Question

【题目】Do you think you’re smarter than your parents and grandparents? According to James Flynn，a professor at a New Zealand university，you are! Over the course of the last century，people who have taken IQ have gotten increasingly better scores —on average，three points better for every decade that has passed. This improvements is known as the "Flynn effect"，and scientists want to know what is behind it．

IQ tests and other similar tests are designed to measure general intelligence rather than knowledge．Flynn knew that intelligence partly comes from our parents and partly is the result of our environment and experience, but the improvement in test scores has been happening too quickly to be explained by heredity. or our surroundings. So What was happening in the 20th century that was helping people achieve higher scores on intelligence tests?

Scientists have proposed(提出)several explanations for the Flynn effect．Some suggest that the improved test scores simply reflect an increased exposure(暴露)to tests in general. Because we take so many tests, we learn test-taking techniques that help us perform better on any test. Others have pointed to better nutrition. (营养) Since it results in babies being born larger, healthier, and with more brain development than in the past．Another possible explanation is a change in educational styles，with teachers encouraging children to learn by discovering things for themselves rather than just memorizing information. This could prepare people to do the kinds of problem-solving that intelligence tests require.

Flynn has limited the possible explanations when he looked carefully at the test data and discovered that the improvement in scores was only on certain parts of the IQ test．Test-takers didn’t do better on the maths or vocabulary sections of the test；They did better on the sections requiring reasoning and problem solving. For example，one part of the test shows a set of abstract (抽象的) shapes and test-takers must find the patterns (模式) and connections between them and decide which shape should be added to the test.

According to Flynn，this visual intelligence improves as the amount of technology in our lives increases．Every time you play a computer game or figure out how to program a new cell phone, you are exercising exactly the kind of thinking and problem solving that helps you do well on one kind of intelligence test．So are you really smarter than your parents？In one very specific way，you may be．

【1】The "Flynn effect" is ______.

A. used to measure intelligence

B. an increase in IQ test scores over time

C. the influence of technology on intelligence

D. connected our experience

【2】The underlined word “heredity” means _______.

A. the technological improvement

B. the advanced educational methods

C. the help of our peer or schoolmates

D. intelligence passing down from our parents

【3】According to the passage，which of the following statements is true?

A. Taking fewer tests can help us get higher scores.

B. Experience have more effects on our intelligence than surroundings.

C. Newer education encourages children to find things out by themselves.

D. People’s vocabulary ability and visual intelligence have improved.

【4】What could be the best title for the passage?

A. What is Flynn effect?

B. How can we do better on IQ tests?

C. Are parents helping in our intelligence?

D. Are human beings getting smarter?

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】 B

【2】 D

【3】 C

【4】 C

【解析】

短文大意：这篇科普短文关注的是遗传因素对人的智力的影响，通过科学家们针对Flynn效应所做的科学实验，解释了智力部分来自父母而部分来自环境和经验，得出从某种特定的角度来说你比父母更聪明的结论。

【1】题意：“弗林效应”是______。考查词义理解题。A. used to measure intelligence用来测量智力的；B. an increase in IQ test scores over time 随着时间的推移智商测试分数的增加；C. the influence of technology on intelligence技术对智力的影响；D. connected our experience联系我们的经验。根据people who have taken IQ have gotten increasingly better scores —on average，three points better for every decade that has passed. This improvements is known as the "Flynn effect"，可知选B。

【2】题意：带下划线的单词“heredity”的意思是_________。考查词义理解题。根据上文intelligence partly comes from our parents智力部分来自我们的父母，可知选D。

【3】题意：根据课文,下列哪个陈述是正确的?考查细节判断题。A. Taking fewer tests can help us get higher scores.参加较少的考试可以帮助我们得到更高的分数；根据Because we take so many tests, we learn test-taking techniques that help us perform better on any test.，可知说法错误。B. Experience have more effects on our intelligence than surroundings.经验比环境对我们的智力影响更大；根据but the improvement in test scores has been happening too quickly to be explained by heredity or our surroundings.，可知说法错误。C. Newer education encourages children to find things out by themselves.新教育鼓励孩子们自己去发现事物；根据For example，one part of the test shows a set of abstract shapes and test-takers must find the patterns and connections between them and decide which shape should be added to the test.，可知说法正确。D. People’s vocabulary ability and visual intelligence have improved. 人们的词汇能力和视觉智能都有所提高；根据Test-takers didn’t do better on the maths or vocabulary sections of the test；They did better on the sections requiring reasoning and problem solving.，可知说法错误。综合以上分析，故选C。

【4】题意：这篇文章最好的标题是什么?考查标题归纳题。A. What is Flynn effect? 什么是弗林效应?B. How can we do better on IQ tests? How can we do better on IQ tests? 我们如何在智商测试上做得更好？C. Are parents helping in our intelligence?父母有助于我们的智力吗？D. Are human beings getting smarter? 人类变得越来越聪明了吗? 根据开头Do you think you’re smarter than your parents and grandparents? According to James Flynn，a professor at a New Zealand university，you are!，结合短文内容，可知短文关注的是父母因素对人的智力的影响，故选C。