - the distractors in this case are all much longer than the supposed correct answer, C.

C is, however, badly worded - as NeoPa says it does not make sense the way it is written. It suggests that a previous version of the question has been adapted for the current question set - but in doing so it has introduced ambiguity and doubt into the question in an unintended way.

The process of external invigilation/second marking of such work can prevent this kind of ambiguity and error from gaining a hold - but clearly not this time!

-Stewart

[emsik1001]

Thanks for the replies I'm glad my logic is still working ;)

C was my guess after eliminating the rest however I was wondering if they don't mean using a subquery in the INNER JOIN (or others) which I think it can be used this way. Which for me it kind of mean join tables.

Regards
Emil

[NeoPa]

Thanks Stewart. I appreciate the explanation as much as Emil does now :)