Final answer:
Early intelligence tests focused on practical skills, while modern tests assess abilities such as abstract reasoning and critical thinking. The evolution of intelligence testing has led to more complex and culturally unbiased assessments.
Step-by-step explanation:
Early intelligence tests developed by Alfred Binet focused primarily on verbally based tasks meant to assess a child's likelihood of success in a school environment. These tasks were generally more concrete in nature, assessing a range of skills including memory, attention, and the ability to solve simple problems. As intelligence testing evolved, especially with the work of researchers like Louis Terman, the tests became more standardized and normed, resulting in the production of a bell curve of scores.
Contrary to the early emphasis on more concrete skills, present-day intelligence tests, such as the WAIS-IV and WISC-V, focus on a broader scope, which includes abstract reasoning and critical thinking. Raymond Cattell's distinction between crystallized and fluid intelligence highlights the shift from mere knowledge recall to problem-solving and pattern recognition abilities. Today's tests also strive to be more equitable and are continually evolving to be more culturally unbiased. However, the debate about which specific skills should be assessed and how effectively an IQ test can measure individual intelligence remains ongoing.
Therefore, the best response to the original question is: (b) Early tests emphasized practical skills; present-day tests measure abstract reasoning.