Bright Children Reading Answers
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Bright Children Reading Answers contains a passage and 13 questions. This topic has been taken from the book: Practice Tests for IELTS 2 - Volume 2. Bright Children Reading Answers contains three types of questions. Candidates are allowed 20 minutes to complete the IELTS Reading questions. Similar IELTS Reading topics are available at IELTS Reading practice papers for the candidates to practice. These practice papers contains similar topics like Bright Children Reading Answers.
Section 1
Read the passage to answer the following questions
Bright Children Reading Answers
- By the time Laszlo Polgar’s first baby was born in 1969 he already had firm views on child-rearing. An eccentric citizen of communist Hungary, he had written a book called “Bring up Genius!” and one of his favourite sayings was “Geniuses are made, not born”. An expert on the theory of chess, he proceeded to teach little Zsuzsa at home, spending up to ten hours a day on the game. Two more daughters were similarly hot-housed. All three obliged their father by becoming world-class players. The youngest, Judit, is currently ranked 13th in the world, and is by far the best female chess player of all time. Would the experiment have succeeded with a different trio of children? If any child can be turned into a star, then a lot of time and money are being wasted worldwide on trying to pick winners.
- America has long held “talent searches”, using test results and teacher recommendations to select children for advanced school courses, summer schools and other extra tuition. This provision is set to grow. In his state-of-the-union address in 2006, President George Bush announced the “American Competitiveness Initiative”, which, among much else, would train 70,000 high-school teachers to lead advanced courses for selected pupils in mathematics and science. Just as the superpowers’ space race made Congress put money into science education, the thought of China and India turning out hundreds of thousands of engineers and scientists is scaring America into prodding its brightest to do their best.
- The philosophy behind this talent search is that ability is innate; that it can be diagnosed with considerable accuracy; and that it is worth cultivating. In America, bright children are ranked as “moderately”, “highly”, “exceptionally” and “profoundly” gifted. The only chance to influence innate ability is thought to be in the womb or the first couple of years of life. Hence the fad for “teaching aids” such as videos and flashcards for newborns, and “whale sounds” on tape which a pregnant mother can strap to her belly.
- In Britain, there is a broadly similar belief in the existence of innate talent, but also an egalitarian sentiment which makes people queasy about the idea of investing resources in grooming intelligence. Teachers are often opposed to separate provision for the best-performing children, saying any extra help should go to stragglers. In 2002, in a bid to help the able while leaving intact the ban on most selection by ability in state schools, the government set up the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth. This outfit runs summer schools and master classes for children nominated by their schools. To date, though, only seven in ten secondary schools have nominated even a single child. Last year all schools were told they must supply the names of their top 10%.
- Picking winners is also the order of the day in ex-communist states, a hangover from the times when talented individuals were plucked from their homes and ruthlessly trained for the glory of the nation. But in many other countries, opposition to the idea of singling out talent and grooming it runs deep. In Scandinavia, a belief in virtues like modesty and social solidarity makes people flinch from the idea of treating brainy children differently.
- And in Japan, there is a widespread belief that all children are born with the same innate abilities – and should, therefore, be treated alike. All are taught together, covering the same syllabus at the same rate until they finish compulsory schooling. Those who learn quickest are expected then to teach their classmates. In China, extra teaching is provided, but to a self-selected bunch. “Children’s palaces” in big cities offer a huge range of after-school classes. Anyone can sign up; all that is asked is excellent attendance.
- Statistics give little clue as to which system is best. The performance of the most able is heavily affected by factors other than state provision. Most state education in Britain is nominally non-selective, but middle-class parents try to live near the best schools. Ambitious Japanese parents have made private, out-of-school tuition a thriving business. And Scandinavia’s egalitarianism might work less well in places with more diverse populations and less competent teachers. For what it’s worth, the data suggest that some countries – like Japan and Finland, see table – can eschew selection and still thrive. But that does not mean that any country can ditch selection and do as well.
- Mr Polgar thought any child could be a prodigy given the right teaching, an early start and enough practice. At one point he planned to prove it by adopting three baby boys from a poor country and trying his methods on them. (His wife vetoed the scheme.) Some say the key to success is simply hard graft. Judit, the youngest of the Polgar sisters, was the most driven, and the most successful; Zsofia, the middle one, was regarded as the most talented, but she was the only one who did not achieve the status of grandmaster. “Everything came easiest to her,” said her older sister. “But she was lazy.”
Section 2
Solution and Explanation
Questions 29-34
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage?
In boxes 29-34 on your answer sheet, write
YES if the statement agrees with the view of the writer.
NO if the statement contradicts the view of the writer.
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this.
- America has a long history of selecting talented students into different categories.
Answer: Yes
Supporting Sentence: America has long held “talent searches”, using test results and teacher recommendations to select children for advanced school courses, summer schools and other extra tuition
Keyword: talent, searches, select
Keyword Location: Paragraph B, 1st sentence
Explanation: The passage states that Ameraica has a history of talent search. They use teacher recommendation to select advanced school courses. Long held means long history of talent search. Hence, the sentence agrees with the views of the author.
- Teachers and schools in Britain held welcome attitude towards the government’s selection of gifted students.
Answer: No
Supporting Sentence: In Britain, there is a broadly similar belief in the existence of innate talent, but also an egalitarian sentiment which makes people queasy about the idea of investing resources in grooming intelligence.
