Literacy Test is Unintentional Poetry

This test was given to World War I recruits at Fort Devens to assess their literacy. While the question are obviously designed to test reading comprehension and vocabulary, the rhythm and increasing difficulty as well as the philosophical quality of the barrage of questions make it sound poetic. I'm reminded of the song "Blowin' in the Wind," which is also a list of thought-provoking questions. There's more to the test, which you can find at Google Books. But I wonder how you score a question like "Are intervals of repose appreciated?" Knowing what "intervals" and "repose" mean doesn't mean it's appreciated. Found at Futility Closet. -via Nag on the Lake


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Or the Beatles: "For the benefit of Mr. Kite / There will be a show tonight on trampoline. / The Hendersons will all be there / Late of Pablo Fanques Fair-what a scene"
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