Are We Getting Smarter?

T COPY

Read the text and answer the questions below. 1. According to Ulrich Neisser, what does the increase in IQ scores indicate?
This shatters our belief about the rigidity of IQ," "It's powerful evidence that you can indeed change it."

2. What do you think proxy means? Write your prediction. (Par. 3, line 2) Dictionary definition: something used to represent something else that

you want to measure (Longman) Any predictions close to this are acceptable.
3. Can the rise in IQ scores be explained by nature or nurture? If yes, how? If no, why not?
Par. 3/A slew of data, from twin studies to adoption research, suggests that genes account for some 75 percent of the difference between individuals' IQs by late adolescence. That leaves precious little room for environment to play a role. But explaining the IQ rise by "smarter" genes makes no sense, because the genes in a population do not change quickly enough to explain the IQ chasm between the Greatest Generation and Gen Y. That would seem to make environment the leading suspect, but then you're back to that 800-pound gorilla in the corner: psychologists who study intelligence mostly agree that hereditary factors explain the lion's share of IQ differences. Any answers summarizing the information above are acceptable.

4. What is the paradox William Dickens mentions?

"The high heritability of IQ suggests that environment is feeble, but IQ gains over time suggest that environment is overwhelmingly powerful."

5. What does the duo in par. 4, line 4 refer to? William Dickens & James Flynn 6. What is the conclusion the two researchers arrived at about the discussion on nature vs nurture?
People's IQs are affected by both environment and genes, but... their environments are matched to their IQs," the researchers conclude.

7. How does the author account for the rise in IQ scores in par. 7?
An IQ-boosting environment- experiences and the social&technological surround- accounts for the rise: Crowded computer screens, videogames, even fast-foodery place mats and cereal boxes (full of hidden-word games and mazes) train young brains in the pattern analysis that IQ tests measure smaller families offer children individual attention, technological gadgets challenge our grey matter

jobs that demand more brainpower, more free time (at least some of which is spent reading, doing crossword puzzles, traveling to stimulating places).

8. According to the article, which of these is more likely to increase IQ score, PS3 or encouraging a child to take art classes? Why? PS3-because it is likely to train the childs brain in pattern analysis and this is something that IQ tests measure. The following statement in par. 8 also supports the claim above.
A temporary IQ-boosting change--like an early-childhood enrichment program, or parents who provide intellectual stimulation only in their children's prekindergarten years--can have the staying power of a mayfly.