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GETTING READY. GETTING READY. GETTING READY. GETTING READY. VOCABULARY DRILL. EXPRESSION PRACTICE. EXPRESSION PRACTICE. EXPRESSION PRACTICE. READING─PRE-READING TASK.
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READING─PRE-READING TASK mental feats /developmental disorder / aptitude for musicsevere brain damage / unbelievable calculations / mysterious organ a. What are some unusual side effects of severe brain injuries? b. Can all people with an aptitude for music do fast calculations? c. Why will the body’s most mysterious organ never be fully understood? d. What questions are most commonly discussed by doctors regarding the brain? e. What are some surprising talents that people with disorders have?
READING Disabilities and Genius Even after years of being studied, the brain continues to hold many secrets. One mystery is why some people who struggle to complete simple tasks are able to perform mental feats that would challenge even the most intelligent. These individuals may hold the key to discovering how the brain can be trained to work at its best. P.45
READING * sonar: a system that uses sound waves to find the position of objects Disabilities and Genius P.45 Ellen Boudreaux was blind by four months old and was later diagnosed with autism, a developmental disorder. It took her until the age of four to learn how to walk. Soon after, she taught herself to determine where obstacles are by making sounds as she moves. Doctors postulate that her amazing sense of hearing combined with the sounds she makes create a type of sonar*, like what bats use to fly at night. Her extraordinary hearing has also given her an aptitude for music. By using her ability to recognize different tones, she has mastered several instruments. She can recall any song that she hears and then play it perfectly.
READING Disabilities and Genius P.45 When Kim Peek was born, he had such severe brain damage that it was believed he could never live independently. This ended up being partly true. While he was alive, Kim had difficulty with physical movements, such as buttoning his shirt; however, he had reading powers that can only be described as miraculous. When Kim read, he read one page with his left eye and one with his right eye. What’s even more impressive is that he could remember everything he read. He could recall the content of at least 12,000 books from memory!
READING * seizure: a condition in which one’s body moves uncontrollably for a short time Disabilities and Genius Although he wasn’t diagnosed with autism until the age of 25, Daniel Tammet started showing signs of remarkable genius after a series of childhood seizures*. Daniel can relate colors, shapes, and textures to every number. To him, these figures look like beautiful landscapes, which makes it easy for him to do unbelievable calculations in his head. He claims that 333 is the most attractive number. Additionally, Daniel can learn languages with bewildering ease. Once, Daniel was challenged to learn a language in a week. He learned the language so well that a native speaker successfully interviewed him at the end of the week. These geniuses are examples of why the brain is such a mysterious organ. If scientists can find the reasons behind the vast variations in mental abilities, they will achieve great things in the future. P.45
READING ‧ Discussion ‧ Helen Keller was struck deaf and blind after falling ill as a child. Despite this, she learned to speak and “hear” by touching others’ lips as they spoke and later became a motivational speaker. Whom do you consider more talented: someone who is born with impressive natural abilities or someone who works hard to reach their goals? Do you know any related inspirational stories?
READING ─AFTER YOU READ A. Complete the Sentences Fill in the blanks with words from the article. Use the hints to help you. diagnosed 1. She was _____________ with breast cancer, but fortunately it was discovered at an early stage. (identify an illness) 2. The illusionist made a(n) _____________ underwater escape from a locked box. (unbelievable) 3. It has been _____________ that a person’s height is an inherited trait. (suggest) 4. You can find a(n) _____________ array of information about interior design online. (confusing) 5. The musician showed a natural _____________ for mastering musical instruments and composing difficult pieces at a young age. (capacity) 6. Some people who suffer from eating _____________ frequently experience depression. (disease) P.40 miraculous P.41 postulated P.42 bewildering P.43 aptitude disorders
READING ─AFTER YOU READ B. Make Inferences Check the statements that the writer would most likely agree with about each person. Ellen Boudreaux v v Kim Peek v v Daniel Tammet v v
READING ─AFTER YOU READ C. Multiple Choice Circle the answers. 1. What is the reason for Ellen’s fantastic musical abilities? a. She learned music to fight off boredom. b. She can hear individual sounds distinctly. c. Her parents are celebrated musicians. d. She knows how far sound travels. 2. What is NOT said about Kim? a. He could read two pages simultaneously. b. He was unable to fasten his clothing. c. It was easier for him to memorize facts that he found fascinating. d. Kim could answer perplexing questions about things he had read.
READING ─AFTER YOU READ C. Multiple Choice Circle the answers. 3. Why is Daniel able to do complicated calculations so easily? a. Daniel’s brain perceives a link between numbers and other elements. b. He has memorized thousands of calculations, so he recalls them easily. c. The answers come to him during seizures. d. He relates numbers to different sounds. 4. Which of the following statements is TRUE? a. Only people that have difficulties will excel at certain tasks. b. For a brain to function abnormally, it must be damaged in early childhood. c. It won’t be long before the mysteries of the brain are solved. d. Research still needs to be done to discover the brain’s full potential.
