Chapter 290: Howard: What Kind of Teenager Isn't Cocky? Beverly: What's Your IQ?
"Sheldon, are you ready?"
Beverly came downstairs at that moment.
Young Sheldon gave her a look that said, 'Please. How could a genius like me who strictly follows schedules ever miss an appointment?'
"Mrs. Hofstadter..."
Young Howard immediately greeted her.
"It's Dr. Hofstadter!"
Beverly corrected him precisely.
"Right, Dr. Hofstadter."
Young Howard's lips twitched. "Can we come along and observe?"
"Are you also interested in social psychology experiments?"
Beverly adjusted her glasses and looked Howard up and down critically.
"Absolutely!"
Young Howard didn't dare crack any inappropriate jokes with Beverly, but he still nodded enthusiastically and winked at Leonard.
"Mom, I want to go too."
Young Leonard said immediately.
This was genuine interest. He also wanted to see what kind of effect Sheldon's newspaper strategy would have.
After all, it was Chuck's idea.
"Alright."
Beverly nodded. "I originally assumed someone of your intellectual caliber wouldn't be interested in rigorous scientific experiments. Since you're showing initiative, that's even better. You can join Sheldon and Leonard as part of the control group for comparative analysis."
"..."
Howard's lips twitched again. Logic told him he should end this conversation right now, but as a famous internet personality once said, 'What kind of teenager isn't a little cocky?' So he still asked.
"Control group?"
Yeah.
He definitely didn't dare ask what she meant by 'someone of your intellectual caliber!'
"Yes."
Beverly looked at Howard with the same expression Sheldon often wore when dealing with him, patiently explaining. "A control group experiment is also called a parallel group study. It's the unit that serves as a comparison to the experimental group. The two groups are essentially identical in scope and characteristics, differing only in specific variables..."
"I know what a control group is!"
Howard interrupted, his face darkening.
"Then why did you ask?"
Beverly said seriously. "If you asked, it indicates you think you understand but actually don't. Let me clarify... Don't interrupt me!"
After she finished explaining terminology Howard already knew, he nodded reluctantly under her stern gaze. "I understand. I get it."
"Do you really? Well, it doesn't matter. Sheldon is the primary experimental subject."
Beverly said, then shook her head dismissively. "Leonard is Control Group A, and you're merely Leonard's control subject. I wasn't expecting much intellectual capacity from you anyway."
"Excuse me!"
Howard couldn't hold back any longer. "I'm smart too, okay!"
"We're all aware you possess some intelligence. If you didn't, you wouldn't even qualify as Leonard's control subject,"
Beverly said bluntly. "Sheldon's IQ minus 60 would still be considered intelligent. By the way, what is your IQ?"
Seeing Howard standing there stunned, Beverly adjusted her glasses and nodded. "I see. But I should still clarify this for you. In our social experiments, we categorize IQ ranges.
180 and above is super-genius level, 140 to 180 is genius, 110 to 140 is above average intelligence, and 90 to 110 is normal.
Sheldon's IQ is 187, placing him in the highest super-genius category.
Leonard is respectable at 173, which qualifies as genius.
So as long as your IQ is above 110, you're acceptable for this study. But it can't be below 90.
You're not below 90, are you?
If so, you have absolutely no viability as a control subject."
"Because the intellectual gap between you and Sheldon and Leonard would be so enormous—far greater than the cognitive gap between humans and chimpanzees—there would be absolutely no statistical validity in comparing you..."
Young Howard was completely speechless.
Although he'd never taken a formal IQ test, he felt that according to Beverly's classification system, he was definitely above the "above average" threshold and should qualify as genius level.
They were all the same age and shared similar interests, so they naturally interacted and competed.
If the gap were too large, they wouldn't even be able to communicate effectively!
He admitted that compared to Sheldon, he did notice a significant difference and could accept the "super-genius" designation. But compared to Leonard, he shouldn't be that far behind.
Leonard existed in the gap between genius and super-genius.
He was a genius too!
"Mom, Howard is definitely genius-level!"
Young Leonard, seeing his best friend being put on the spot by his mother, could only helplessly defend him.
Beverly glanced at Leonard, then asked Sheldon, "What's your assessment?"
"I believe we share the same conclusion, don't we?"
Young Sheldon looked at Beverly.
They exchanged a knowing glance, then both smiled. Beverly shook her head while laughing. "Impossible! He's merely above average!"
"I concur."
Young Sheldon nodded in agreement with a smile. "So when I was planning to write a screenplay that normal people could comprehend, his name was second only to my father among the consultants who came to mind."
"Mom, it's getting late. We should go."
Young Leonard firmly held down Young Howard, who was starting to unbutton his collar to reveal the photoshopped picture of himself with Esther in an attempt to intimidate them, and could only remind her with a forced smile.
"Yes, we nearly squandered our valuable time on this—the sort of thing average people do."
"This is what we must endure while living in society, isn't it?"
"Precisely!"
Beverly and Young Sheldon bantered back and forth, walking out together with an easy stride.
"That's your mom!"
Following behind them, Howard lowered his voice, venting to his only friend who understood him.
"I know,"
Leonard could only try to soothe him. "That's just how they are."
"How do you even deal with it?"
Howard stared at the two figures ahead, one adult and one child, utterly baffled. "Two of them at once."
"Actually, it was just my mom at first, so it wasn't quite so bad."
Leonard couldn't help but look ahead, smiling wryly. "You know, she's my mom. I've been conditioned to it since I was little.
The worst part was when Sheldon first arrived.
I couldn't stand it even more than you are right now.
But fortunately, I met Chuck."
At this, Leonard's eyes immediately brightened, and a wide smile spread across his face. "He's the best friend I've ever had. With his encouragement and support, all of Sheldon's annoying habits became entertaining.
Don't think I just tolerate him now.
Every time I hear him crying after Chuck teases him, tears soaking his pants, the more frustrated I felt before, the happier I feel in that moment.
I even feel a little bad for him."
"Chuck the Great Tyrant?
What a tragic kid.
Chuck is a saint, okay?!"
Howard, who deeply empathized with Chuck's "Great Tyrant" reputation, was left speechless.
(End of Chapter)
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