3 ways to appear smarter than you are

Intelligence is one of the most consequential human traits. It is also one of the most socially awkward to discuss. Few topics trigger as much discomfort, denial, or moral posturing. Suggest that IQ matters and you risk being accused of elitism, determinism, or worse. Yet the evidence is remarkably clear. Cognitive ability remains the single best predictor of educational attainment, even after controlling for parental socioeconomic status. Large-scale longitudinal studies and meta-analyses ha...