门萨：乐在智力“冲浪”

　　他们貌不惊人，当中有商贾学者，也有主妇蓝领，因为一个简单的测验，便汇聚在一起，闲来一道饮茶、出游、聚会。这些人兴趣不同，性情各异，但有一点，这些人普遍智商非凡。他们走到一起，只因为他们聪明。将他们拢在一起的这个圈子，叫“门萨”。

　　门萨的英文名称是“MENSA”，1946年成立于英国牛津，创始人是律师罗兰德·贝里尔和科学家兼律师兰斯·韦林。当时，这两位自认 聪明异常的人突发奇想，编制出一些高难试题以测试智商，受到广泛追捧。兴奋之余，贝里尔和韦林干脆成立一个俱乐部，号召高智商的人士加入。今天，门萨俱乐 部拥有10万多名会员，遍及世界100多个国家和地区。

　　为什么要加入门萨，它的诱惑是什么？据了解，尝试进入门萨的人，都对自己的智力水平有相当的期待或自信。尤其那些2%的入门者，更确信自己是世界上天生聪明的少数人。所以，进入门萨的人，普遍带有智商优越感。

　　参与门萨的活动，则很少像外界所传，是要比拼智力。许多会员都说，进入门萨，才知道聪明人有多聪明。不过，这种意识并未减弱会员对自我的信任，反令其坦然并善用自己的智慧。

　　同外界猜测不同，会员除了参加入门测试外，以后将不会再碰到类似的测试，会员之间也不会通过这种智力竞猜的方式比试智商。而且，他们并不刻意了解相互间智力的高低。俱乐部里是一片和谐，并非杀气腾腾的智力练兵场。

　　门萨俱乐部最大的魅力是智力“冲浪”的愉悦。会员们相信聪明人的思维和行为与常人不同，他们普遍在日常生活中有“高处不胜寒”的感觉。加入门萨，就是为了寻求同伴，祛除“寒气”。

　　当然，在常人眼里，聪明人往往比较怪。然而对门萨硕 裕 庵止直冉先菀桌斫夂徒邮埽 蛭 嵌圆簧?ldquo;通病”习以为常。

　　不过，还有一个关键的问题：谁能够确证，门萨会员就聪明异常？单凭36道试题就能够验证一个人的智商？

　　据介绍，门萨的试题并非像外界所传，由会员编制、斗法而产生。绝大多数的试题是门萨总部的专家制作或者邀请最权威的智商研究专家制作 的。尽管试题各异，数量不多，但能够相当精确地测评人的智商。据说，门萨尽管允许失败的测试者一段时间后重新尝试入门测验，但一般不会通过。这也说明一些 问题。当然，门萨人也认为，智商的问题并不那么简单。门萨不是测算智商的绝对权威。它的根本目的，还是会员交流中的乐趣。

　　门萨多年来坚持中立，非政治、非营利的原则，至今不变。门萨国际总部和各俱乐部也组织一些收费的活动，以及一些出版活动，但收入全部用于俱乐部的拓展和完善。所有参与者个人不获利。

香港门萨：80%的入门率

　　香港门萨俱乐部成立于1986年，如今会员发展到300多人。香港独特的历史文化特色，令香港门萨个性鲜明。会员中除了黄皮肤，还有一半蓝眼睛。交流语言丰富，除了英语、粤语，还有普通话等其他语言，透射出典型的多元色彩。

　　据香港门萨俱乐部事务秘书安德鲁介绍，香港门萨定期为会员组织各类聚会和活动，形式同其他地方的俱乐部类似，有出游、野餐、讲座以及逛吧等。俱乐部对会员没有任何限制和要求。

　　香港门萨的会费低廉，每人每年250港元，21岁以下的会员会费减半。体现了门萨非营利的宗旨。这些钱将成为俱乐部活动的资金。

　　香港门萨俱乐部没有固定的“办公室”。主席和事务秘书由选举产生，并义务担负起俱乐部的各项活动事宜。入门测试每月2次，安排在中环香 港大会堂7楼的一间小厅。考试题目36个，测试者用40分钟答完。试题同英语地区不同，全部是图形试题，这样做是为了避免使用英语对香港居民的不利。测试 费用100港元。如果通过测试，不久后你就将接到邀请，获准参加俱乐部的活动了。

　　香港门萨最特别之处，是它的入门比例高达80%，大大高出世界平均的2%，居门萨各俱乐部前列。香港门萨主席王凤雯认为，原因可能是中国人使用方块字，对图形有天然的敏感，也可能是由于华人心性内敛，不做没有信心的事情，参加者都较有把握。

　　香港门萨的会员年龄从14岁到80岁不等。安德鲁说，香港俱乐部要求的入门最低年龄是14岁，否则定有更年少者加入。至于那位80岁的老者，则始终是俱乐部的活跃人物，心智非常健康年轻，令人敬佩。

What is Mensa?

Mensa was founded in England in 1946 by Roland Berrill, a barrister, and Dr. Lance Ware, a scientist and lawyer. They had the idea of forming a society for bright people, the only qualification for membership of which was a high IQ. The original aims were, as they are today, to create a society that is non-political and free from all racial or religious distinctions. The society welcomes people from every walk of life whose IQ is in the top 2% of the population, with the objective of enjoying each other's company and participating in a wide range of social and cultural activities.

