剑桥雅思8-第三套试题-阅读部分-P A S S A G E1-阅读真题原文部分:READING PASSAGE 1You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13 which are based on Reading Passage 1 below.Striking Back at Lightning With LasersSeldom is the weather more dramatic than when thunderstorms strike. Their electrical fury inflicts death or serious injury on around 500 people each year in the United States alone. As the clouds roll in, a leisurely round of golf can become a terrifying dice with death - out in the open, a lone golfer may be a lightning bolt's most inviting target. And there is damage to property too. Lightning damage costs American power companies more than $100 million a year.But researchers in the United States and Japan are planning to hit back. Already in laboratory trials they have tested strategies for neutralising the power of thunderstorms, and this winter they will brave real storms, equipped with an armoury of lasers that they will be pointing towards the heavens to discharge thunderclouds before lightning can strike.The idea of forcing storm clouds to discharge their lightning on command is not new. In the early 1960s, researchers tried firing rockets trailing wires into thunderclouds to set up an easy discharge path for the huge electric charges that these clouds generate. The technique survives to this day at a test site in Florida run by the University of Florida, with support from the Electrical Power Research Institute EPRI, based in California. EPRI, which is funded by power companies, is looking at ways to protect the United States' power grid from lightning strikes. 'We can cause the lightning to strike where we want it to using rockets, ' says Ralph Bernstein, manager of lightning projects at EPRI. The rocket site is providing precise measurements of lightning voltages and allowing engineers to check how electrical equipment bears up.Bad behaviourBut while rockets are fine for research, they cannot provide the protection from lightning strikes that everyone is looking for. The rockets cost around $1, 200 each, can only be fired at a limited frequency and their failure rate is about 40 per cent. And even when they do trigger lightning, things still do not always go according to plan. 'Lightning is not perfectly well behaved, ' says Bernstein. 'Occasionally, it will take a branch and go someplace it wasn't supposed to go. ' And anyway, who would want to fire streams of rockets in a populated area 'What goes up must come down, ' points out Jean-Claude Diels of the University of New Mexico. Diels is leading a project, which is backed by EPRI, to try to use lasers to discharge lightning safely - and safety is a basic requirement since no one wants to put themselves or their expensive equipment at risk. With around $500, 000 invested so far, a promising system is just emerging from the laboratory.The idea began some 20 years ago, when high-powered lasers were revealing their ability to extract electrons out of atoms and create ions. If a laser could generate a line of ionisation in the air all the way up to a storm cloud, this conducting path could be used to guide lightning to Earth, before the electric field becomes strong enough to break down the air in an uncontrollable surge. To stop the laser itself being struck, it would not be pointed straight at the clouds. Instead it would be directed at a mirror, and from there into the sky. The mirror would be protected by placing lightning conductors close by. Ideally, the cloud-zapper gunwould be cheap enough to be installed around