WeBWork Core Knowledge and Fundamentals 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of the 'seed' value in a WeBWorK randomized problem?
- It sets the problem difficulty level
- It determines which student sees the problem
- It initializes the random number generator to produce a unique problem variant (Correct answer)
- It controls the grading tolerance
Correct answer: It initializes the random number generator to produce a unique problem variant
The seed value initializes Perl's random number generator, ensuring each student receives a unique but reproducible variant of the problem.
Question 2: In WeBWorK, which file extension is used for PG problem files?
- .wb
- .pg (Correct answer)
- .pl
- .ww
Correct answer: .pg
WeBWorK problem files use the .pg extension, reflecting the Problem Generator language they are written in.
Question 3: What does the WeBWorK macro 'loadMacros()' accomplish at the start of a PG file?
- Loads external CSS stylesheets
- Imports Perl library files that provide answer checkers and formatting tools (Correct answer)
- Connects to the course database
- Initializes the student gradebook
Correct answer: Imports Perl library files that provide answer checkers and formatting tools
loadMacros() imports specified .pl macro files, giving the problem access to answer checkers, formatting functions, and other utilities.
Question 4: A professor wants to allow students to see answer hints after the problem set closes. Which WeBWorK setting controls this?
- Show hint date
- Reduced scoring date
- Answer date (Correct answer)
- Open date
Correct answer: Answer date
The 'answer date' is when WeBWorK reveals the correct answers to students after the problem set has closed.
Question 5: Which of the following is TRUE about WeBWorK's 'reduced scoring' feature?
- Students earn zero credit after the due date
- Students earn a reduced percentage of credit for correct answers submitted after the due date (Correct answer)
- Only the professor can submit after the due date
- Reduced scoring applies only to gateway quizzes
Correct answer: Students earn a reduced percentage of credit for correct answers submitted after the due date
Reduced scoring allows students to submit correct answers after the due date for partial credit, typically 50% of the full credit.
Question 6: In WeBWorK, what is an 'OPL' and where is it located?
- An output processing layer inside the renderer
- The Open Problem Library, a repository of thousands of free math problems (Correct answer)
- An optional plugin license for commercial use
- The online professor login portal
Correct answer: The Open Problem Library, a repository of thousands of free math problems
The Open Problem Library (OPL) is a community-maintained repository of WeBWorK problems covering many mathematics subjects, available for instructors to browse and assign.
Question 7: Which programming language forms the core of WeBWorK's server-side logic and problem execution engine?
- Python
- Ruby
- Perl (Correct answer)
- PHP
Correct answer: Perl
WeBWorK is built on Perl, and its PG problem language is a subset of Perl executed in a safe compartment on the server.
WeBWork Core Knowledge and Fundamentals 3
What is the purpose of the 'seed' value in a WeBWorK randomized problem?