The first test in the Alpha series used in the Army was intended to measure how complicated a series of directions could be grasped by the soldier and executed without errors. The Mentimeter test differs from its military counterpart in that the directions are to be printed rather than spoken, and in that the increasing difficulty arises from the increasing complexity and obscurity of the words employed rather than from the length of the directions to be held in mind. Whether these changes will increase or decrease the value of the test cannot be stated in advance of actual trials. _Directions for Giving the Test._ As soon as the candidates have been provided with pencils, writing surfaces, and comfortable seats, the examiner should distribute the examination leaflets with the instruction that the blanks at the top of the title page be filled out at once and that no one should turn the leaflet until the direction to do so be given. The test should be introduced by the request from the examiner that everyone look at the directions on the title page while they are being read aloud, “When you are told to turn your leaflet and go to work, you will find on the other side very full directions as to what you are to do. This is a test to find out how well you can understand directions, so read them carefully and do exactly what they tell you to do. Ready! Turn your leaflets and go to work.” Exactly three minutes should be allowed for this work. At the end of three minutes the examiner should call “Stop! The time is up! Turn over your leaflet and hand it to me.” The test sheets should be collected at once. Do what it says. 1. Write your name on this line. .......... 2. Make a cross in the square. □ 3. Make a cross in the circle and a dot in the square. □ ○ ▭ 4. Make a figure 1 under the letter M and a figure 2 under the letter W. A N W V H M Z U Y 5. If Decoration Day comes in the winter, write the word “No.” If not, write the word “Yes.” .......... 6. Cross out the shortest word in this sentence and draw two lines around the ninth word. 7. Look at the three blanks printed below. On the first blank write the number of days in a week, on the second the number of months in a year, and on the third the number of years in a century. __________ ___________ __________ 8. Write in the square on the left the right answer to the question: “How many dimes make a dollar?” In the second square make a small circle, and in the third triangle write the letter “C.” □ △ □ △ □ △ 9. If a peck is a greater magnitude than a bushel, cross out the word “pint” unless a pint holds a smaller quantity than a quart, in which case draw a line under the first word after bushel. QUART BUSHEL PECK PINT