"Mack Reynolds - Ability Quotient" - читать интересную книгу автора (Reynolds Mack)

"It goes far beyond I.Q." The professor made with his rueful smile
again. "You see, the I.Q. tests were early in the game. They were the
infancy of the tests of today. They didn't and couldn't measure all-round
intelligence. There is no such thing. But they were a beginning. Today we
still utilize an upgraded form of the I.Q. tests but we also test for verbal
ability, verbal fluency, numerical ability, spatial ability, perceptual ability,
memory, speed of reflexes, accident proneness, digital dexterity,
analogizing power, mechanical aptitude, clerical aptitude, emotional
maturity, veracity, tone discrimination, taste sensitivity, even natural
charm, color blindness, accuracy, persistence, drive, neurosis, powers of
observation, health and a few others."

"Don't I know it?" Alshuler remarked. "Like I said, it took two weeks to
get through them all. Some were pretty silly. Anyway, and…?"

"And you came out on top."

Alshuler scowled at him. "You mean of all the people in the country?"

Professor Katz shook his head. "No, of course not. All the people in the
United States of the Americas have not been given the tests. However,
most of those in your age group being released from the military and
particularly those who were single and about to enter college have been.
For one thing, we were in a position to give such persons our tests without
arousing much interest in our project. The military is endlessly giving
examinations and tests."
 "And …?"

The professor leaned back in his chair again and looked at the younger
man thoughtfully, as though wondering whether or not to go on. He
obviously wasn't completely happy at the other's attitude.

He said finally, "We want you to enter into an experiment which will
continue throughout the period you attend this university."

"I figured on working toward a doctorate, seven or eight years."

"It won't take you seven or eight years."

Bert Alshuler looked at him. "Why not?"

The professor said, "That's part of the experiment."

"Kay. We've finally got to the point. What experiment?"

Leonard Katz said, "My dear Alshuler, we want you to leave the
selection of all your courses in the hands of the computers."

The younger man's face was blank. "How do you mean?"