Exercise 5 Fill in:

Ruth Lawrence, aged 10, has become _____________ in a mathematics examination out of 530 other students, all hoping to go to St. Hugh's College, Oxford. She has already __________________ her maths A-level, but admitted that she was a bit _____________________ to do so well in the entrance exam. She will go to Oxford ___________________ of 12. The principal of the college said, "She is obviously _______".

Exercise 6

Translate into English.

Хочеш знати який секрет успішного навчання в університеті? Ще школярем я турбувався про своє майбутнє, вирішуючи, яку професію обрати. Вчителі казали, з мене б вийшов гарний письменник чи журналіст, бо мені легко давалась література, а особливо гарно я проявляв себе у мовах. У мене була чудова пам'ять, я працював наполегливо і ніколи не зубрив і, тим більше, не користувався шпаргалками на контрольних. Ви повинні бути працьовитими, старанними, сумлінними, щоб досягти бажаного успіху у навчанні. Якщо ви не готуєтесь до екзаменів, ви можете провалитись. Звичайно, вдача вам може посміхнутись, але знань ви ніяких не отримаєте і не станете кваліфікованим фахівцем. Ніколи не розгублюйтесь на екзамені, зберіться з силами і спробуйте справити задовільне враження на екзаменатора. Яким чином? Відповідайте впевнено і чітко, не нервуйте, зберіться з думками. А головне - вірте у свої здібності і будьте оптимістом.

Child's play  Speaking

For most people, learning a subject like math or a skill like playing the piano is difficult. But for some remarkable people, it's so easy that we say it's "child's play". It's even more remarkable when the people who learn these things easily are children. Children who are exceptionally intelligent and who perform at a very high level in a difficult field are called "child prodigies".

• What other activities do you find easy or difficult?

• Do you know the names of any famous child prodigies? What do you know about them?

• Which words and phrases refer to child prodigies and which to ordinary people?

Words		Phrases
high level exceptionally remarkable superior average	unexceptional outstanding smart gifted	it's a breeze it's like taking candy from the baby it's a snap it's smooth sailing it's a piece of cake

 Listening

A child prodigy's life is not always easy. Listen to the conversation and fill in the chart.

Dan's achievements at three
Achievements at five
Behaviour now
Reasons for behaviour
Doctor's advice

 Listening

Experts measure intelligence in many different ways. One of the best-known tests used is the Stanford-Binet Test, popularly known as the "I.Q." (Intelligence Quotient) Test.

Listen to a talk about this test and circle the answers.

	a.	b.	c.
1. The Stanford-Binet Test has been used since	1960	1973	1916
2. Normal or average intelligence corresponds to	100	101	110
3. Superior intelligence ranges from	110-120	120 –139	129 -159

 Reading

Read the text and tell your group-mates about the life of these famous people.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart will be remembered as one of history's most famous child prodigies. By the age of eight, he had performed in half the great cities of Europe and was about to write his first three symphonies. He died shortly before his 36th birthday, but the world recognizes him as one of the finest composers who ever lived. For centuries, people have been amazed by children of unusual talent. Pianist and composer Felix Mendelsohn had composed a fair amount of music by the time he was 11. His fourth opera was produced in Berlin when he was only 18. John Stuart Mill, the nineteenth century British philosopher, read Greek at three and had worked his way through elementary geometry and algebra and a large body of literature and history by the time he was 12.

Success has not always brought happiness to prodigies. When he was 20, John Stuart Mill suffered a serious mental crisis. "I seemed to have nothing left to live for," he wrote years later. Other well-known prodigies have had similar experiences.

A number of history's most famous prodigies had something else in common: they did not live very long lives. Composer Franz Schubert died at 31. Scientist Blaise Pascal died before he was 40.

Even though there has been a fascination with child prodigies for centuries, there has been little serious study of them until recently. Some surprising common characteristics have been identified. The vast majority are boys. They are usually first-born children of middle-class families. Often, their parents are past the usual child bearing age. Many are born by Caesarean section rather than by natural childbirth. They often have parents who seem to be trying to realize their own ambitions through their amazing children.

Those who have studied today's prodigies closely have observed that they often live under the great weight of their loneliness. In school with children their own age they may become bored or frustrated, and simply turn off learning completely.

Many children, as they enter adolescence, begin to turn to other teenagers for affection, encouragement, and a sense of belonging. This can be a very difficult time in the lives of prodigies. They know they are different, and other teenagers know it, too.

And although many prodigies enjoy the satisfaction of extraordinary achievement, public praise, and material wealth, even the most successful sometimes question the value of their lives and accomplishments. "I have a longing which grows stronger as I get older," confess the acclaimed American concert pianist Eugene Istomin, "to be mediocre".