The answer to question 27 here: http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/worksheets/dc_s.html on the first row of the table (for measurement V1-8 = 6V) has OPEN for all the resistors except R4, which is SHORT. If you're measuring the voltage drop from 1-8 in this circuit, I don't see why you couldn't get the same result if all the resistors had failed short instead of open. When you test V1-8, isn't that just the same as measuring across the battery terminals?

-Thanks

 

This is a lame question-27 I mean. Im a 35 year EE. Your first point that V1-8 is just the battery voltage is correct. But your second point with all res shorted is not right as it would short the battery and give 0 volts across it. Since q27 gave no res values and has 3 readings that are simultaneously compatible, then they say assume a single fault of short or open, and ask for different data for the 3 rows, the whole thing (q27) makes no sense. Regards, Kamran Kazem.