Are some people born cleverer and others born stupid? Or is intelligence developed by our environment and our experience? Strangely enough, the answer to both these questions is yes. To some extent, our intelligence is given us at birth, and no amount of special education can make a genius out of a child born with low intelligence. On the other hand, a child who lives in a boring environment will develop his intelligence less than one who lives in a rich and varied environment. Thus the limits of a person's intelligence are fixed at birth, but whether or not he reaches those limits will depend on his environment. This view, now held by most experts, can be supported in a number of ways.

It is easy to show that intelligence is to some extent something we are born with. The closer the blood relationship between two people, the closer they are likely to be in intelligence. Thus if we take two unrelated people without any plan from the population, it is likely that their degree of intelligence will be completely different. If on the other hand we take two identical twins, they will very likely be as intelligent as each other. Family members like brothers and sisters, parents and children, usually have similar intelligence, and this suggests that intelligence depends on birth.

Imagine that now we take two identical twins and put them in different environments. We might send one, for example, to a university and the other to a factory where the work is boring.  We would soon find differences in intelligence developing, and this shows that environment as well as birth plays a part. This view is also suggested by the fact, that people who live in close contract with each other, but who are not related at all, are likely to have similar degrees of intelligence.

　　  1. From the 1st paragraph we can infer that——.

　　　　   A. no way can make a stupid child cleverer

　　　　   B. environment plays a more important part in intelligence developing than birth

　　　　   C. a rich and varied environment enables one to reach one's highest level of intelligence

　　　　   D. if one is born bright, he can reach his highest limit of intelligence whatever environment he lives in

　　  2. The expression “identical twins” (Para. 3) can best be replaced by

　　　　   A. two boys born together by the same mother

　　　　   B. two girls born together by the same mother

　　　　   C. two children of different sexes born together by the same mother

　　　　   D. two children born together by the same mother and are exactly alike

　　  3. Which statement would, the author probably disagree with?

　　　　   A. Intelligence is given at birth and developed by environment.

　　　　   B. It is impossible for people without any blood relationship to have similar intelligence.

　　　　   C. People who have similar experience are likely to have similar degrees of intelligence.

　　　　   D. One cannot control his own birth, but can choose a favorable environment.

　　  4. What is the best title for this passage?

　　　　   A. Intelligence　　　　    　　　　　　 B. Degrees of Intelligence

　　　　   C. Intelligence Is Given by Birth

D. Intelligence Depends on Environment

Do you know __________ ?

A. he lives where　　 　　　　B. where he lives

C. where does he live　　　　 D. where is he living

It is easy to show that intelligence is to some extent something we are born with. The closer the blood relationship between two people, the closer they are likely to be in intelligence. Thus if we take two unrelated people without any plan from the population, it is likely that their degree of intelligence will be completely different. If on the other hand we take two identical twins, they will very likely be as intelligent as each other. Family members like brothers and sisters, parents and children, usually have similar intelligence, and this suggests that intelligence depends on birth.

Imagine that now we take two identical twins and put them in different environments. We might send one, for example, to a university and the other to a factory where the work is boring.  We would soon find differences in intelligence developing, and this shows that environment as well as birth plays a part. This view is also suggested by the fact, that people who live in close contract with each other, but who are not related at all, are likely to have similar degrees of intelligence.

　　  1. From the 1st paragraph we can infer that——.

　　　　   A. no way can make a stupid child cleverer

　　　　   B. environment plays a more important part in intelligence developing than birth

　　　　   C. a rich and varied environment enables one to reach one's highest level of intelligence

　　　　   D. if one is born bright, he can reach his highest limit of intelligence whatever environment he lives in

　　  2. The expression “identical twins” (Para. 3) can best be replaced by

　　　　   A. two boys born together by the same mother

　　　　   B. two girls born together by the same mother

　　　　   C. two children of different sexes born together by the same mother

　　　　   D. two children born together by the same mother and are exactly alike

　　  3. Which statement would, the author probably disagree with?

　　　　   A. Intelligence is given at birth and developed by environment.

　　　　   B. It is impossible for people without any blood relationship to have similar intelligence.

　　　　   C. People who have similar experience are likely to have similar degrees of intelligence.

　　　　   D. One cannot control his own birth, but can choose a favorable environment.

　　  4. What is the best title for this passage?

　　　　   A. Intelligence　　　　    　　　　　　 B. Degrees of Intelligence

　　　　   C. Intelligence Is Given by Birth

D. Intelligence Depends on Environment