25 Name Recognition Test

Here's a simple test to check your memory skills. Every name listed has a historical significance, whether good or bad.

The test conditions are as follows:

- Count how many of the names you recognize by reading alone.

- Count how many of the names you recognize by profession or achievments.

- Count how many names are of persons still living as of today's date.

- Count how many names listed that you've thought about within the last 7 days.

- Choose one name from the list of who you would be most likely to imitate, and give a brief reason why.

You may begin now.

1. Jesus Christ

2. Leonardo Da Vinci

3. George Washington

4. Thomas Edison

5. Adolf Hitler

6. Henry Ford

7. Bill Gates

8. John Wayne

9. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

10. Michael Jackson

11. Jimi Hendrix

12. Babe Ruth

13. Geronimo

14. William Shakespeare

15. Elvis Presley

16. Pope John Paul II

17. Ansel Adams

18. Madonna

19. Saddam Huessein

20. Gen. George S. Patton

21. Muhammad Ali

22. Abraham Lincoln

23. Stephen Spielberg

24. Britney Spears

25. Rev. Billy Graham

26. Jesus Christ

　

Okay - put your pencils down, and let's review:

Looks like between 19 and 25 names recognized on average, with around a 97% accuracy on knowing what each is/was famous for. Very good.

Today's date for this test is May 31, 2010. The correct count for living persons is 7.

The final section is.....yes, you have a question? Sure, what's your question?

One name is on here twice? Why, you are correct! Hmmm...

Another question in the back; yes? The living count is 6, you say? Let's recount, then...my count still comes up 7. Could you please read me the names from your count? We'll go through the list together:

7. Bill Gates - correct.

18. Madonna - okay.

21. Muhammad Ali - right.

23. Stephen Spielberg - good.

24. Britney Spears - yes.

25. Rev. Billy Graham - also correct.

I still show 7.

Are you saying the test is a trick, or a cheat? Allow me to elaborate, then.....

In the American alphabet, there are 26 letters, A through Z. If we were to compare it to the Greek alphabet, it would be Alpha through Omega - are you following me so far?

Reading the names again, I see Jesus Christ at the beginning and the end...Alpha and Omega...does that help? No? Hmmm...let me see your answers...says here, you recognized His accomplishments, or at least some. If that's the case, did you overlook the part where He rose again? Aaahh..so our living count is back up to 7 now. Glad we could work that one together.

Oddly enough, there was a very low number of these historical achievers thought about in the past 7 days. Out of everything we know about these people, we remember only a little of what part of our daily living exists because of them, and.....what's that? You did think of Jesus Christ last week? Good for you! Could you share just a bit of what you remember? Okay, good you were in church last week, but you don't have anything beyond that to add? Not really? Maybe next week, then? Very well.

The last part of the test, you can review with us only if you would like to. My only thought on that part is this - if you were to try to be like someone you hardly ever think about, who are you REALLY following?

This concludes the test. If you remember any of it within the next hour, you've helped validate it.