1917-1918
[1]A dealer bought
some mules for $1,200.
He sold them for
$1,500, making $50 on
each mule. How many
mules were there?
[2] A machine gun
is deadlier than a
rifle, because it:
A. Was invented more
recently
B. Fires more rapidly
C. Can be used with
less training[3] Unscramble the
words to form a
sentence. Is that
sentence true or false?
happy is man sick
always a[4] Identify the next
two numbers in the
sequence.3 4 5 6 7 8 —— (^) ——
[5] Select the
appropriate word to
complete the analogy.
shoe — foot. hat — ———
A. Kitten
B. Head
C. Knife
D. Penny
[6] Select the
appropriate word
to complete the
sentence.
The apple grows
on a (^) ——————
A. Shrub
B. Vine
C. Bush
D. Tree
U.S.ARMY
3
During World War I, the U.S. Army needed a system that would quickly
sort recruits into their ideal roles. Psychologist and noted eugenicist Robert
Yerkes developed several tests that, among other things, would identify those
capable of holding leadership positions, such as officers or intelligence specialists.
Literate recruits took the written Alpha test, while illiterate applicants faced the visual
Beta. Military psychiatrists evaluated individuals who struggled with the tests, often
marking those who failed as having naturally inferior intellect. In hindsight, it’s clear
that cultural background (how many people in the 1910s got to play tennis?) and the
ethnic biases baked into the questions could sway the final outcome.
ALPHA TEST
To be read aloud:
Study the
everyday objects
in the nine line
drawings to the
left. There’s a
key piece
missing in each
illustration.
Identify it.
INSTRUCTIONS
BETA TEST
[8]
[5]
[1] [2] [3] [4]
[6] [7]
[9]
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