all key power installations, and portable enough to be taken to international sporting events to beam up at brewing storm clouds.A stumbling blockHowever, there is still a big stumbling block. The laser is no nifty portable: it's a monster that takes up a whole room. Diels is trying to cut down the size and says that a laser around the size of a small table is in the offing. He plans to test this more manageable system on live thunderclouds next summer.Bernstein says that Diels's system is attracting lots of interest from the power companies. But they have not yet come up with the $5 million that EPRI says willbe needed to develop a commercial system, by making the lasers yet smaller and cheaper. 'I cannot say I have money yet, but I'm working on it, ' says Bernstein. He reckons that the forthcoming field tests will be the turning point - and he's hoping for good news. Bernstein predicts 'an avalanche of interest and support' if all goes well. He expects to see cloud-zappers eventually costing 100, 000 each.Other scientists could also benefit. With a lightning 'switch' at their fingertips, materials scientists could find out what happens when mighty currents meet matter. Diels also hopes to see the birth of 'interactive meteorology' - not just forecasting the weather but controlling it. 'If we could discharge clouds, we might affect the weather, ' he says.And perhaps, says Diels, we'll be able to confront some other meteorological menaces. 'We think we could prevent hail by inducing lightning, ' he says. Thunder, the shock wave that comes from a lightning flash, is thought to be the trigger for the torrential rain that is typical of storms. A laser thunder factory could shake the moisture out of clouds, perhaps preventing the formation of the giant hailstones that threaten crops. With luck, as the storm clouds gather this winter, laser-toting researchers could, for the first time, strike back.Questions 1-3Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.Write the correct letter in boxes 1-3 on your answer sheet.1 The main topic discussed in the text isA the damage caused to US golf courses and golf players by lightning strikes.B the effect of lightning on power supplies in the US and in Japan.C a variety of methods used in trying to control lightning strikes.D a laser technique used in trying to control lightning strikes.2 According to the text, every year lightningA does considerable damage to buildings during thunderstorms.B kills or injures mainly golfers in the United States.C kills or injures around 500 people throughout the world.D damages more than 100 American power companies.3 Researchers at the University of Florida and at the University of New MexicoA receive funds from the same source.B are using the same techniques.C are employed by commercial companies.D are in opposition to each other.Questions 4-6Complete the sentences below.Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.Write your answers in boxes 4-6 on your answer sheet.4 EPRI receives financial support from………………………….5 The advantage of the technique being developed by Diels is that it can be used……………… .6 The main difficulty associated with using the laser equipment is related to its……………….Questions 7-10Complete the summary using the list of words, A-I, below.Write the correct letter, A-I, in boxes 7-10 on your answer sheet.In this method, a laser is used to create a line of ionisation by removing electrons from 7 …………………………. This laser is then directed at 8 ………………………… in order to control