Intelligence has historically been conceptualized as a more or less fixed trait．This view perceives intelligence as something people are born with，and the function of development is to allow this genetic endowment to express itself．①A number of investigators have taken the approach that intelligence is highly heritable，transmitted through the genes．Other investigators believe that intelligence is minimally heritable。if at all．⑦M(jìn)ost authorities take an intermediate position．
Considering the large number of studies that have investigated the heritability of intelligence，it is surprising that so much disagreement exists among researchers．It has been estimated that roughly half the variation in intelligence test scores is caused by hereditary influences．But it is significant that estimates of heritability can differ among ethnic and racial groups，as well as across time within a single group．Moreover，the estimates are computed，for the most part，on the basis of intelligence test scores， so that the estimates are only for that part of intelligence measured by the tests．④
Whatever the heritability factor of IQ，a separate issue is whether intelligence can be increased． Work by a New Zealand researcher，James Flynn，has shown that，in the late 20th century，scores on intelligence tests have been rising rather steadily throughout the world．Although the reason for the increase has not been satisfactorily explained，there is little doubt that this is a developing phenomenon requiring careful investigation．
Despite the general increase in scores，average IQs continue to vary both across countries and across different socioeconomic groups．For example，many researchers have found a positive correlation between socioeconomic status and IQ，although they disagree over the reason for the relationship．Most investigators agree that differences in educational opportunities play an important role,and some investigators believe that there is a hereditary basis for the difference as well．But there is simply no broad consensus on the issue of why the differences exist，and，again，it should be noted that the differences are based on IQ，not broadly defined intelligence．
It is important to understand that no matter how heritable intelligence is，some aspects of it are still malleable．Heritability of a trait is a separate issue from its malleability．There is a growing body of evidence that aspects of intelligence can be modified．Intelligence，in the view of many authorities，is not a fixed trait，with its level a foregone conclusion the day a person is born．A program of training in intellectual skills can increase some aspects of a person’s Level of intelligence．No training program-no environmental condition of any sort—can make a genius of a person with low measured intelligence．But some gains are possible，and programs have been developed for increasing intellectual skills．A main trend for psychologists in the intelligence field has been to combine testing and training functions in order to enable people to optimize their intelligence．[483 words]
1．According to this passage，______．
A．intelligence can be increased in spite of its heritability
B．the malleability of a trait is closely related to its heritability
C．there is little correlation between socioeconomic status and IQ
D．a(chǎn) person with low measured intelligence is perhaps a genius
2．One’s intelligence______．
A．is exclusively determined by that of his parents
B．has something to do with his parents’
C．depends heavily on what environment he lives in
D．increases with the accumulation of his experiences
3．The underlined word“consensus”in the 4th paragraph most probably means ______．
A．ethical feelings
B．general agreement
C．minority opinion
D．moral sense
4．Which of the following best summarizes the main idea of the last paragraph?
A．Intelligence is not solely heritable．
B．Even a highly heritable trait can be modified．
C．Heritability of a trait is different from its malleability．
D．Programs have been developed for increasing intelligent skills．
5．The proper title for this passage should be______．
A．The Definition of Intelligence
B．The Optimization of IntelLigence
C．The Malleability of Intelligence
D．The Measurement of Intelligence
Considering the large number of studies that have investigated the heritability of intelligence，it is surprising that so much disagreement exists among researchers．It has been estimated that roughly half the variation in intelligence test scores is caused by hereditary influences．But it is significant that estimates of heritability can differ among ethnic and racial groups，as well as across time within a single group．Moreover，the estimates are computed，for the most part，on the basis of intelligence test scores， so that the estimates are only for that part of intelligence measured by the tests．④
Whatever the heritability factor of IQ，a separate issue is whether intelligence can be increased． Work by a New Zealand researcher，James Flynn，has shown that，in the late 20th century，scores on intelligence tests have been rising rather steadily throughout the world．Although the reason for the increase has not been satisfactorily explained，there is little doubt that this is a developing phenomenon requiring careful investigation．
Despite the general increase in scores，average IQs continue to vary both across countries and across different socioeconomic groups．For example，many researchers have found a positive correlation between socioeconomic status and IQ，although they disagree over the reason for the relationship．Most investigators agree that differences in educational opportunities play an important role,and some investigators believe that there is a hereditary basis for the difference as well．But there is simply no broad consensus on the issue of why the differences exist，and，again，it should be noted that the differences are based on IQ，not broadly defined intelligence．
It is important to understand that no matter how heritable intelligence is，some aspects of it are still malleable．Heritability of a trait is a separate issue from its malleability．There is a growing body of evidence that aspects of intelligence can be modified．Intelligence，in the view of many authorities，is not a fixed trait，with its level a foregone conclusion the day a person is born．A program of training in intellectual skills can increase some aspects of a person’s Level of intelligence．No training program-no environmental condition of any sort—can make a genius of a person with low measured intelligence．But some gains are possible，and programs have been developed for increasing intellectual skills．A main trend for psychologists in the intelligence field has been to combine testing and training functions in order to enable people to optimize their intelligence．[483 words]
1．According to this passage，______．
A．intelligence can be increased in spite of its heritability
B．the malleability of a trait is closely related to its heritability
C．there is little correlation between socioeconomic status and IQ
D．a(chǎn) person with low measured intelligence is perhaps a genius
2．One’s intelligence______．
A．is exclusively determined by that of his parents
B．has something to do with his parents’
C．depends heavily on what environment he lives in
D．increases with the accumulation of his experiences
3．The underlined word“consensus”in the 4th paragraph most probably means ______．
A．ethical feelings
B．general agreement
C．minority opinion
D．moral sense
4．Which of the following best summarizes the main idea of the last paragraph?
A．Intelligence is not solely heritable．
B．Even a highly heritable trait can be modified．
C．Heritability of a trait is different from its malleability．
D．Programs have been developed for increasing intelligent skills．
5．The proper title for this passage should be______．
A．The Definition of Intelligence
B．The Optimization of IntelLigence
C．The Malleability of Intelligence
D．The Measurement of Intelligence