“I have ten sentences which I shall read to you slowly, one sentence at a time. You are to listen very carefully while I read and then after I have finished reading a sentence you are to repeat it to me exactly as it was read.”
Each sentence should be read only once. The reading should be done slowly and distinctly with sufficient emphasis to make clear the meaning of the sentence as well as the words spoken. The candidate should be encouraged to try each sentence and should not be informed as to whether or not his attempts are successful. The sentences to be read are as follows:
1. It snows in the winter. 2. Men usually have more dignity than boys. 3. There is no excuse for being thoughtless about the rights of other people. 4. The price of peace may sometimes be much greater than a nation can afford to pay. 5. It is unfortunate that war should ever be necessary among civilized nations. 6. Their harbour is a shallow body of water connected with, but protected from, the open sea. 7. Conscience asserting itself as the voice divine within the human soul is then a real actuality. 8. Each state appoints a number of electors equal to the whole number of senators and representatives. 9. These discoveries—gunpowder, printing-press, compass, and telescope—were the weapons before which the old science trembled. 10. The use of italic type is indicated in the author’s manuscript by underscoring the letters, words, phrases, or sentences that are to be italicized.
Directions for Scoring the Test.
The candidate is to be scored as successful on each sentence repeated correctly, or repeated with the omission of not more than one unimportant word such as “the” or “a.” The omission of more than one word or of a word which changes or limits the meaning of the sentence should be considered as a failure to remember what was said.
The examiner should keep on the test leaflet a note of just which sentences were correctly repeated and which were not. The candidate should not be allowed to see or know his record. The total score is the number of sentences on which the candidate was successful.
Scores from 0 to 2 indicate Inferior Ability
Scores from 3 to 4 indicate Low Average Ability
Scores from 5 to 6 indicate Average Ability
Scores from 7 to 8 indicate High Average Ability