Subscribe now

Letter: Odd one in

Published 2 September 2000

From Chris Flower

The letter from Eric Whitehead on IQ questions and the ambiguity of answers
(19 August, p 51)
reminded me of a question in my eleven-plus exam many years ago.

I was asked to select the odd one out from a cat, a dog and a television.
Should I select the television as the only non-animal, the cat as the one that
did not require a licence (as dogs then did) or, indeed, the dog as the one that
is not an odd one out? I do not remember my answer, but it taught me a lot about
those who ask questions.

Crawley, Sussex

Issue no. 2254 published 2 September 2000

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop