the failures. About half of the remainder are
cases of inability to give any response. Incorrect statements
with regard to color are rather common. Sample failures of this
type are: "Both are black," or "Both the same color." Other
failures are: "Both are dirty on the outside;" "You can't break
them;" "Coal burns better;" "Wood is lighter than coal," etc.

(b) _An apple and a peach_

_Satisfactory._ "Both are round." "Both the same shape." "They
are about the same color." "Both nearly always have some red on
them." "Both good to eat." "Can make pies of both of them."
"Both can be cooked." "Both mellow when they are ripe." "Both
have a stem" (or seeds, skin, etc.). "Both come from trees."
"Can be dried in the same way." "Both are fruits." "Both green
(in color) when they are not ripe."

Of 82 correct answers, 25 per cent mention color; 25 per cent,
form; 22 per cent, edibility; 20 per cent, having stem, seed, or
skin; and 5 per cent, that both grow on trees.

_Unsatisfactory._ "Both taste the same." "Both have a lot of
seeds." "Both have a fuzzy skin." "An apple is bigger than a
peach." "One is red and one is white," etc.

Again, over 50 per cent of the failures are due to giving
differences and about 18 per cent to silence.

(c) _Iron and silver_

_Satisfactory._ "Both are metals" (or mineral). "Both come out
of the ground." "Both cost money." "Both are heavy." "Both are
hard." "Both can be melted." "Both can be bent." "Both used for
utensils." "You manufacture things out of both of them." "Both
can be polished."

These are named most frequently in the following order: (1)
hardness, (2) origin from the ground, (3) heaviness, (4) use in
making things.

_Unsatisfactory._ "Both thin" (or thick). "Sometimes they are
the same shape." "Both the same color." "A little silver and
lots of iron weigh the same." "Both made by the same company."
"They rust the same." "You can't eat them" (!)[59]

[59] One is here reminded of the puzzling conundrum, "Why is a
brick like an elephant?" The answer being, "Because neither can
climb a tree!" A response of this type states a fact, but because
of its bizarre nature should hardly be counted satisfactory.

Of 60 failures, 32 were due to giving differences and 14 to
silence or unwillingness to hazard a reply.

(d) _A ship and