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The Arsenal Files 8
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The Arsenal Files Collection #8 (Arsenal Computer) (1996).ISO
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educate
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QUIZ.DOC
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CREATE A QUIZ
Description:
CREATE A QUIZ is an easy to use, comprehensive program
that can generate multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank
quizzes. Although the teacher can generate hardcopy
printed quizzes, CREATE A QUIZ's speciality is its ability
to create ON-SCREEN, INTERACTIVE quizzes. The quizzes are
graded automatically as the user takes a quiz behind a
computer. Yes, your very own on-line, interactive teaching
tutor!
Special features:
1) Pop-up menus, mouse support, full line text editing
capabilities make using CREATE A QUIZ simple and fun.
2) Both multiple-choice and fill-in-the blank
questions can be used in the same quiz.
3) Quizzes and/or questions can be printed out in
several formats to meet the needs of both teacher and
student. The solutions to each question can be suppressed
or displayed on a printout. Students can receive an echo
printout of each question they take on- screen. Teachers
can review their database of questions by printing out all
the questions or by defining a range (from # to #) to
print.
4) Dozens of command line instructions allow the
program to be "fine-tuned" by a teacher to meet the needs
of a student. These command line instructions can force a
student to answer "x" number of questions before they are
permitted to exit the program. Or the teacher can set up a
time limit for the student so that after "x" number of
minutes have elapsed the program will quit. There are
dozens of customizations that you add to make Create A Quiz
fit your individual teaching and learning needs.
5) Progress charts are kept for each quiz that will
record the best 10 students' quiz results. This is an
excellent way for a teacher to track the progress of a
student. A separate progress chart is maintained for each
quiz created.
6) Up to 9 students can participate in the same quiz
at a time. Great for contests!
7) Display ASCII text files prior to each question. A
full screen display of a pre-defined ASCII text file can be
displayed and scrolled prior to a question, and then after
the user has read the text file they will be presented with
a question dealing with that text.
8) Businesses and organizations can use a command line
instruction that will turn CREATE A QUIZ into a stand-alone
display for customers or prospects. This can make a great
advertising tool and counter display, testing a prospect's
knowledge of your product. The program will even prompt
each user for his name, address and phone number that can
be retrieved later for follow-ups.
9) The quizzes that are created can be password
protected and encrypted to prevent students from altering a
teacher's questions.
10) You can include high-resolution .PCX graphic images
within your quizzes.
Requirements:
No special requirements are necessary for most
computers. A DOS version of 3.0 or higher is necessary
(although it is possible that some 2.x versions will
work, but not guaranteed). The program can be used on
both monochrome and color monitors. A printer is the
only option that is required IF you wish to create quiz
printouts.
To start:
To start the program type ---> QUIZ then press the
[ENTER] or [RETURN] key at the DOS prompt. The program
will load itself into memory in seconds. After an
opening screen or two, a Main Menu will appear.
Menus:
Selections from the Main Menu (or any menu) can be made
by moving the highlighted bar to the selection of your
choice, then pressing the [ENTER] or [RETURN] key.
Selections also can be made by pressing the corresponding
first letter for each option in the menu list. If you
press the [ESC] key instead, the user will be taken to the
previous menu (if any).
To create a quiz:
From the Main Menu the user can create a NEW quiz by
choosing the "Create a new quiz" selection. The user will
then be prompted for a filename, under which all questions
will be stored to disk. The filename entered will
automatically receive the extension ".QZ". Do NOT enter
the ".QZ" extension! Pressing the [ESC] key at this
filename prompt will take the user back to the Main Menu.
After a new filename has been entered, the user must
give the quiz a title and description, and may elect to
enter their name as the quiz creator.
Once this preliminary information has been entered the
user will be prompted to enter a question. Questions can
be up to six lines in length. You can move from one
question line to another by using the cursor control keys
(the keys with the up and down arrows), or by using the
[ENTER] key.
To move to the answer field, press the [F10] function
key. This key will cause the input prompt to leave the
question field, allowing the user to enter possible answers
to the previous question. Should the user need to jump
back to the previous question to make any necessary changes
then press the [F9] function key. Pressing the [F10]
function key from the answer field will instruct the
program to continue to the next step (if any).
Multiple choice questions:
The multiple choice question format is the default
format when you enter questions. Each multiple choice
question can have up to 5 possible answer choices and as
few as 2. After entering the desired number of answer
choices, the quiz creator must verify which of the possible
answers is in fact the correct answer. This verification
step will display the question and possible answers in a
play screen. After verifying the correct solution, the
user can enter a reference note. Such notes will be display-
ed after a student takes the quiz at play time.
Fill-in-the-blank questions:
Fill-in-the-blank questions are different from multiple
choice questions in that only one possible answer can be
entered. The way CREATE A QUIZ distinguishes between a
multiple choice question and a fill-in-the-blank question
is that the latter has an UNDERSCORE "_" character (ASCII
95) somewhere in the question. This underscore character
is NOT to be confused with a "dash" or "hyphen". If an
underscore character exists ANYWHERE in the question, then
that question automatically becomes a fill-in-the-blank
question, and will as a result accept only one answer when
the time comes to input an answer when creating the quiz.
You can enter one "_" underscore by itself or a string of
underscores (e.g., "______"). The result is the same - one
word will be prompted for during the quiz.
The following are acceptable in creating a fill-in-
the-blank question:
1. George _ was the first president of the United
States.
2. George Washington was the first _____ of the United
States.
3. Name the first president of the United States?: __
Please be aware that trailing underscores will be
removed from printouts and from quiz play displays. In
other words, if you want the underscore to appear or print,
then place the underscore(s) somewhere in your question
BESIDES at the end of the question. In examples 1 & 2
above, the underscores will appear exactly as you entered
them. In example 3, however, the two trailing "__"
characters will be stripped and will not be seen by the
student taking the quiz, nor on any printouts.
Keep in mind the difference in formats between
multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank questions:
"DECEMBER 25 IS:" This will result in a multiple-
choice question.
"DECEMBER 25 IS _" This will result in a fill-in-
the-blank question.
If you want to convert an existing fill-in-the-blank
question to a multi-choice question, simply remove ALL the
underscores. Likewise, to convert an existing multi-choice
question to a FITB question, just ADD an underscore.
You can enter alternate or multiple answers for
fill-in-the-blank questions by separating each acceptable
answer with a comma ",". For instance, if a fill-in-the-
blank question prompts: "How much is 50 cents added to 50
cents? _", the quiz creator can anticipate several possible
answers by entering "$1, $1.00, 1 buck, 4 quarters" in the
answer field. Note that each solution is separated by a
comma ",". When a student in confronted with this question
on the screen during an interactive quiz, the student will
receive a "correct" response if they enter any of the 4
answers:
$1 $1.00 1 buck 4 quarters
Should your correct response have a comma in it,
then use another comma to keep the phrase from being
separated into individual words. For example, if your
question was, "What is a common English expression for
good-bye?" and the answer was "Bye, bye" (one phrase, not
two words), then enter the correct answer as "Bye,, bye"
when you are preparing your quiz for your students.
References (optional):
If you would like to have a reference note appear after
each question during an interactive on-screen test, enter
your notes at the "Reference:" prompt line.
If you (the teacher) would like to display an ASCII
text file PRIOR TO A SPECIFIC QUESTION during an on-screen
quiz, then enter a filename (and path if needed) with a
pair of {} brackets. For instance, {MY_TEST.ASC} is valid,
as is {DATA\HISTORY.92}. If you would like to have the
ASCII text display start at a particular line number, enter
a comma followed by the line number. For example, if you
wish to have the text file {MY_TEST.ASC} pop-up on line 8,
enter {MY_TEST.ASC,8}. We have included a fine example of
this extended reference usage in a quiz file on this disk.
Retrieve the file "COMMANDS.QZ" and take a good look at it.
Better yet, try taking this quiz to understand what this is
all about!
You can also define the LAST line to be displayed in
the reference file by adding another comma and the ending
line number (e.g. {MY_TEST.ASC,15,25} where only lines 15
to 25 of this ASCII file will be displayed as an reference
introduction to a specific question.
If you would like to enter a lengthy reference note
that can be displayed AFTER a specific question during an
on-screen quiz session, use the [ALT+M] keys to maximize
the reference input field. This will make data entry much
easier for the teacher.
Pointers (optional):
Some teachers may wish to force a specific question
based upon the student's on-screen response with the use of
"pointers" or "directives". Here's an example. Let's say
that you have a TRUEFALS.QZ file with 25 true and false
questions you wish a student to use on a test. You wish to
present the questions in sequential manner, starting at
question number 1. From the command line (or batch file)
you start the program --> QUIZ TRUEFALS.QZ STARTAT=1
The first question the student is presented with is
let's say:
┌────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Q: 5 quarts is equivalent to 1 gallon? │
└────────────────────────────────────────┘
┌──────────┐
│ True │ <-- Possible answers
│ False │ available to student
└──────────┘
If you wish to have the student's answer to this
question DETERMINE WHAT QUESTION HE GETS NEXT, then you
could use "pointers". For instance, if the student picks
"False" for this question, then you may wish to display
question # 2. But is the student picks "True", then
he should be presented with question # 3 instead, skipping
over question #2. How does the program know to do this?
