How about a question like this:

"A manufacturer guarantees his crystals to be within .01% of the
marked frequency, when used in the recommended circuit at 20 degrees
C. The crystals have a negative temperature coefficient of 50 parts
per million per degree C.

What is the lowest whole-kilocycle frequency that should be ordered
for a 40 meter crystal, if the crystal is to be used in the
recommended circuit over the temperature range of 5 to 35 degrees C?
Allow 1 additional kilocycle to allow for crystal and component
aging.

Show all work."�


That was an important thing at that time.


Still is, in a way. The question could be modernized to calculating
the
dial setting on a ham rig where the temperature coefficient and
possible
error of the reference oscillator are known.



The FCC or the VE creating the tests likely wanted to test for knowledge
to be sure that hams at those times knew enough to avoid common mistakes
of those days. Being just outside the band may have been a common error
back in the 50's.

I can't remember the last time the FCC busted a ham for a purely
technical problem. One that required more of the ham to report to the
FCC via mail that he had taken the defective transmitter out of service
and was going to have an Elmer help him fix it.