The Wonderlic test is an intelligence test given by some employers to rate their prospective employees. It’s a terrible example of trivial tests that supposedly objectively quantify intelligence in a simple 'n easy 50 questions…However, I still feel the need to prove my adequacy on their scale, so I took a sample test. One of the questions has me a little confused. Here it is:
Assume the first two sentences are true:
Most progressives are business men.
Most progressives are Republicans.
Some business men are Republicans.
Is the final one:
a. true
b. false
c. not certain
I maintain the answer is A, true. But the answer key says C, not certain. After much argument in another discussion group, most people think it’s C, with a vocal minority sticking to A.
If more than half of progressives are business men, and more than half of progressives are Republicans, mustn’t there be an overlap of those two groups? Thanks for any input.
By the way, I got this question wrong, and it was the only thing that kept me from “Arch-Genius” ranking.
One became great by expecting the possible, another by expecting the eternal, but he who expected the impossible became greater than all. -Kierkegaard
Techinically speaking, “most” refers to greater “or equal” to half. I suppose this is because “most” is not an exclusive property, i.e. only one item can be the most. It just refers to the item with the greatest quantity, so if you have two items that both have the largest quantity, you can technically call both of them the most. That would be my explanation unless this were one of those trick questions asking people to think outside of the box, and how everything was possible, never assume too much, etc. and etc.
Just to chime in with everyone else, the answer is definitely A. Use an actual example to convince others. Suppose there are six progressives in the world (and I know four of them!).
Now, make most of them (at least four) businessmen.
Also, make most of them (at least four) Republicans.
If no Republicans are businessmen than how many progressives are there? 4 + 4 = 8.
Ask them if they notice something wrong with this picture. If they still don’t get it, try using props.
It sounds to me like the SD message board has ratified your “arch-genious” ranking. Of course, with a test that flawed, I’m not sure it’s worth much. Do you know where us teeming millions can get a sample exam?
I really love intentionally giving right but incorrect answers to questions. One time I was doing a math contest and the question was something like, “ten couples are at a formal dinner party, seated man-woman-man-woman around the table. What is each man’s chance of being seated next to his wife?”
My incorrect but nevertheless true answer was: zero. At a formal dinner party, married couples are never seated side-by-side.
Thanks for the input guys. It’s restored my faith in my reasoning abilities. The major point of contention about this question is coming from a single person who wants to apply all the neat new logical analysis toys he’s learning in Logic class to the problem. And so he’s taking any attempt to criticize his reasoning as unscientific conjecture from the unwashed masses.
For anyone interested, the sample test can be found at the following url: “http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/draft/wonderlic.html” (I don’t know how to use HTML, you’ll just have to rough it like our ancestors and use cut 'n paste).
One became great by expecting the possible, another by expecting the eternal, but he who expected the impossible became greater than all. -Kierkegaard
I followed the link provided above (thanks, Diletante). Here’s a perfect example of an “intelligence test” that purports to measure “problem solving skills.”
Question #4: Does B.C. mean “before Christ”?
I got the correct answer by applying the First Principle of Mathematical Induction. What problem solving skills would you use to solve it?
