"What sport is he best in?"

[wondering]

The question in the book is: "What sport is he best in?"

The teacher would have liked to see the student answer: "He is best at football." (football was given as a picture clue)

1. Is it correct that the book poses the question using "in"?

2. If so, why would the student need to answer "at"?

Personally, I would have phrased both, Q and A using "at". Given that the book phrased the Q using "in", wouldn't you be prompted to use "in" in the A then as well?

Please enlighten me!

Edit to add: the book I quote from is an ESL book by publisher Klett: Green Line 1 (Vorschläge zur Leistungsermessung) for secondary school in Germany

 

[Rover_KE]

Welcome to the forum, wondering.

Always tell us the title and author of any book you quote from, please.

I agree with you that 'at' is a much better option than 'in'.

Please note that I have changed your thread title, which should contain words or phrases you are asking us about.

 

[wondering]

Thank you, I edited my post to include the source.

 

[jutfrank]

I agree and sympathise with the student. I think the use of in was a very poor choice.

 

[Tdol]

However, given that at is the better choice, then using at in the answer is a good way to deal with a clumsy question.