In commenting on the recent blog " https://blog.sciencenet.cn/home.php?mod=space&uid=412323&do=blog&id=1332554  为什么研考分数与科研能力不相关" I said "Ability to answer question is a different thing from ability to ask the right questions. Chinese culture emphasize the ability to answer question, pass exams, and neglect training on asking the right questions. To do advanced research and to break new ground require training in the latter."

which reminded me of an article I wrote many years earlier  "On Research #8 - How to formulate a research problem https://blog.sciencenet.cn/blog-1565-8412.html" . In that article I elaborated on my comment above.. Re-reading it 15 years later, I would not change one word I said then. For student engaged in Ph.D research, this is worth a few minutes of your time.