OF THE INTELLIGENCE OF YOUNG CHILDREN 47 



other day, it does >not bring had luck. — Friday is no worse than 

 any other day. — The foolishness is killing himself. — The fool- 

 ishness is the had luck. — It is Friday. — There is nothing foolish. 

 — One shoidd not he superstitious. — Because one knows nothing 

 about it. 



Five sentences are enough to test the critical faculty. 

 To pass the test a child must make at least three satisfactory- 

 responses. The test requires about 2 minutes. It is one of 

 those which reveals very well the intelligence of a child. 



IV. Understands difficult questions. — These questions 

 are similar to the preceding ones, but more subtle, and pre- 

 sent in addition some difficulties of vocabulary. 



1. — What woidd you do if you were delayed in going to 

 school? Correct responses: / zvoidd have to hurry. — / woidd 

 have to run, etc. A misunderstanding of the question is shown 

 in many of the incorrect replies. The subjects often answer 

 as if they had understood; what will happen? They say: Be 

 punished. — Be put in the corner. — The teacher zvould slap me. 

 Some even think of the future, and how they can best avoid 

 a repetition of the tardiness : / zvould not do it again. — 

 / zvould leave earlier. Another misunderstanding is more 

 subtle. The question which we ask implicitly signifies this: 

 You are retarded ; how make this retardation as little as pos- 

 sible? This is clearly the thought, but it is possible to miss 

 it, and some have understood that they were asked how they 

 would adapt themselves to the circumstances if they were 

 actually too late. / would have to ring the bell (the door of 

 the school is closed and the late pupils ring). / zvould bring 

 an excuse from my parents. We consider, by convention, only 

 one response correct; the first one: hurry. 



2. — What zvould you do before taking part In an important 

 affair? Correct responses: Think over the affair. — Reflect. — 

 Ask advice. Incorrect responses are not very intelligible. The 

 subject usually has not understood the expression, "taking part." 

 / shoidd take care of the sick. — / should considt the doctor. — I 

 should go away. 



