OF THE INTELLIGENCE OF YOUNG CHILDREN 21 



recognizes ; here we choose the object ; that is, we force him 

 to name some one object and no other. These are differences 

 which on a priori judgment seem insignificant; but in reality 

 they are great. The proof is that the majority of children of 

 three years succeed with the picture test and fail when asked 

 to name the objects. It is true that the objects are a little 

 less familiar than men and women, for which children show 

 a preference in the picture test. The child is shown success- 

 ively three familiar objects — a key, a closed knife and a cent — 

 and is asked: "What is that? What is it called?" The key 

 is properly named, sometimes with a defective pronunciation. 

 The penknife is usually called a knife, and the penny, pennies. 

 Such little errors are excused, but it is necessary that the 

 names of the objects be known. 



In our choice of objects we are guided by the fact that 

 all experimenters are Hkely to have a penknife, a key, and a 

 penny about them, and our endeavor is to use as little special 

 apparatus as possible. 



III. Repeats three digits. — This test is conducted in the 

 same manner as that calling for the repetition of two digits. 

 No further remarks are necessary. 



IV. Compares two lines. — Here are some tests which 

 present unexpected difficulties. An imbecile who understands 

 when one says : "Go and open the door," when the words are 

 not supplemented by either a gesture or a glance in the right 

 direction, is unable to compare two lines in regard to their 

 length. Does he see that the two lines are of unequal length? 

 It is quite possible. If it were two biscuits, would he take 

 the longer or the shorter? That is yet to be determined. But 

 he does not comprehend the words: "the longer;" he does 

 not understand that he is asked to compare two lines, and, 

 pointing at random, he foolishly puts his finger on the space 

 between the two lines. The child of three years does the 

 same thing. Not until its fourth year does a normal child 

 succeed with this test. 



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