Q:

does the word "or" use Inclusive or Exclusive logic on my test? and how do I identify the logic that is being used?

I had taken a multiple choice business test the other day and the question was the following:

1. In Microsoft Word, the scissors function would be used to: 
A) Cut or select certain information  
B) Bolding a word 
C) None of the above  

I believe that the "or" in answer A) signifies that the scissor function is capable of both a cut and a select operation, whereas my teacher believes that it means one or the other and since the scissor function is capable of a cut operation A should be the correct answer. 
I chose C) "None of the above" and I am considering escalating my complaint to student services.
Some relevant information may include that the Microsoft office being used by this class is of 2003. It is also a grade 9 class.
*Below is a link to the follow up of what happened at student services incase anyone is interested:
HERE

A:

It is usually expected in a multiple choice question that each answer will be a distinct possibility or set of possibilities, and generally an answer consisting of "this OR that" where one is correct and the other isn't is considered poor question form.
If I said to someone in conversation:

The cut tool in Microsoft Word can cut or select certain information.

They would, quite understandably, assume that the cut tool is capable of doing both of those things. Applying the same statement structure in the context of a test question doesn't change its implied meaning. When I say this, what I am actually saying is

The cut tool in Microsoft Word can either be used to cut certain information or select certain information. It is capable of both of these things and you can choose which one to use it for.

When you are listing capabilities of a function, using the word "or" is taken to mean that the user can choose which capability it has, but that the function can perform all of the capabilities listed. If this weren't the case, why would that capability even be included in the list in the first place? The question was poorly-written and I think you should escalate to student services.

A:

I agree that it's a poorly worded question and you have a point that the correct answer is open to interpretation. However, in my education experience, the correct thing to do in when answering such a question is to ask for clarification before answering, mainly because you could make up your interpretation for the answer after learning that your choice is wrong. This is admittedly difficult to do in some classrooms which have a strict no talking policy during exams.
There is a subtler meaning at play than the distinction you draw. Answer A could be saying that "cut or select" are different words for the same operation. The most common computer terms for the operation is usually Select text → Cut operation → move cursor to desired insertion point → Paste operation (which makes this technically incorrect, in my opinion). However, another way of saying it is that after you have used the Cut operation, you have selected which text/content you are going to paste.
Because of this distinction and the interpretation your teacher regards as the correct one, answer A is definitely the most correct answer. Consider that "C None of the above" negates answers A and B and turn it into a statement in the form of the original question; you are then saying:

In Microsoft Word, the scissors function would not be used to cut certain information, select certain information, or bolding a word.

A:

John Clifford's answer is clear, well-written and correct.  I expand:
First, let's establish consensus where it exists: In Microsoft Word, the scissors function would not be used to select certain information.   However, it would be better to express the core idea more clearly, like this: "In Microsoft Word, the scissors tool is not to be used to select text." On this, surely, we have consensus.
In order to correctly answer the question, the most important thing to understand is that this is a situation where the rules of English rule, not the rules of boolean logic.  Here are two arguments:
Imagine there's a statute that says: "A valid license entitles you to drive a car or small truck."  Imagine you get a license, and get pulled over and issued a ticket anyway.  You're told that you only have one license and were seen driving both a car and a small truck.  That would be messed up!  Because even though the word or is used, the only sensible interpretation of the or in the statute is that it means both can be driven.
In English, this sentence is false: "In Microsoft Word, the scissors function can be used to cut or select certain information."  It's false because the or in the sentence means both can be done, and that's not the case.  It cannot be interpreted in a boolean/CompSci/math logic sense because "select certain information" is not a predicate.
In boolean logic, this sentence is true: "In Microsoft Word, the scissors function can be used to select certain information or in Microsoft Word, the scissors function can be used to cut certain information."  It's true because the or in this sentence means it's asserted that at least one or the other predicate is true, and that is the case, because the first predicate is true.  But that's not the sentence that was in the test question!

