# Answers to a couple of IQ-type questions please **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 25, 2009, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/answers-to-a-couple-of-iq-type-questions-please/500918 "2009-06-25T08:46:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/answers-to-a-couple-of-iq-type-questions-please/500918/1 "2009-06-25T08:46:25Z")
What do you reckon are the answers to these IQ-type questions: **What two words do not belong with the other four words:** 1. malice, jealousy, greed, kindness, envy, stupidity 2. tall, arrogant, timid, proud, fierce, boastful **What two words in the brackets are connected in the same sort of way as the two words outside the brackets?** 1. envy, jealousy (love, hate, greed, cruelty, selfishness, terror) 2. island, water (sea, land, ocean, lake, hill, valley) I don’t have the official answers - they’re from an IQ test I just did where I wasn’t 100% on the right answer. Thanks 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/answers-to-a-couple-of-iq-type-questions-please/500918/2 "2009-06-25T09:09:02Z")
1. kindness, stupidity 2. tall, timid 3. envy, jealousy (greed, selfishness) 4. island, water (lake, land) I wouldn’t really consider these “IQ-type” questions. Did you get them from an internet-based test? Because most internet IQ tests are crap. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/answers-to-a-couple-of-iq-type-questions-please/500918/3 "2009-06-25T09:32:50Z")
malice jealousy greed envy \<–\> kindness stupidity arrogant proud fierce boastful \<–\> tall timid * * * greed selfishness land lake ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/answers-to-a-couple-of-iq-type-questions-please/500918/4 "2009-06-25T09:38:13Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > 1. kindness, stupidity > > 2. tall, timid > > 3. envy, jealousy (greed, selfishness) > > 4. island, water (lake, land) Thks **Rigmarole** - what is your thinking for the third one? > [@](#): > > I wouldn’t really consider these “IQ-type” questions. Did you get them from an internet-based test? Because most internet IQ tests are crap. 😛 The questions are from the Mensa home test. It’s a booklet you write off for from Mensa to see if you’re in the frame for sitting the supervised test. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/answers-to-a-couple-of-iq-type-questions-please/500918/5 "2009-06-25T13:06:24Z")
My answers bolded, with an explanation below each question: 1. malice, jealousy, greed, **kindness** , envy, stupidity The only “positive” trait. Seems like the answer can’t be anything else. 1. **tall** , arrogant, timid, proud, fierce, boastful The others are all “mental” characteristics, the answer is a physical characteristics. However, I orginally answered “timid” because that is seen as “introverted” with the others as “extroverted”. I think that’s the wrong answer that they are trying to trick you into going for. **What two words in the brackets are connected in the same sort of way as the two words outside the brackets?** 1. envy, jealousy (love, hate, **greed** , cruelty, **selfishness** , terror) Basically synonyms, but not too sure about this one. 1. island, water (sea, **land** , **ocean** , lake, hill, valley) Not sure on this one at all, seems like there are a number of options. It’s been said on the SDMB before, but these kinds of questions seem to demonstrate how subjective these IQ tests can be - what they seem to be testing is how closely your thought-processes align with the person setting the answers, not any kind of objective intelligence. I haven’t read the other posts before replying so it will be interesting to see what others think. ETA: and I see I failed the test through not reading the first question properly! I’m now a bit confused and not sure how I would answer - see my point above! ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/answers-to-a-couple-of-iq-type-questions-please/500918/6 "2009-06-25T14:13:40Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > 1. island, water (sea, **land** , **ocean** , lake, hill, valley) > > Not sure on this one at all, seems like there are a number of options. It’s been said on the SDMB before, but these kinds of questions seem to demonstrate how subjective these IQ tests can be - what they seem to be testing is how closely your thought-processes align with the person setting the answers, not any kind of objective intelligence. I thought this was the easiest question of the examples. An island is always surrounded by water by definition; the only match with a similar dynamic would be a **lake and land** (a sea MIGHT be entirely surrounded by land, but not always). Land and ocean don’t work in this way. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/answers-to-a-couple-of-iq-type-questions-please/500918/7 "2009-06-25T14:19:03Z")
