Two groups of participants are given a math test in which they are told that it takes two pounds of meat to feed one man dinner. They are asked how many pounds they will need to feed seven men. Participants in the first group all try to answer the question, while participants in the second group begin arguing that two pounds of meat is too much for one man. Chances are that __________.
A) participants in the second group do not understand basic math
B) participants in the first group have had formal Western schooling but subjects in the second group have not
C) participants in the second group have had formal Western schooling but subjects in the first group have not
D) participants in the second group are trying to make the tester angry

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The argument presented by participants in the second group suggests that they may have a cultural or contextual understanding of portion sizes that differs from the one presented in the question. This could be due to a lack of exposure to Western culture and education, rather than a lack of basic math skills. The fact that participants in the first group do not argue against the portion size indicates that they have likely been exposed to this type of problem in a formal Western school setting.

Two Groups of Participants Are Given a Math Test in Which