electrical charges, a method which is less dangerous than using 9 …………………………. As a protection for the lasers, the beams are ai med firstly at 10………………………….A cloud-zappersB atomsC storm cloudsD mirrorsE techniqueF ionsG rockets H conductors I thunderQuestions 11-13Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1In boxes 11-13 on your answer sheet writeYES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writerNO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writerNOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this11 Power companies have given Diels enough money to develop his laser.12 Obtaining money to improve the lasers will depend on tests in real storms.13 Weather forecasters are intensely interested in Diels's system. READING PASSAGE 1篇章结构体裁说明文主题用激光回击闪电结构第1段：闪电带来的危害第2段：科研人员正在研究回击闪电的方法第3段：先前的闪电回击术介绍第4段：火箭回击术的缺陷第5段：更安全的激光回击术第6段：激光回击术的技术原理第7段：激光回击术的缺陷第8段：通过实地实验改进激光回击术第9段：激光回击术对其他学科也有益处第10段：激光回击术的其他用途解题地图难度系数：★★★解题顺序：按题目顺序解答即可友情提示：烤鸭们注意：本文中的SUMMARY题目顺序有改变,解题要小心；MULTIPLE CHOICE的第三题是个亮点,爱浮想联翩的烤鸭们可能会糊掉;必背词汇1. inflict v. 造成The strikes inflicted serious damage on the economy. 罢工给经济造成了重大损失;2. inviting adj. 吸引人的The log fire looked warm and inviting. 篝火看上去温暖而诱人;3. property n. 财产；属性The hotel is not responsible for any loss or damage to guests’ personal property.酒店不承担宾客的任何个人财产的丢失或损坏;a herb with healing properties具有治疗效果的草药physical/chemical properties物理特性/化学特性4. fund v. 资助,投资The project is jointly funded by several local companies. 这个项目得到了当地几家公司的联合资助;government-funded research政府资助的研究5. back v. 支持,帮助The scheme has been backed by several major companies in the region.这个项目得到了该地区几家大公司的支持;Some suspected that the rebellion was backed and financed by the US.有人怀疑这次叛乱是由美国主使并资助的;6. discharge v. 放电；排出Both forms are readily gasified by electrical discharge without leaving any tangible residue.两种形态都易被放电气化而不剩任何可触察的残余;7. emerge v. 出现,浮现The sun emerged from behind the clouds. 太阳从云朵中探出头来;Eventually the truth emerged. 真相最终浮出水面;8. reveal v. 展现,显示；揭示,泄露He may be prosecuted for revealing secrets about the security agency.他可能会因为泄露国安局机密而遭检控;He revealed that he had been in prison twice before. 他透露说他曾经坐过两次牢;9. generate v. 使产生The program would generate a lot of new jobs. 这项计划会创造很多新职位;Tourism generates income for local communities. 旅游业给当地社区带来了收入;10. surge n. 涌流：猛增a surge of excitement一阵兴奋a surge of refugees into the country 涌入该国的难民潮a surge in food costs食品价格猛涨11. install v. 安装They've installed the new computer network at last. 他们最终安装了新的计算机网络;Security cameras have been installed in the city centre. 市中心安装了安全摄像头;12. nifty adj. 灵便的a nifty little gadget for squeezing oranges一个榨橘子汁用的灵便小工具13. in the offing即将发生的Big changes were in the offing. 剧变即将发生;认知词汇dramatic adj. 激动人心的fury n. 狂怒,狂暴本文中指雷暴电流leisurely adv. 轻松地dice with death拿性命开玩笑neutralize v. 中和brave v. 勇敢地面对armoury n. 军械库on command 按指令power grid 电力网precise adj. 精确的voltages n. 电压frequency n. 频率failure rate 失败率trigger v. 激发,触发branch n. 岔路populated adj. 人口密集的extract v. 提取atom n. 原子ion n. 离子ionization n. 离子化electric field 电场conductor n. 导体sporting event体育项目stumbling block 绊脚石monster n. 庞然大物manageable adj. 易管理的yet adv. 尚未；还没有come up with 准备好；提供reckon v. 料想,预计forthcoming adj. 即将来临的field test 实地测试turning point 转折点an avalanche of似雪片般的current n. 电流matter n. 物质interactive meteorology互动气象学confront v. 面临,对抗menace n. 威胁hail n. 冰雹torrential rain 暴雨moisture n. 水汽giant hailstone 大冰雹佳句赏析1. If a laser could generate a line of ionisation in the air all the way up toa storm could, this conducting path could be used to guide lightning to Earth, beforethe electric field becomes strong enough to break down the air in an uncontrollable surge.