My answers are italicized. **What two words do not belong with the other four words:** 1. malice, jealousy, greed, _kindness_, envy, _stupidity_ 2. _tall_, arrogant, _timid_, proud, fierce, boastful **What two words in the brackets are connected in the same sort of way as the two words outside the brackets?** 1. envy, jealousy (love, hate, _greed_, cruelty, _selfishness_, terror) 2. island, water (_sea_, _land_, ocean, lake, hill, valley) I don’t think the second #2 really has a good answer. > [@](#): > > I thought this was the easiest question of the examples. An island is always surrounded by water by definition; the only match with a similar dynamic would be a lake and land (a sea MIGHT be entirely surrounded by land, but not always). Land and ocean don’t work in this way. A lake isn’t usually surrounded by land - there’s usually a river or stream or somesuch feeding it (or emptying it). I looked at it as solid, liquid. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/answers-to-a-couple-of-iq-type-questions-please/500918/8 "2009-06-25T14:39:45Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > 1. island, water (_sea_, _land_, ocean, lake, hill, valley) > > I don’t think the second #2 really has a good answer. > > A lake isn’t usually surrounded by land - there’s usually a river or stream or somesuch feeding it (or emptying it). > > I looked at it as solid, liquid. I would argue that solid/liquid is too broad a category when all the words (in the four to choose from) are geographical terms, and I don’t see how a compelling argument can be made that sea is a better choice than ocean (or vice versa). And while some lakes do connect to a river, I think you’ll find the vast majority do not. I see a much stronger argument for the lake/land choice. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/answers-to-a-couple-of-iq-type-questions-please/500918/9 "2009-06-25T15:54:52Z")
I have a different take on this one: 1. tall, arrogant, timid, proud, fierce, boastful I would pick tall and boastful. The other four are all attitudes or personality attributes. Tall is obviously different, being a physical attribute. Boastful is not an attitude or personality attribute but is a description based on behavior. A person can be boastful without being arrogant, proud or fierce, so they don’t necessarily go together. As for this one: What two words in the brackets are connected in the same sort of way as the two words outside the brackets? 1. island, water (sea, land, ocean, lake, hill, valley) The question doesn’t say “identical” it says “in the same sort of way”. So I think that Lake/Land is the best analogy to Island/Water. Another reason is that Lake and Island are both specific types of what they are, and Land and Water are very general terms. So you have a specific something (island or lake) surrounded by a general term for something else (water or land). (By this logic, Hill/Land might be an alternative choice, in that a Hill is a specific something that is (usually) surrounded by the general term Land. But it would be a less convincing choice, because Hill is a specific type of the general Land, while Island is not a specific type of the general Water.) Roddy ---
**Author:** ![De\_La\_Rue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@De\_La\_Rue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/De_La_Rue)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/answers-to-a-couple-of-iq-type-questions-please/500918/10 "2009-06-25T15:58:24Z")
> [@Busy\_Scissors](#): > > What do you reckon are the answers to these IQ-type questions: > > **What two words do not belong with the other four words:** > > 1. malice, jealousy, greed, kindness, envy, stupidity > > 2. tall, arrogant, timid, proud, fierce, boastful > > **What two words in the brackets are connected in the same sort of way as the two words outside the brackets?** > > 1. envy, jealousy (love, hate, greed, cruelty, selfishness, terror) > > 2. island, water (sea, land, ocean, lake, hill, valley) 1a. kindness, stupidity 2a. tall, timid 1b. greed, selfishness 2b. lake, land Lotta negative adjectives there. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/answers-to-a-couple-of-iq-type-questions-please/500918/11 "2009-06-25T16:02:48Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > I have a different take on this one: > > 1. tall, arrogant, timid, proud, fierce, boastful > > I would pick tall and boastful. The other four are all attitudes or personality attributes. Tall is obviously different, being a physical attribute. Boastful is not an attitude or personality attribute but is a description based on behavior. A person can be boastful without being arrogant, proud or fierce, so they don’t necessarily go together. This is not an unreasonable argument. However, I don’t think it’s as strong an argument as seeing arrogant, proud, fierce, and boastful as assertive/aggressive qualities, with tall and timid not fitting in. Since you’ve raised the point, though, I would be interested in seeing the “official” answer. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/answers-to-a-couple-of-iq-type-questions-please/500918/12 "2009-06-25T19:36:16Z")
> [@Busy\_Scissors](#): > > Thks **Rigmarole** - what is your thinking for the third one? They are close to being synonyms. > [@Busy\_Scissors](#): > > 😛 The questions are from the Mensa home test. It’s a booklet you write off for from Mensa to see if you’re in the frame for sitting the supervised test. Interesting. I didn’t entirely like the questions as IQ questions because of the multiple possible interpretations, and they assume familiarity with English as a primary language. ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/answers-to-a-couple-of-iq-type-questions-please/500918/13 "2009-06-25T20:13:43Z")
