Albert Einstein was one of the greatest thinkers the world has ever known. He formulated theories of relativity, successfully described the nature of the universe and came up with the most famous equation in the world. David Beckham is the footballer whose skills and precision have made him one of the most gifted sportsmen of his generation. Who is more intelligent? How Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences (MI) dares us to put these two men on neighboring pedestals. Instead of regarding intelligence as a single quantity measurable by pen-and-paper tests, Gardner, an education professor at Harvard University, divides human intelligence into no fewer than eight separate categories ranging from mathematical to musical competence. (4)His ideas have provoked vigorous debate about how one defines intelligence. Gardner’s point is that quantity measures only one capacity, the sort of mental agility that is valued in academic achievement, and that this single number does not do justice to human potential. So he has created his own spheres of achievement. Some categories are easily reconcilable with general perceptions about IQ. For example, ―linguistic‖ intelligence confers a mastery of language, and is the preserve of such people as poets, writers and linguists. ―Logical mathematical‖ intelligence marks out people who take a reasoning approach to physical things, and seek underlying principles. Einstein is the standard –bearer of this group, which also includes philosophers. These two categories are the main components of what we generally think of as ―intelligence‖. ―Musical‖ intelligence characterizes musicians, composers and conductors. ―Spatial‖ intelligence is about being able to picture perspective, to visualize a world in one’s head with great accuracy. Chess players, artists and architects would rate highly in this category. Dancers, athletes and actors are lumped under the ―bodily-kinesthetic‖ heading; these individual, like Beckham, are able to control their bodies and movements very carefully. Then come two types of ―personal‖ intelligence-intrapersonal, the ability to gauge one’s own mood, feelings and mental states, and interpersonal, being able to gauge it in others and use the information. These two categories could be interpreted as emotional intelligence. Psychiatrists are particularly adept at the former, while religious leaders and politicians are seen as people who can exploit the latter. Charles Darwin is perhaps the perfect embodiment of the eighth intelligence –―naturalist‖. This label describes people with a deep understanding of the natural world and its objects. Zoologists and botanists can count themselves among this group. (5)These eight categories certainly reflect the fact that, in these areas, there is a spectrum of human ability ranging from the hopeless to the brilliant. But are these really intelligences, or could these competences be more accurately described as gifts or talents? Questions 1—3 Answer the following questions briefly according to the passage. 1、 What are the main components of ―intelligence‖ we generally think of? 2、 What kind of abilities does emotional intelligence involve? 3、 Which intelligences are represented by Einstein and Beckham respectively? Questions 4—5Translate the underlined sentences in the passage into Chinese. 4、 His ideas have provoked vigorous debate about how one defines intelligence. 5、 These eight categories certainly reflect the fact that, in these areas, there is a spectrum of human ability ranging from the hopeless to the brilliant.
Read the following passage and fill in each blank with one word. Choose the correct word in one of the following three ways: according to the context, by using the correct form of the given word, or by using the given letters of the word. Remember to write the answers on the answer sheet. Did you know that for every 20,000 novels written, only one gets published? So the (1) ____ (likely) that I’ll ever fulfill my ambition of becoming a professional mystery writer doesn’t seem very high. But the prospect of turning my lifelong passion into my livelihood and achieving fame and (2) for ______ at the same time is just too exciting for me to be put off by dull statistics. So what does it (3) t_______ to become a writer? Reading is important—all writers need to research their genre thoroughly to familiarize themselves (4) _______ its codes and conventions. My bookshelves at home are stacked with the novels of all the great mystery writers, which I’ve read and in many cases, re-read, despite (5) _______ (know) all the time ―who’d done it‖. Of course, being a writer requires imagination. You have to develop your own personal style rather than simply copy the work of ―the greats‖. I’ve turned out (6) d________ of short crime stories for my university student magazine—some have been published, some not, but I’ve always aimed to produce original and imaginative material. Last but not (7) ________, successful writers possess enormous self-discipline. I’ve often sacrificed my social life in order to devote the necessary time and effort to producing a good quality story. And more than once that has meant (8) _______ the midnight oil. We’ve got a novel inside us. Getting it out in anywhere near publishable form is no (9) ______ task, but with imagination and determination, and the help of an expert on ―master class‖, who could possibly fail to (10) re_______ their ambition?