The Blanks question type generates a fill-in-the-blank question. The text inside a \blank[menu] command is removed and a list of choices is displayed in a drop-down box.
You must provide the choices in a comma-delimited list, with the correct answer listed first. The choices are permuted for the student.
This option is similar to Multiple Choice, but may be more convenient for some questions. The main difference is that only text choices are supported. TeX cannot be used in the list of choices.
Another advantage of the Blanks question type is that several \blank macros can be included in a single question, and different \blank options can be mixed in a single question. This makes the Blanks type powerful and flexible.
Blanks must not appear in math mode.
A limited amount of error recovery exists.
For example,
'$x = \blank[menu]{0,1,2}$'
converts correctly, but
'$$x = \blank[menu]{0,1,2}$$'
and
'$\int_0^{\blank[menu]{1,2}} f(x)\,dx$'
generate conversion errors.
\begin{question}{Blanks}
\qutext{The
% Format: \blank[menu]{correct choice, other choices}
\blank[menu]{human, canada goose, garter snake, housefly} and
\blank[menu]{chimpanzee, emu, frog, electric blue hap} are mammals.}
\end{question}
\begin{question}{Blanks}
% This question mixes the [menu] and [formula] options.
\qutext{The graph of the function $f(x)=(x-3)^2$ is the same as the
graph of $g(x)=x^2$ shifted to the \blank[menu]{right, left}
\blank[formula]{3} units.}
\end{question}
\begin{question}{Blanks}
% This question uses randomized variables.
\qutext{The graph of the function
$f(x)=\var{s1}\var{a}(x+\var{h})^2-\var{k}$ is the same as the graph of
the function $g(x)=\var{s1}\var{a}x^2$ shifted
\blank[menu]{to the left \var{h} units,to the right \var{h} units,
up \var{h} units,down \var{h} units}
and shifted \blank[menu]{down \var{k} units,up \var{k} units,
to the right \var{k} units, to the left \var{k} units}.}
\code{
$t1=rint(2);
$s1=if($t1,"","-");
$a=int(rint(8)+2);
$h=int(rint(8)+2);
$k=int(rint(8)+2);
}
% The above code selects random integer coefficients between 2 and 9,
% and allows the leading coefficient of the function f to be either
% positive or negative.
\end{question}
\begin{question}{blanks}
% This question uses randomized variables in the menu choices and
% other parts of the question.
\qutext{In the \var{q} quadrant, the graph of $y=\var{c}(\var{a1})^x$ is
\blank[menu]{\var{p1},\var{p2}} the graph of $y=\var{c}(\var{a2})^x$.}
\code{
$r=rint(2);
$s=rint(2);
$t=int(rint(8)+2);
$q=switch($r,"first","second");
$p1=switch($r+$s,"above","below","above");
$p2=switch($r+$s,"below","above","below");
$c=int(rand(2,30));
$a=rand(1.1,12.1,2);
$a1=switch($s,$a+$t,$a);
$a2=switch($s,$a,$a+$t);
}
\end{question}