Ask any eleven plus mother or father and they will very
likely give a remarkably similar answer. Some eleven plus children may be able
to pay attention to something else while his or her parents are talking. Other
children may pray for time. Mowbray, back in 1954, in: “The Perception of Short
Phrases Presented Simultaneously for Visual and Auditory Reception’, may have
agreed. He concluded that a division of attention was not really possible!
“Dear, please read the question again.”
“I have. I still don’t know what it is saying.”
“Now look at the question. Read it to me.”
“I can’t, you are still talking.”
“Please, just read the question.”
“What is the next word in this line? artist, paint, sculptor,
stone potter ,,,, “
“What do you think?”
“I still am sure what I have to do. I know I have to find the
next word but I am not sure what the next word is.”
“Let us read it together.”
“Oh Mum!”