By the use of "pointers".
A "pointer" is placed by THE TEACHER WHEN YOU ARE
CREATING OR MODIFYING A QUIZ. A pointer consists of a pair
of {} brackets, enclosing a question NUMBER. For instance,
{10} would be a pointer to question # 10. Pointers are
placed BEHIND the answer choices as shown below:
Choice: True {3}
Choice: False {2}
Edit an existing quiz:
If the user wishes to modify, change, or add a
question to an existing .QZ quiz file, then select the
"Edit existing quiz" option from the Main Menu. This
feature will permit the user to change any question or
answer that had been previously entered. If the user has
dozens or hundreds of questions in a .QZ file, and wishes
to edit just one question, but is uncertain as to its
position in the file, the user can "list" all the questions
in the file quickly by pressing the [L] key. A pop-up menu
list will appear that will list all the questions in
sequential order. If more questions exist than can appear
in the menu, use the cursor control keys to scroll down the
menu list. Once the question is located in the menu, press
[ENTER] and that question and its corresponding answers
will be displayed in their entirety. Press the [C] key to
make any necessary "changes".
Note: Once a question has been entered as a "fill-in-
the-blank" type question, it is possible from within the
program to convert it to a multiple-choice question. To
make the switch, remove the "_" underscore character. This
will allow the user to add the usual five possible answer
choices. You can also make the switch from an existing
multiple-choice to a fill-in-the-blank question by simply
inserting an "_" underscore character anywhere in the
question itself.
Adding graphics to your quizzes:
It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words.
If this is true, then you may wish to add some graphic
images to your quizzes. Each question in your quiz can
have an image associated with it, if you so desire. When
creating or editing your .QZ file, you will notice to the
right of the "Reference:" field is a "Graphic file:" field.
It is here that you can enter the name of an existing .PCX
file. .PCX is a popular file format that is used in most
paint programs. If the .PCX file resides in the current
directory, but you have forgotten its name, you can use the
[ALT+V] hot key to display a pop-up pick list. This list
will show all the .PCX files in your directory. By
selecting a .PCX file from this list you will also be shown
how the image will be displayed on the screen. In other
words, the file pick list is also an image viewer.
.PCX images should be no large than 640 pixels wide by
480 pixels high. Also, only 16 color .PCX images are
supported currently, so make sure you convert any 256-color
images to 16-color before using them with Create A Quiz.
Images can be much smaller than 640 by 480, however you
must keep the width of your .PCX in even 8 pixel
increments. In other words, 32, 40, 80 and 120 pixel wide
images are permitted, but images that are 34, 41, or 79
pixels wide will be displayed with a distracting white
border. This 8 pixel increment requirement only pertains
to the width dimension. The height of the .PCX can be 1 to
640 pixels. All images smaller than 640 by 480 will be
positioned in the center of the screen.
The default action of Create A Quiz is to display any
associated images just PRIOR TO the actual question that
the image is linked to. In other words, when your student
uses your quiz, first your .PCX image will appear, followed
by a "Press any key to continue" prompt, which is then
followed by the actual question related to that image.
Should you wish to have the image display AFTER the
question and answer have been input, you must add the
following suffix to your .PCX files: {A}
The {A} suffix, will specify that the associated .PCX
be displayed AFTER the question and answer input, rather
than prior to the question. Example: MY-PICT.PCX{A}
If you wish to have the image display BOTH prior to
AND after each question, append the {BA} suffix to your
.PCX file name in the "Graphic file:" field.
Quiz printouts:
There are two ways to obtain printed quizzes using
CREATE A QUIZ:
1) Before taking an actual quiz, the user can select
the "Print quiz:" choice from the "Take/use a quiz" sub-
menu. Once the "Print quiz:" option is toggled "ON", all
questions that are displayed on the screen during the
course of the quiz will also be echoed to a printer
attached to port LPT1: The solutions to these printed
quizzes will appear after every two pages of questions.
2) From the "Create a new quiz" and "Edit existing
quiz" selections from the Main Menu, the user can press
the [P] key to print a range of questions. The quiz
creator can then enter the beginning question number and
the ending question number. This range will then be sent
to the printer. The quiz creator also has the option of
displaying the correct answer on these printouts, or to
suppress the correct answer. Correct answers are marked by
an asterisk symbol "*".
Repeat errors:
Before taking a quiz, the user can select the "Repeat
errors:" option from the "Take/use a quiz" sub-menu. When
the "Repeat errors:" option is toggled "ON", then questions
that have been answered incorrectly will be saved into
memory and recalled at random during the remainder of the
quiz session.
