Talent vs. Intelligence: A Debate

What is the main question debated by experts regarding innate ability?

• Whether talent is more important than preparation

• Whether innate talent exists

• Whether practice can replace talent

• Whether talent is inherited

Answer explanation

The main debate among experts centers on whether talent is more important than preparation, highlighting the balance between innate ability and the effort put into developing skills.

According to Gladwell, what separates elite performers from others?

• Natural talent

• The amount of practice

• The age they start learning

• The type of instrument they play

Answer explanation

Gladwell emphasizes that elite performers distinguish themselves primarily through the amount of practice they undertake, rather than just natural talent, age of starting, or the type of instrument.

How many hours of practice had the elite violinists accumulated by the age of twenty?

• 4,000 hours

• 8,000 hours

• 10,000 hours

• 2,000 hours

Answer explanation

Elite violinists typically accumulate around 10,000 hours of practice by age twenty, a benchmark often cited in studies of expertise and skill development.

What did Charles Darwin believe about intelligence?

• It is solely determined by education

• It is innate and not influenced by environment

• It is not important for survival

• It cannot be inherited

Answer explanation

Charles Darwin believed that intelligence is innate, suggesting it is a natural trait rather than solely shaped by education or environment. This aligns with the idea that certain cognitive abilities are inherited.

What is the heritability estimate range for intelligence according to scientists?

• 20-40%

• 40-60%

• 60-80%

• 80-100%

Answer explanation

Scientists estimate the heritability of intelligence to be between 60-80%, indicating a significant genetic influence on cognitive abilities, making this the correct choice.

What did the 2014 study of chimpanzees suggest about intelligence?

• Intelligence is not inheritable

• Intelligence is solely determined by environment

• General intelligence, spatial memory, and communication ability are inheritable

• Intelligence is determined by a single gene

Answer explanation

The 2014 study of chimpanzees indicated that general intelligence, spatial memory, and communication abilities are inheritable traits, supporting the idea that genetics play a significant role in these aspects of intelligence.

What is the relationship between practice and talent according to Gladwell?

• Talent is more important than practice

• Practice is more important than talent

• Talent and practice are equally important

• Neither talent nor practice is important

Answer explanation

According to Gladwell, practice is more crucial than talent in achieving mastery. He emphasizes that consistent, deliberate practice can lead to greater success than relying solely on innate talent.

What does heritability measure in the context of intelligence?

• The proportion of intelligence determined by environment

• The proportion of observed differences in intelligence due to genetics

• The total intelligence of an individual

• The influence of education on intelligence

Answer explanation

Heritability measures the proportion of observed differences in intelligence that can be attributed to genetic factors, distinguishing it from environmental influences or individual intelligence levels.