This works for me: 
local $,=$/."****".$/;
local $\=$/;

sub rand_questions {
    my $total=shift;

    local $/ = "===\n";   # set our delimiter
    my @data=<DATA>;
    #fisher yates shuffle
    my $i;
    for ($i = @data; --$i; ) {
         my $j = int rand ($i+1);
        # next if $i == $j; # See tillys reply
        @data[$i,$j] = @data[$j,$i];
    }

    my @questions=@data[0..$total-1];
    return @questions;
}

print rand_questions(2);



__DATA__
question=When driving towards a bright setting sun, glare can be reduc
+ed by
option1=closing one eye
option2=dipping in the interior mirror
option3=wearing dark glasses
option4=looking sideways
answer=4
answertext=Dark glasses are often used as a fashion item but they do h
+ave their practical uses. Low sun in the early morning or evening can
+ dazzle and distract. Lessen the risk by reducing the glare. Wear dar
+k glasses if they help you to see better.
category1=car
category2=vechicle handling
===
question=2When driving towards a bright setting sun, glare can be redu
+ced by
option1=closing one eye
option2=dipping in the interior mirror
option3=wearing dark glasses
option4=looking sideways
answer=4
answertext=Dark glasses are often used as a fashion item but they do h
+ave their practical uses. Low sun in the early morning or evening can
+ dazzle and distract. Lessen the risk by reducing the glare. Wear dar
+k glasses if they help you to see better.
category1=car
category2=vechicle handling
===
question=3When driving towards a bright setting sun, glare can be redu
+ced by
option1=closing one eye
option2=dipping in the interior mirror
option3=wearing dark glasses
option4=looking sideways
answer=4
answertext=Dark glasses are often used as a fashion item but they do h
+ave their practical uses. Low sun in the early morning or evening can
+ dazzle and distract. Lessen the risk by reducing the glare. Wear dar
+k glasses if they help you to see better.
category1=car
category2=vechicle handling
===

[download]
HTH Update I left out various errorchecking and the like, but you can add that.

Yves
--
You are not ready to use symrefs unless you already know why they are bad. -- tadmc (CLPM)

In reply to Re: Extract random records from text file by demerphq
in thread Extract random records from text file by SuperCruncher

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