参考译文：如果激光器能够生成一条直达暴雨云的离子线,就可以在闪电电场增强为一股无法控制的涌流并击破空气之前,用这条传导通道把电荷引导到地面上来;语言点：状语从句——条件状语从句条件状语从句的连接词主要有：if, unless,as/so long as,on condition that等;此处为if引导的条件状语从句;例句：Just imagine how horrible the world would be if humans are the only creature in the world.想一想,如果人类是这世界上唯一的生物,这世界会变得多可怕;Some animal species are under threat if they stay in their natural habitat.如果留在自然栖息地,某些动物物种会面临威胁;If引导的条件句有真实条件句和非真实条件句两种;非真实条件句可以表示：1同现在事实相反的假设：从句一般过去时+主句should/would+动词原形2与过去事实相反的假设：从句过去完成时+主句should/would have+过去分词3对将来的假设：从句一般过去时+主句should+动词原形；从句were+不定式/should+动词原形+主句would+动词原形例句：If drug use were to be legalized,considerable police time would be spent in dealing with other more serious problems.如果吸食毒品合法化,警察大量的时间就将用于解决其他更严重的问题;2. A laser thunder factory could shake the moisture out of clouds, perhaps preventing the formation of the giant hailstones that threaten crops.参考译文：一个激光雷工厂可以把水汽从云层中震出,这样也许可以阻止威胁庄稼的大冰雹的形成;语言点：现在分词作状语例句：Facing high competition,people may suffer great pressure.面对高度竞争,人们可能会承受巨大的压力;Being confronted with economic pressure,women have to go outside to work.面临经济压力,妇女不得不外出工作;Not wearing proper clothes people will be considered those who do not know socialand interpersonal skills.如果衣着不当,人们会被当成是不懂社交和人际关系技巧的人;试题解析Questions 1-3题目类型：MULTIPLE CHOICES题目解析：解题小窍门：读清题干巧定位,四个选项要读完,绝对only排除掉,正确选项在中间;题号定位词题目解析1main topic 题目：本文讨论的主题是A闪电攻击对美国高尔夫场地和高尔夫选手造成的损失;B闪电对美国和日本电力供应的影响;C试图用来控制闪电袭击的各种方式;D一种试图用来控制闪电袭击的激光技术;正确翻译后,选项A和B比较容易排除,选项C比较具有迷惑性,但是只要看看文章标题,就不难发现本文主题是laser,所以正确答案是D;2 lightning 题目：根据文章,每年闪电会A在暴风雨期间对建筑物造成相当大的破坏;B在美国主要导致高尔夫球手死亡或受伤;C在全世界范围内导致500人死亡或受伤;D破坏了100多家美国电力公司;选项C和D中的具体数字是很好的定位词,可定位至文章第一段;文中提到,只是在美国,闪电每年就能杀伤500人,而不是世界范围内,因此排除选项C;而100这个数字在文中是100million a year,说的是每年闪电会让电力公司损失超过一亿美元,而不是说毁掉100多家电力公司,因此排除选项D;文中提到了云层翻滚而来时在户外打高尔夫是非常危险的,并没有说每年因雷击而死伤的是高尔夫球手,因此排除选项B;文中提到,there is damage to property too. buildings属于property的范畴,因此正确答案为A;3University of Florida,University of New Mexico 题目：佛罗里达大学和新墨西哥大学的研究员们A有同样的资金来源;B使用同样的技术C受雇于商业公司;D互相反对;此题是不可过多联想的典型,越直白的想法越能解题;一般来讲,带有金钱的选项应该去掉,但是此题剑走偏锋,偏偏选了带funds一词的选项A;文中有两处支持这个答案：第一处在第三段：…with support from the Electrical Power Research Institute EPRI…另一处在第五段：…which is backed by EPRI…两处暗示两项研究都得到了EPRI的资助,因此答案为A;选项B可以从文中说的一个主张用火箭,一个主张用激光来排除；选项C在文中并没有提及；选项D则是过多推理的结果,尽管使用技术不同,但是并不代表两者互相反对;Questions 4—6题目类型：SENTENCE COMPLETION题目解析：题号定位词文中对应点题目解析4 EPRI,financialsupport 第三段：EPRI,which is funded bypower companies…用EPRI定位到文章第三段,EPRI第一次出现之后即指出其是由电力公司资助的,原文中的funded等同于题干中的receives financial support from,因此答案应该填power companies;注意不要写成单数;5Diels 第五段：…to try to use lasers todischarge lightning safely…用人名Diels在文中定位到第五段,从题目看出这里应填入一个副词,所以可以在人名周围寻找use或者use的替换词,并且在其周围找带有-ly形式的词,这样正确答案safely很快就能浮出水面了;6 difficulty,laser equipment 第七段：The laser is no nifty portable：it’s a monster that takes up a whole room. Diels is trying to cut down the size…这道题目的定位稍微有一些困难,需要将difficulty一词与文章中的stumbling block联系起来,进而找到第七段中的laser一词;文中提到,该激光设备并不方便携带,它是个体积占据了一整间房间的庞然大物;看到这里,通过理解,考生们可以想到激光设备最大的问题就是体积太大,不好携带,所以正确答案是size;Questions 7-10题目类型：SUMMARY COMPLETION解题小窍门：题目解析：解题小窍门：1. 理解词库里的单词,并将其按词性归类;2. 