Contends distinction between normal and abnormal aging of the brain changes as data emerge which identify as pathology what had previously been considered the norm. Reviews research on effects of aging in twins begun in 1940s, focusing on facts related to intellectual decline, neuropsychological test performance relationship to dementia, and…

Reports 1990 SAT scores for Blacks, women, Native Americans, Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Asian Americans, and compares them with 1989 and 1976 scores. National scores show a slight decline this year, while scores for Blacks are unchanged and scores for Asian Americans and Native Americans show gains. (DM)

Examines British national examination results and related trends in the declining level of performance in modern languages relative to other subjects, suggesting that this trend to underperform in modern languages may be due in part to the relative difficulty of the examinations. The paper proposes strategies to help teachers become more rigorous…