Select the correct sequence (top to bottom) of hierarchical intelligence…

Concept: Vernon's hierarchical model of intelligence arranges human mental abilities as a pyramid of four levels, running from the single broadest ability at the top down to the many narrowest, single-task abilities at the bottom: a general factor, then major group factors, then minor group factors, and finally specific factors.

Application: Reading the pyramid top to bottom for this item: the general factor (g) sits at the apex because it underlies performance on every task; below it come the major group factors, the broad ability clusters (such as verbal-educational and practical-mechanical ability); these split further into the minor group factors, narrower ability clusters within each major group; and at the base sit the specific factors, tied to individual tasks. So the sequence, top to bottom, is General factor → Major factor → Minor factor → Specific factor.

Why the other sequences break the pyramid:

• General factor → Specific factor → Major factor → Minor factor — places the narrowest, single-task level right after the broadest level, skipping the pyramid's middle stages instead of passing through them in turn.

• Specific factor → General factor → Minor factor → Major factor — opens with the narrowest, single-task level at the very top, which reverses the pyramid instead of starting from its broadest level.

• Major factor → General factor → Specific factor → Minor factor — places a mid-level group factor above the broadest level, when the broadest level occupies the very top of the pyramid with every group factor ranked below it.