What exactly is intelligence? There aren’t any easy
answers.Despite the progress that has been made in
genetics and psychology, human intelligence has remained one of the most
controversial areas of modern science,until now,
that is, for the discovery of a gene linked to intelligence has made the
experts think again.
Robert Plomin of the Institute of Psychiatry in London
and his colleagues in the US have been looking into genetic make-up.From their research, they have discovered that a
slightly different gene is more common in those with a high IQ.Plomin analyzed DNA from two groups of 51 children
aged between 6 and 15.What he found was that the first group had
an IQ of 136, putting them in the top 5% of the population, while the other
group had an average IQ of 103.An analysis of their
genes showed that 32% of children in the higher group had the gene in question,
while only 16% in the second group did.However,
there is a lot more research to be done, and Plomin himself is cautious at this
early stage.He suggests that there are probably many
genes that contribute to intelligence, rather than just one. Several studies
have shown a strong link between IQ and career success, although some
psychologists remain unconvinced about this.Professor
Michael Rowe, who has written a book called Genius Explained, is one of these.“The people with the highest IQs are not usually the
ones who do best in their careers.”
Many psychologists now believe that when it comes to
intelligence, IQ isn’t everything.Many
alternative views have been put forward recently.One
example is the idea of multiple intelligences, which was developed in the 1980s
by Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner.This offers a much broader view than the IQ
theory, including creativity and communication skills as relevant factors in
intelligence.
Tony Buzan, brain expert and author of Master your
Memory, is enthusiastic about this belief, arguing that true geniuses do indeed
appear to combine high levels of each type of intelligence.He lists Alexander the Great, Pablo Picasso and Albert
Einstein as examples.At the same time, Buzan believes that
everyone can develop their intelligence, only if they take the trouble to
exercise their brain.Perhaps there’s hope for us all!
1.What does the underlined word “This” in Paragraph 3
refer to?
A.The development of
intelligence
B.The idea of multiple
intelligences
C.IQ isn’t everything for
intelligence
D.Alternative views have
been put forward
2.Why does the author use data in Paragraph 2?
A.To make a suggestion. B.To draw a conclusion
C.To prove an idea. D.To give an example
3.What can we learn from the passage?
A.Robert Plomin confirms
genes have something in common
B.Howard Gardner thinks
intelligence includes various factors
C.Michael Rowe approves of
a strong link between IQ and career
D.Tony Buzan agrees
geniuses exercise brain to improve intelligence
4.What might be the best title of the passage?
A.The relationship between
genes and intelligence
B.IQ benefits a lot from high
intelligence
C.How to develop
intelligence.
D.What makes intelligence.