Does this multiple-choice question make sense?

Last night, my son came across the following question while doing his homework:

He acquired a lot of debts at.......
a. play
b. prose
c. novel
d. poem

He asked me about the meaning of the question. Unfortunately, l couldn't answer him. I looked up all the entries in the question in a number of dictionaries, but it seems that the meaning is vague. I think the whole question doesn't make sense, does it?

Solution 1:

I think whoever made the test question is being a little cute. All four answers are types of the written word. But one doesn't usually associate writing with acquiring debts. Unless the writing you are doing is keeping score in a poker game at which you are at play--and losing, or filling out the racing form at the track where you are at play--and losing.

The question is a little awkward, but if it was written by your son's teacher, it's a good sign. He or she is trying to make the test interesting and putting in a little extra effort for the kids just because.

Teacher gets an apple.