带动整道题的定位词是第一行的ionisation,比较容易定位到文章第六段,那么整个summary的答案就应该在这个词周围寻找;题号定位词文中对应点题目解析7electrons 第六段：…to extract electrons out of atoms…本题关键是要理解题目中的remove…from…与文中的extract…out of…属于同义替换,这里要表达的是从原子atoms中提取电荷electrons;故正确答案是B;8 directed at 第六段：If a laser could generate a line of ionization in the air all the way up to a storm cloud…注意文中generate是“产生”的意思；directed at对应文中的all the way up to,其后的a storm cloud 即对应空格处要填的内容;因此正确答案是C;9 less dangerous 第五段：…who would want to fire streams of rockets in a populated area…to try to use lasers to discharge lightning safely…这道题比较麻烦,对于只是按照顺序寻找答案的考生,定位答案会比较困难;这里需要联系第五段中的信息,参照词库里的单词,推测出空格所在句的意思是“用激光控制闪电是比用火箭更安全less dangerous的方式”;正确答案是G; 10 protection,aimed firstly at 第六段：To stop the laser itself beingstruck…Instead it would be directed at amirror…protection对应文中的stop…being struck；at是解题关键词,即使不知道文中的directed和题目中的aimed是同义词,也可以从词组的形式上看出来两者是同位的,其后的名词即为答案;由此可知答案是D;Questions 11-13题目类型：YES/NO/NOT GIVEN题目解析：11. Power companies have given Diels enough money to develop his laser.参考译文电力公司已经向Diels提供了足够的资金来研发他的激光器;定位词Diels,money解题关键词have given…enough money文中对应点由定位词及顺序规律可以定位到第八段：“I cannot say I have money yet, but I am working on it. ”“我还不能说我已经拿到钱了,但是我正在为之努力;”看到这句话,再联系上句：Bernstein says that Diels’ system is attracting lotsof interest from the power companies. But they have not yet come up with the 5 million that EPRI says will be needed to develop a commercial system… Bernstein表示,Diels的激光系统正在引起各电力公司的广泛兴趣;但他们还没有准备好EPRI提出的500万美元——开发一个……的商用系统的所需资金;这两句话足以证明Diels的系统还没有得到足够的资金支持;答案NO12. Obtaining money to improve the lasers will depend on tests in real storms.参考译文获得改善激光器所需的资金依赖于在真正的暴风雨中进行的试验;定位词obtaining money. tests in real storms解题关键词tests in real storms文中对应点第八段：第11题对应的原文下一句提到：He reckons that the forthcoming field tests will be the turning point…其中turning point是“转折点”的意思,联系上题中说到的,目前该项目还没有拿到钱,可知这句话的意思是field tests就是得到资金的转折点;field tests=tests in real storms答案YES13. Weather forecasters are intensely interested in Diels's system.参考译文天气预报员们对Diels的系统设备特别感兴趣;定位词Diels,weather forecasters解题关键词intensely interested文中对应点这是一道典型的完全未提及的题目,interest一词出现在第八段的末尾,而weather forecasters这两个词也仅在第九段最后两句中出现：…not just forecasting the weather butcontrolling it…,而具体内容则完全不相干;答案NOT GIVEN参考译文用激光回击闪电很少有比雷暴天气更令人感到恐怖的天气了;仅在美国,猛烈的雷暴电流每年都会造成大约500人死亡或重伤;云层翻滚而来的时候,在户外打一场轻松的高尔夫成了一件异常可怕的事情,无异于是在拿自己的性命开玩笑——孤身一人在户外的高尔夫球手可能是闪电最喜欢攻击的目标;此外,闪电也会带来财产损失;每年闪电会对美国电力公司造成超过一亿美元的损失;不过,美国和日本的研究人员正在策划回击闪电的方案;他们已开始通过实验测试中和雷暴电荷的各种方法;今年冬天,他们将直面雷暴：使用配备的激光器射向空中的雨云,使其在闪电出现之前放电;迫使雨云根据指令释放闪电并非一个新想法;早在20世纪60年代早期,研究者们就尝试过把带着拖曳线的火箭射入雨云,以期为这些云层发出的庞大的电荷群搭建起便捷的放电路径;由于受到建在加利福尼亚的电力研究所EPRI的支持,这一技术在佛罗里达的州立大学试验基地幸存到了今天;EPRI由电力公司资助,现正致力于研究保护美国输电网不受闪电袭击的方法;“我们可以通过火箭让闪电击向我们想让它去的地方,”EPRI的闪电项目经理Ralph Bemstein如此说道;该火箭基地现在能对闪电电压进行精确测量,并可以让工程师们检测电气设备的负载;不良行为虽然火箭在研究中功不可没,但它们无法提供闪电来袭时所有人都希求的保护;每支火箭造价大约1,200美元,发射频率有限,而失败率却高达40％;即使它们确实能够引发闪电,事情也无法总是按计划顺利进行;“闪电可不那么听话,”Bernstein说,“它们偶尔会走岔路,射到它们本不该去的地方;”但不管怎样,有谁会想在人口密集的地区发射成群的火箭呢“射上去的肯定会掉下来,”新墨西哥大学的Jean-Claude Diels指出;Diels现在正在负责一个项目,该项目由ERPI所支持,试图通过发射激光使闪电安全放电——安全是一项基本要求,因为没人愿意把他们自己的性命或他们的昂贵设备置于危险之中;有了迄今为止的50万美元的投入,一套有巨大潜力的系统装置正在该实验室慢慢成形;这一系统装置的想法始于大约20年前,当时正在开发大功率激光器从原子中提取电荷并生成离子的能力;如果激光器能够生成一条直达暴雨云的离子线,就可以在闪电电场增强为一股无法控制的涌流并击破空气之前,用这条传导通道把电荷引导到地面上来;为了防止激光器本身受到电击,不能把它直接对准云层,而是要把它对准一面镜子,让激光通过镜子折射向天空;要在靠近镜子的四局布置闪电传导器从而对其进行保护;理想的做法是,云层遥控器枪要比较廉价,以便能够把它们安装在所有重点电力设备周围；另外还要方便携带,以便在国际运动赛事场地中用于使逐渐聚积的雨云失去威力;绊脚石可是,仍存在巨大的绊脚石;激光器并不方便携带：它是个能占据整个房间的庞然大物;Diels一直想要缩小它的体积,并表示很快就会有小型桌子大小的激光器了;他计划在明年夏天用真正的雨云来实际测试这个更容易操作的激光系统;Bemstein表示,Diels的激光系统正在引起各电力公司的广泛兴趣;但他们还没有准备好EPRI提出的500万美元——开发一个让激光器更小巧、价格也更便宜的商用系统的所需资金;Bernstein说：“我还不能说我已经拿到钱了,但是我正在为之努力;”他认为,即将进行的实地测试会成为一个转折点,而且他也在期待着好消息;Bemstein预言,如果一切顺利,这将吸引“排山倒海般的兴趣和支持”;他希望看到云层遥控器的最终价格能定在每台5万到10万美元之间;其他科学家也能从中受益;如果手上有了控制闪电的“开关”,材料科学家就可以了解强大的电流遇到物质时会发生什么现象;Diels也希望看到“互动气象学”问世——不仅仅是预测天气,而且能控制天气;“如果我们能使云层放电,我们也许就能左右天气,”他说;而且也许,Diels说,我们将能够对抗一些其他的气象威胁;“我们认为我们也许能通过引导闪电来阻止冰雹,”他说;雷,来自于闪电的冲击波,被认为是大暴雨——典型的雷暴天气——的触发器;一个激光雷工厂可以把水汽从云层中震出,这样也许可以阻止威胁庄稼的大冰雹的形成;如果运气好的话,在今年冬天雨云聚积的时候,持有激光器的研究者们就能第一次对其进行回击了;剑桥雅思8-第三套试题-阅读部分-PASSAGE 