Question

What is IQ? Why do the two doctors and Burt disagree on the definition of IQ?

Excerpt:

"I'm not sure what an LO. is. Dr. Nemur said it was something that
measured how intelligent you were-like a scale in the drugstore weighs
pounds. But Dr. Strauss had a big argument with him and said an LO. didn't
weigh intelligence at all. He said an LO. showed how much intelligence you
could get, like the numbers on the outside of a measuring cup. You still had
to fill the cup up with stuff.
Then when I asked Burt, who gives me my intelligence tests and works
with Algernon, he said that both of them were wrong (only I had to promise
not to tell them he said so). Burt says that the 1.0. measures a lot of different
things including some of the things you learned already, and it really isn't any
good at all.
So I still don't know what LO. is except that mine is going to be over 200
soon. I didn't want to say anything, but I don't see how if they don't know
what it is, or where it is-I don't see how they know how much of it you've
got."

Answer 1

IQ stands for Intelligence Quotient

Step-by-step explanation:

IQ stands for Intelligence Quotient and is a measure of a person's cognitive abilities and intellectual potential. It is commonly used as an indicator of intelligence. In the given excerpt, Dr. Nemur and Dr. Strauss have different interpretations of what IQ represents, leading to their disagreement. Burt, who administers the intelligence tests, also has a different perspective.

1. Dr. Nemur's perspective: Dr. Nemur believes that IQ is a measurement of how intelligent a person is, comparing it to a scale that measures weight. In this view, IQ reflects a person's innate intelligence or natural intellectual capacity.

2. Dr. Strauss's perspective: Dr. Strauss argues against Dr. Nemur's interpretation. He believes that IQ doesn't directly measure intelligence but rather represents a person's potential to acquire intelligence. He likens it to the numbers on the outside of a measuring cup, indicating the capacity to "fill the cup" with knowledge and intellectual growth.

3. Burt's perspective: Burt, who administers the intelligence tests, disagrees with both doctors. He states that IQ measures various factors, including some things that the person has already learned. Burt implies that he doesn't consider IQ to be a reliable measure of intelligence or intellectual abilities.

The disagreement among Dr. Nemur, Dr. Strauss, and Burt regarding the definition of IQ arises from their differing interpretations of what IQ truly measures. While Dr. Nemur sees it as a measure of innate intelligence, Dr. Strauss believes it reflects the potential for intellectual growth, and Burt questions its validity as an accurate measure of intelligence.