ver poorly the definition may have been stated.

While there is naturally some difficulty now and then in deciding
whether a given definition is correct, this happens much less frequently
than one would expect. In order to get a definite idea of the extent of
error due to the individual differences among examiners, we have had the
definitions of 25 subjects graded independently by 10 different persons.
The result showed an average difference below 3 in the number of
definitions scored _plus_. Since these subjects attempted on an average
about 60 words, the average number of doubtful definitions per subject
was below 5 per cent of the number attempted.

An idea of the degree of leniency to be exercised may be had from the
following examples of definitions, which are mostly of low grade, but
acceptable unless otherwise indicated:--

1. _Orange._ "An orange is to eat." "It is yellow and grows on a
tree." (Both full credit.)

2. _Bonfire._ "You burn it outdoors." "You burn some leaves or
things." "It's a big fire." (All full credit.)

3. _Roar._ "A lion roars." "You holler loud." (Full credit.)

4. _Gown._ "To sleep in." "It's a nightie." "It's a nice gown that
ladies wear." (All full credit.)

7. _Puddle._ "You splash in it." "It's just a puddle of water."
(Both full credit.)

9. _Straw._ "It grows in the field." "It means wheat-straw." "The
horses eat it." (All full credit.)

10. _Rule._ "The teacher makes rules." "It means you can't do
something." "You make marks with it," i.e., a ruler, often
called a _rule_ by school children. (All full credit.)

11. _Afloat._ "To float on the water." "A ship floats." (Both full
credit.)

12. _Eyelash._ If the child says, "It's over the eye," tell him to
point to it, as often the word is confused with _eyebrow_.

14. _Copper._ "It's a penny." "It means some copper wire." (Both
full credit.)

15. _Health._ "It means good health or bad health." "It means
strong." (Both full credit.)

17. _Guitar._ "You play on it." (Full credit.)

18. _Mellow._ If the child says, "It means a mellow apple," ask
what kind of apple that would be. For full credit the answer
must be "soft," "mushy," etc.

19. _Pork._ If the answer is "meat," ask what animal it comes
from. Half credit if wrong animal is named.

21. _Plumbing._ "You fix pipes." (Full credit.)

25. _Sou