If it is the interview thing as O_S suggests, then it's a shame that interviewers would apparently rather have a stock, learned-by-rote, answer than a response indicating that the interviewee may actually have done some thinking for themselves and, in fact, be better informed.
There is no single right answer in engineering, and even when the rules appear to mandate one it is a foolhardy man who closes his eyes to the real world behind the regs. I, for one, am very wary of people who know the regs, procedures, etc., by heart, but appear to have no understanding of the topic itself.
(Not intended at anyone in this thread, before someone takes offence; I have seen other cases, though, where the regs are quoted blindly out of context)