The idea that some groups of people may be more intelligent than others is one of those hypotheses that dare not speak its name. But Gregory Cochran is 1 to say it anyway. He is that 2 bird, a scientist who works independently 3 any institution. He helped popularize the idea that some diseases not 4 thought to have a bacterial cause were actually infections, which aroused much controversy when it was first suggested.

5 he, however, might tremble at the 6 of what he is about to do. Together with another two scientists, he is publishing a paper which not only 7 that one group of humanity is more intelligent than the others, but explains the process that has brought this about. The group in 8 is a particular people originated from central Europe. The process is natural selection.

This group generally does well in IQ test, 9 12-15 points above the 10 value of 100, and have contributed 11 to the intellectual and cultural life of the West, as the 12 of their elites, including several world-renowned scientists, 13 . They also suffer more often than most people from a number of nasty genetic diseases, such as breast cancer. These facts, 14 , have previously been thought unrelated. The former has been 15 to social effects, such as a strong tradition of 16 education. The latter was seen as a (an) 17 of genetic isolation. Dr. Cochran suggests that the intelligence and diseases are intimately 18 . His argument is that the unusual history of these people has 19 them to unique evolutionary pressures that have resulted in this 20 state of affairs.

1. ［A］ selected［B］prepared［C］ obliged［D］ pleased

2. ［A］ unique［B］particular［C］ special［D］ rare

3. ［A］ of［B］with［C］ in［D］ against

4. ［A］ subsequently［B］presently［C］ previously［D］ lately

5. ［A］ Only［B］ So［C］ Even［D］ Hence

6. ［A］ thought［B］sight［C］ cost［D］ risk

7. ［A］ advises［B］suggests［C］ protests［D］ objects

8. ［A］ progress［B］fact［C］ need［D］ question

9. ［A］ attaining［B］common［C］ mean［D］ calculating

10. ［A］ normal［B］common［C］ mean［D］ total

11. ［A］ unconsciously［B］disproportionately［C］ indefinitely［D］ unaccountably

12. ［A］ missions［B］fortunes［C］ interests［D］ careers

13. ［A］ affirm［B］witness［C］ observe［D］ approve

14. ［A］ moreover［B］therefore［C］ however［D］ meanwhile

15. ［A］ given up［B］got over［C］ carried on［D］ put down

16. ［A］ assessing［B］supervising［C］ administering［D］ valuing

17. ［A］ development［B］origin［C］ consequence［D］instrument

18. ［A］ linked［B］integrated［C］ woven［D］ combined

19. ［A］ limited［B］subjected［C］ converted［D］ directed

20. ［A］ paradoxical［B］incompatible［C］ inevitable［D］ continuous

文章背景

這是一篇介紹個人學術觀點的說明文，文章內(nèi)容主要圍繞一部分人是否比另外一部分人聰明這個主題展開。該文原文刊登在2005年6月2日的《經(jīng)濟學人》雜志上，原文的標題是The Evolution of Intelligence(智力的進化)，命題專家對原文進行了一定的簡化，但是意思沒有發(fā)生絲毫的變化。

文章結構

文章采用了總分的敘述方式，文章第一段的前兩句話就是文章敘述的主題，全片文章圍繞這個主題展開。

第一段：

The idea that some groups of people may be more intelligent than others is one of those hypotheses that dare not speak its name. But Gregory Cochran is 1 to say it anyway.（總述）

第二段：

Together with another two scientists, he is publishing a paper which not only 7 that one group of humanity is more intelligent than the others, but explains the process that has brought this about.（分述）

第三段：

This group generally does well in IQ test…

They also suffer more often than most people from a number of nasty genetic diseases…

His argument is that the unusual history of these people has 19 them to unique evolutionary pressures that have resulted in this 20 state of affairs.