What are Mensa's goals?

Mensa has three stated purposes: to identify and foster human intelligence for the benefit of humanity, to encourage research in the nature, characteristics and uses of intelligence, and to promote stimulating intellectual and social opportunities for its members.

How many members does Mensa have?

Today there are some 100,000 Mensans in 100 countries throughout the world. There are active Mensa organizations in over 40 countries on every continent except Antarctica. Membership numbers are also available for specific National Groups.

What kind of people are Members of Mensa?

There is simply no one prevailing characteristic of Mensa members other than high IQ. There are Mensans for whom Mensa provides a sense of family, and others for whom it is a casual social activity. There have been many marriages made in Mensa, but for many people, it is simply a stimulating opportunity for the mind. Most Mensans have a good sense of humor, and they like to talk. And, usually, they have a lot to say.

Mensans range in age from 4 to 94, but most are between 20 and 60. In education they range from preschoolers to high school dropouts to people with multiple doctorates. There are Mensans on welfare and Mensans who are millionaires. As far as occupations, the range is staggering. Mensa has professors and truck drivers, scientists and firefighters, computer programmers and farmers, artists, military people, musicians, laborers, police officers, glassblowers--the diverse list goes on and on. There are famous Mensans and prize-winning Mensans, but there are many whose names you wouldn't know.

What does "Mensa" mean?

The word "Mensa" means "table" in Latin. The name stands for a round-table society, where race, color, creed, national origin, age, politics, educational or social background are irrelevant.

What opinions does Mensa have?

Mensa takes no stand on politics, religion or social issues. Mensa has members from so many different countries and cultures with differing points of view, that for Mensa to espouse a particular point of view would go against its role as a forum for all points of view. Of course, individual Mensa members often have strong opinions--and several of them. It is said that in a room with 12 Mensans you will find at least 13 differing opinions on any given subject.

How do I qualify for Mensa?

Membership in Mensa is open to persons who have attained a score within the upper two percent of the general population on an approved intelligence test that has been properly administered and supervised. There is no other qualification or disqualification for membership eligibility.

The term "IQ score" is widely used but poorly defined. There are a large number of tests with different scales. The result on one test of 132 can be the same as a score 148 on another test. Some intelligence tests don't use IQ scores at all. Mensa has set a percentile as cutoff to avoid this confusion. Candidates for membership in Mensa must achieve a score at or above the 98th percentile on a standard test of intelligence (a score that is greater than or equal to that achieved by 98 percent of the general population taking the test).

Generally, there are two ways to prove that you qualify for Mensa: either take the Mensa test, or submit a qualifying test score from another test. There are a large number of intelligence tests that are "approved". More information on whether a test you have taken is approved, as well as information on the procedure for taking the Mensa test, can be obtained from the nearest Mensa office. There are no on-line tests that can be used for admission to Mensa. Feel free to contact Mensa for specific details about eligibility.

Mensa has no other eligibility requirements other than IQ testing. However, many tests are not valid for people under the age of 16. You should contact the nearest Mensa office for more information.

How do I get proof of my previous test scores?

Contact the testing service that administered the test to you requesting that they send you a report showing your score. Include as much information as you can about yourself and regarding when and where you were tested. If you can't give an exact answer, an approximation is better than nothing. Many testing services charge a fee for sending reports; you should give the service a call before writing them.

If your school did testing, write to the school you attended, and ask for a CERTIFIED copy of your score. It must include your birth date, the name of the test, and a clearly defined number, i.e., IQ, or percentile rank nationally. Mensa does not accept achievement tests. The school seal must be stamped on the report.

For psychologist/agency testing, have the report sent on professional letterhead, with the psychologist's or agency's license or registration number. Mensa accepts tests given only by those people qualified to do testing privately in the area in which the examiner resides. Date of test, name of test, and full score must be given, and the report must be signed.

Any signature-guaranteed or notarized copy of any of the reports will be accepted, other non-verifiable copies may be rejected.

Is there a Mensa test?

If you've never taken an IQ test, or don't want to bother with getting official copies of your test scores, then Mensa can test you. You will be put in contact with the local testing coordinator who will tell you about specific testing dates and places.

In some countries, a pre-test is available which you can take in the privacy of your home. To find out whether such a test is available in your country, please see National Groups. When you've finished the pre-test, send it back to the address instructed. It will be scored, and you will be notified of the results. If your score is high enough, you'll be invited to take a qualifying supervised test. The pre-test is just for practice; you can't use it to qualify for Mensa even if you score at or above the 98th percentile. Taking a pre-test is not required for admission, however, many people take it simply for the challenge.

Feel free to contact Mensa for more information or to arrange testing. More specific information is also available about testing costs for any of the National Groups.

If you want to take a practice, on-line test, the Mensa Workout is an intelligence quiz in which you have half an hour to answer 30 questions. When you submit your answers, your test is instantly scored, and you can see how your score measures up. The answers to the questions are provided along with discussion of the answers. The Workout is not an IQ test, and can't be used for qualification to join Mensa.