Scoreboard:
When a user has finished with a quiz and wishes to
exit to DOS, their score will be entered into a scoreboard
file and then displayed on the screen in a "Top-Ten" chart
if they have one of the ten best records for that quiz.
Each quiz that you create has its own scoreboard ".SCB"
file. For example, if you have a student using a quiz
named "MUSIC.QZ" then the student's quiz results will be
kept in "MUSIC.SCB" as he finishes the quiz. The "*.SCB"
scoreboard files are encrypted to prevent dishonest students
from changing their scores. To reset a specific scoreboard
file back to zero, eliminating all player's histories, just
delete the scoreboard file from the DOS prompt.
Possible conflicts:
There is a font file that was distributed with CREATE
A QUIZ that may give a small number of users some problems.
The QUIZ.FNT is used with systems running VGA graphics. If
you do NOT have VGA graphics you may wish to delete this
file ONLY IF YOU ENCOUNTER VIDEO PROBLEMS.
Disclaimer:
The author makes no warranties, expressed or implied,
as to the quality of performance of this program. The
author will not be held liable for any direct, indirect,
incidental or consequential damages resulting from the use
of CREATE A QUIZ. Your use of the program constitutes your
agreement to this disclaimer and your release of the author
from any form of liability or litigation.
Shareware and distribution:
CREATE A QUIZ is being distributed as shareware.
Shareware is a "try before you buy" software marketing
concept that allows the user to obtain fully functional
copies of programs for evaluation. The distribution and
copying fee that you may have paid to obtain this disk
does not cover the cost of the software contained on this
disk. Shareware programs such as the one that you are
about to try require separate payment to the author if it
is found to be a useful product and if it is used beyond a
reasonable evaluation period.
Individuals can make copies of this program and pass
them on to friends and acquaintances as long as the program
is NOT sold and the concept of shareware is made known to
them. Commercial distributors and vendors should contact
the author BEFORE distributing CREATE A QUIZ publicly IF
THE DATE/TIME STAMP OF THE QUIZ.EXE FILE IS OVER 2 YEARS
OLD! Distributors and vendors who wish to receive the
latest unregistered version of CREATE A QUIZ can do so by
contacting the author AND SUBMITTING A COPY OF THEIR
PRODUCT CATALOG or download QUIZ*.ZIP from our BBS (see
below).
Site licenses:
Businesses, groups and schools must obtain a site
license for CREATE A QUIZ if this program will be used on
more than one personal computer. Teachers who plan on
making more than one copy of their registered Teacher's
version of CREATE A QUIZ must likewise obtain a site
license. Contact the author for more details or see the
QUIZ.FAQ file. We also have a student's version of CREATE
A QUIZ that can provide a teacher with a very inexpensive
way of distributing (or even selling) their own quizzes.
Program Author:
Philip Kapusta 406 Monroe Avenue Falmouth, Va. 22405
Other programs:
If you are interested in other programs written by the
author, an illustrated catalog is available. Most of our
programs are family or Bible oriented and very affordable.
Mail 4 U.S. first class postage stamps to cover materials
and shipping to the above address, and request a catalog.
If you are registering and wish to receive a catalog, don't
mail any stamps - the catalog is free IF you ask for one to
registrants.
If you have Internet access and a Web browser, you may
visit our software site by pointing your browser to URL:
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/softword/homepage
You will find there all of our software, free to download.
A stripped down version of CREATE A QUIZ is available
directly from the author, and is intended for use by your
students. This "student's edition" of CREATE A QUIZ is
nearly identical to the version that you are now using,
with the exception that the user (student) canNOT create or
edit any quizzes. The "student's version" allows the
user to TAKE an existing quiz generated by you, but that is
all. The student's version can be licensed so that you may
sell or distribute your quizzes royalty free. This license
arrangement pertains only to the STUDENT'S version. The
TEACHER'S version that you currently have (when registered)
is NOT to be distributed to others! If you would like to
receive a trial copy of the "student's version" contact the
author, enclosing 8 U.S. stamps, and state the disk size
your computer supports.
We also have a special version of CREATE A QUIZ that is
used to generate SCANTRON smart quizzes. SCANTRON are the
type of "bubble" format quizzes that you often use with SAT
style tests. Again, contact the author if this would be of
interest to you or your school.
Your feedback:
We welcome all feedback - positive and negative. We
will consider your suggestions for future program
enhancements. Many of the features in this current
version are a result of users' suggestions. If you desire
a reply, enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope when
writing. Be warned, however, that a written reply will
take MUCH, MUCH longer than an electronic response. If you
have a modem, you may wish to leave an e-mail message to
"SYSOP" on The Mustard Seed BBS at (540) 372-9680 or via
the Internet at 74170.3550@compuserve.com