**What two words do not belong with the other four words:** 1. malice, jealousy, greed, kindness, envy, stupidity 2. tall, arrogant, timid, proud, fierce, boastful **What two words in the brackets are connected in the same sort of way as the two words outside the brackets?** 1. envy, jealousy (love, hate, greed, cruelty, selfishness, terror) 2. island, water (sea, land, ocean, lake, hill, valley) \*And you’re always busy Really busy Busy, busy Oooh-ooh ah-ah Oh, hairdresser on fire All around Sloane Square And you’re just so busy Busy scissors Oooh-ooh ah-ah Oh, hairdresser on fire Only the other day\* ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/answers-to-a-couple-of-iq-type-questions-please/500918/14 "2009-06-26T00:16:47Z")
> [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](#): > > **What two words do not belong with the other four words:** > > 1. malice, jealousy, greed, kindness, envy, stupidity > > 2. tall, arrogant, timid, proud, fierce, boastful > > **What two words in the brackets are connected in the same sort of way as the two words outside the brackets?** > > 1. envy, jealousy (love, hate, greed, cruelty, selfishness, terror) > > 2. island, water (sea, land, ocean, lake, hill, valley) Can you please explain the second answer. I got the same for the other 3, but tall and fierce for the second. My reasoning was they are obvious physical attributes. I don’t see proud as being negative or aggressive. Indeed, timid can be negative. Reasoning for the others: 1. Kindness and stupidity are not hostile/mean qualities/nouns. 2. Tall and fierce are obvious physical attributes. 3. Envy is a quality of the state of jealousy as greed is a quality of the state of selfishness. 4. Island is surrounded by water as lake is surrounded by land. (not including bridges, creeks and other structures or waterways - for the pedants) ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/answers-to-a-couple-of-iq-type-questions-please/500918/15 "2009-06-26T00:29:31Z")
> [@antechinus](#): > > Can you please explain the second answer. > > I got the same for the other 3, but tall and fierce for the second. My reasoning was they are obvious physical attributes. I don’t see proud as being negative or aggressive. Indeed, timid can be negative. Because “fierce” is not a physical characteristic, which is why we can say things like “in a sour economy, competition for jobs can be fierce.” Of the five, “tall” is plainly right out. That leaves four, and three of which clearly go together. Knowing we have to exclude one more word, the process of elimination indicates that it is “fierce.” ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/answers-to-a-couple-of-iq-type-questions-please/500918/16 "2009-06-26T02:32:29Z")
> [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](#): > > Because “fierce” is not a physical characteristic, which is why we can say things like “in a sour economy, competition for jobs can be fierce.” > > Of the five, “tall” is plainly right out. That leaves four, and three of which clearly go together. Knowing we have to exclude one more word, the process of elimination indicates that it is “fierce.” Don’t you mean ‘timid’? Others are saying ‘timid’ is the odd one out. I cannot see the extroverted angle - ‘proud’ isn’t necessarily extroverted. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/answers-to-a-couple-of-iq-type-questions-please/500918/17 "2009-06-26T02:35:11Z")
> [@antechinus](#): > > 1. Tall and fierce are obvious physical attributes. In what world is “fierce” a physical attribute? Are you confusing it with some other word? Definition [here](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS314&defl=en&q=define:fierce&ei=-jJESpyWIpOKMaT_xaMB&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title). No way is it a physical attribute. ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/answers-to-a-couple-of-iq-type-questions-please/500918/18 "2009-06-26T02:44:43Z")
> [@antechinus](#): > > Don’t you mean ‘timid’? Others are saying ‘timid’ is the odd one out. I cannot see the extroverted angle - ‘proud’ isn’t necessarily extroverted. Yes, I mis-typed. I meant “timid.” ---
**Author:** ![Baby\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@Baby\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baby_Driver)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/answers-to-a-couple-of-iq-type-questions-please/500918/19 "2009-06-26T02:48:09Z")
> [@Busy\_Scissors](#): > > 1. island, water (sea, land, ocean, lake, hill, valley) I’ve only read through the first couple replies, but for this one I’d actually guess “valley, hill”, because an island is surrounded by water and a valley surrounded by hills ---
**Author:** ![Baby\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@Baby\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baby_Driver)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/answers-to-a-couple-of-iq-type-questions-please/500918/20 "2009-06-26T02:54:26Z")
…And now that I’ve read the other replies I feel silly [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/answers-to-a-couple-of-iq-type-questions-please/500918.md?page=2)