Keyword: egalitarian, sentiment, queasy
Keyword Location: Paragraph D, 1st sentence
Explanation: The author states that Britain also has a similar idea but few people that everyone should have similar facilities for education (egalitarian). This means that the idea was not welcomed. The question states just the opposite.
- Some parents agree to move near reputable schools in Britain.
Answer: Yes
Supporting Sentence: Most state education in Britain is nominally non-selective, but middle-class parents try to live near the best schools.
Keyword: near, best schools, parents
Keyword Location: Paragraph G, 3rd sentence
Explanation: The author directly says that most middle class parents try to live near the school that their children study in. This is insync with the question. Hence, “Yes” is the correct answer.
- Middle-class parents participate in their children’s education.
Answer: Not Given
Explanation: There is no information about the middle class students participating in their children’s education. Hence, the answer is Not Given.
- Japan and Finland comply with selected student’s policy.
Answer: No
Supporting Sentence: For what it’s worth, the data suggest that some countries – like Japan and Finland, see table – can eschew selection and still thrive.
Keyword: Finland, eschew
Keyword Location: Paragraph G, 2nd last sentence
Explanation: Te word eschew means to avoid using or refrain from. This means that japan and Finland did not comply with the selected students policy. Hence, No is the correct answer.
- Avoiding-selection-policy only works in a specific environment.
Answer: Yes
Supporting Sentence: But that does not mean that any country can ditch selection and do as well.
Keyword: selection, ditch
Keyword Location: Paragraph G, last sentence
Explanation: The author states that japan and Finland did well by ditching selection policy. However, it does not work everytime. This means that it works only in specific environment.
Questions 35-36
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Write your answers in boxes 35-36 on your answer sheet.
- What’s Laszlo Polgar’s point of view towards geniuses of children
A) Chess is the best way to train geniuses.
B) Genius tends to happen on first child.
C) Geniuses can be educated later on.
D) Geniuses are born naturally.
Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: An eccentric citizen of communist Hungary, he had written a book called “Bring up Genius!” and one of his favourite sayings was “Geniuses are made, not born”
Keyword: genius, bring up, born, made
Keyword Location: paragraph A, 2nd sentence
Explanation: As per the passage, Laszlo says that geniuses are made and not born. This means that they can be educated after they are born and turned into geniuses. This makes C the correct answer.
- What is the purpose of citing Zsofia’s example in the last paragraph
A) Practice makes genius.
B) Girls are not good at chess.
C) She was an adopted child.
D) Middle child is always the most talented.
Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: Judit, the youngest of the Polgar sisters, was the most driven, and the most successful; Zsofia, the middle one, was regarded as the most talented, but she was the only one who did not achieve the status of grandmaster.
Keyword: Zsofia, talented, did not achieve
Keyword Location: Paragraph H, 2nd last sentence
Explanation: The author states that Zsofia was regarded as the most talented one. However, she did not receive the status of grandmaster. Whereas, Judit, who was most driven, was most successful. This means that practice makes a successful genius.
Questions 37-41
Use the information in the passage to match the countries (listed A-E) with correct connection below.
Write the appropriate letters, A-E, in boxes 37-41 on your answer sheet.
- Scandinavia
- Japan
- Britain
- China
- America
- Less gifted children get help from other classmates
Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: Those who learn quickest are expected then to teach their classmates
Keyword: classmates, Japan
Keyword Location: Paragraph F, 3rd sentence
Explanation: The passage talks about Japan who believes in equal education. The author also says that if someone learns quickly, they will help their classmates. This means that pupil who are less gifted will receive help from classmates.
- Attending extra teaching is open to anyone
Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: In China, extra teaching is provided, but to a self-selected bunch
Keyword: extra teaching, China
Keyword Location: Paragraph F, 4th sentence
Explanation: The author states that extra teaching in China is provided to a self selected bunch. This means that it is open to all, who wants to get selected for extra teaching.
- People are reluctant to favor gifted children due to social characteristics
Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: In Scandinavia, a belief in virtues like modesty and social solidarity makes people flinch from the idea of treating brainy children differently
Keyword: flinch, brainy children
Keyword Location: Paragraph E, last sentence
Explanation: The author states that brainly children in scandinavia are treated differently. Hence, people are reluctant to favour gifted children.
- Both views of innate and egalitarian co-existed
Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: In Britain, there is a broadly similar belief in the existence of innate talent, but also an egalitarian sentiment which makes people queasy about the idea of investing resources in grooming intelligence.
Keyword: egalitarian, sentiment, queasy
Keyword Location: Paragraph D, 1st sentence
Explanation: The author states that Britain also has a similar idea but few people that everyone should have similar facilities for education (egalitarian). There is also a view about innate. Hence, britain is the correct answer.
- Craze of audio and video teaching for pregnant women.
Answer: E
Supporting Sentence: Hence the fad for “teaching aids” such as videos and flashcards for newborns, and “whale sounds” on tape which a pregnant mother can strap to her belly.
Keyword: tape, sounds, video
Keyword Location: Paragraph C, last sentence.
Explanation: The author states that in America, pregnant mothers straps tape on their belly which plays whale sounds. TRhis is the prove of audio. They are also provide videos for newborns. This makes America the correct answer.
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