2-阅读真题原文部分:READING PASSAGE 2You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14-26, which are based on Reading Passage 2 below.The Nature of GeniusThere has always been an interest in geniuses and prodigies. The word 'genius', from the Latin gens = family and the term 'genius', meaning 'begetter', comes from the early Roman cult of a divinity as the head of the family. In its earliest form, genius was concerned with the ability of the head of the family, the paterfamilias, to perpetuate himself. Gradually, genius came to represent a person's characteristics and thence an individual's highest attributes derived from his 'genius' or guiding spirit. Today, people still look to stars or genes, astrology or genetics, in thehope of finding the source of exceptional abilities or personal characteristics.The concept of genius and of gifts has become part of our folk culture, and attitudes are ambivalent towards them. We envy the gifted and mistrust them. In the mythology of giftedness, it is popularly believed that if people are talented in one area, they must be defective in another, that intellectuals are impractical, that prodigies burn too brightly too soon and burn out, that gifted people are eccentric, that they are physical weaklings, that there's a thin line between genius and madness, that genius runs in families, that the gifted are so clever they don't need special help, that giftedness is the same as having a high IQ, that some races are more intelligent or musical or mathematical than others, that genius goes unrecognised and unrewarded, that adversity makes men wise or that people with gifts have a responsibility to use them. Language has been enriched with such terms as 'highbrow', 'egghead', 'blue-stocking', 'wiseacre', 'know-all', 'boffin' and, for many, 'intellectual' is a term of denigration.The nineteenth century saw considerable interest in the nature of genius, and produced not a few studies of famous prodigies. Perhaps for us today, two of the most significant aspects of most of these studies of genius are the frequency with which early encouragement and teaching by parents and tutors had beneficial effects on the intellectual, artistic or musical development of the children but caused great difficulties of adjustment later in their lives, and the frequency with which abilities went unrecognised by teachers and schools. However, the difficulty with the evidence produced by these studies, fascinating as they are in collecting together anecdotes and apparent similarities and exceptions, is that they are not what we would today call norm-referenced. In other words, when, for instance, information is collated about early illnesses, methods of upbringing, schooling, etc. , we must also take into account information from other historical sources about how common or exceptional these were at the time. For instance, infant mortality was high and life expectancy much shorter than today, home tutoring was common in the families of the nobility and wealthy, bullying and corporal punishment were common at the best independent schools and, for the most part, the cases studiedwere members of the privileged classes. It was only with the growth of paediatrics and psychology in the twentieth century that studies could be carried out on a more objective, if still not always very scientific, basis.Geniuses, however they are defined, are but the peaks which stand out through the mist of history and are visible to the particular observer from his or her particular