I think the reason most word problems suck is that they're manufactured abstractions on the same problems elsewhere on the worksheet--which seems to be your cri

I think the reason most word problems suck is that they're manufactured abstractions on the same problems elsewhere on the worksheet--which seems to be your critique. In real life, a lot of those situations are hidden, but there are often multiple correct ways to approach the problem and hopefully some intuition will help you if you're too far off track. 2/3rds of 3/4ths of a cup of cottage cheese shouldn't be more than one cup and shouldn't be a tiny amount, either. (I also don't see a problem with people who scooped it onto the table). Similarly to the woodworker (elsewhere in this thread) trying to evenly measure out where 3 legs on a stool would go.