54 A METHOD OF MEASURING THE DEVELOPMENT 



cite abstract qualities or rather far fetched words. All this 

 gives an idea of the mentality of the subject. The use of 

 series of words and of abstract terms indicates a certain 

 amount of intelligence and culture. But in our test we take 

 account only of the number of words. At least 200 words 

 may be given without hurry in three minutes' time, provided 

 no efifort is required to think of them. But such effort is 

 necessary, and everyone has not the same power of recall. 

 Little children exhaust an idea in naming it. They say, for 

 example, hat, then pass on to another object without noticing 

 that hats differ in color, in form, have various parts, different 

 uses and accessories, and that in enumerating all these they 

 could find a large number of words. Their lack of skill in 

 the use of language and in the analysis of ideas is very strik- 

 ing. Some children of ten years spend as much as 30 seconds 

 trying in vain to think of a word. By this test we are able 

 to estimate, according to observations which we have made 

 elsewhere, both the intellectual activity of an individual and 

 his verbal type. Those who have many words at command, 

 those who think in words, those who habitually think of 

 abstract subjects, or those who are fond of puns appear to 

 have the advantage over others. Sixty words is the minimum 

 requirement. Children of twelve years succeed, sometimes 

 giving as many as 150 or 200 words; one of our subjects 

 gave 218. 



IV. Defines abstract terms. — Definitions are required 

 for three abstract terms — charity, justice and kindness. The 

 formula used is very simple: What is ? 



Charity. — A good definition should contain two ideas : that 

 of unfortunate people and that of kindness shown them. — Good 

 responses: It is the act of aiding people zvho are in trouble. — 

 It is giving money to the old zvho are tumble to zvork. — It is to 

 give alms. — Charity is to have pity for the poor people one meets, 

 and if one has some money, to give them some. Bad responses: 

 It is to be good. — It is to be charitable. — It is to beg. — It is a 

 person zvho is good. — It is a poor person. — It is to ask pardon. 