vantage point. Change the observers and the vantage points, clear away some of the mist, and a different lot of peaks appear. Genius is a term we apply to those whom we recognise for their outstanding achievements and who stand near the end of the continuum of human abilities which reaches back through the mundane and mediocre to the incapable. There is still much truth in Dr Samuel Johnson's observation, 'The true genius is a mind of large general powers, accidentally determined to some particular direction'. We may disagree with the 'general', for we doubt if all musicians of genius could have become scientists of genius or vice versa, but there is no doubting the accidental determination which nurtured or triggered their gifts into those channels into which they have poured their powers so successfully. Along the continuum of abilities are hundreds of thousands of gifted men and women, boys and girls.What we appreciate, enjoy or marvel at in the works of genius or the achievements of prodigies are the manifestations of skills or abilities which are similar to, but so much superior to, our own. But that their minds are not different from our own is demonstrated by the fact that the hard-won discoveries of scientists like Kepler or Einstein become the commonplace knowledge of schoolchildren and the once outrageous shapes and colours of an artist like Paul Klee so soon appear on the fabrics we wear. This does not minimise the supremacy of their achievements, which outstrip our own as the sub-four-minute milers outstrip our jogging.To think of geniuses and the gifted as having uniquely different brains is only reasonable if we accept that each human brain is uniquely different. The purpose of instruction is to make us even more different from one another, and in the process of being educated we can learn from the achievements of those more gifted than ourselves. But before we try to emulate geniuses or encourage our children to doso we should note that some of the things we learn from them may prove unpalatable. We may envy their achievements and fame, but we should also recognise the price they may have paid in terms of perseverance, single-mindedness, dedication, restrictions on their personal lives, the demands upon their energies and time, and how often they had to display great courage to preserve their integrity or to make their way to the top.Genius and giftedness are relative descriptive terms of no real substance. We may, at best, give them some precision by defining them and placing them in a context but, whatever we do, we should never delude ourselves into believing that gifted children or geniuses are different from the rest of humanity, save in the degree to which they have developed the performance of their abilities.Questions 14-18Choose FIVE letters, A-K.Write the correct letters in boxes 14-18 on your answer sheet.NB Your answers may be given in any order.Below are listed some popular beliefs about genius and giftedness.Which FIVE of these beliefs are reported by the writer of the textA Truly gifted people are talented in all areas.B The talents of geniuses are soon exhausted.C Gifted people should use their gifts.D A genius appears once in every generation.E Genius can be easily destroyed by discouragement.F Genius is inherited.G Gifted people are very hard to live with.H People never appreciate true genius.I Geniuses are natural leaders.J Gifted people develop their greatness through difficulties.K Genius will always reveal itself.Questions 19-26Reading。
