[originaltext]M: Mrs. Wolper, why is it that some children perform much better

M: Mrs. Wolper, why is it that some children perform much better than others at school?
W: Obviously, it can’t be denied that certain children are brighter than others, but it’s not as simple as that. A lot of emphasis is placed on intelligence measured by tests—so-called IQ tests, which only measure certain types of intelligence.
M: Such as?
W: Basically linguistic and numerical skills, or reading and mathematics, which is unfortunate because some children are bound to suffer. A good example was a friend of mine’s son who was kept out of the top class at school because of his average IQ. His father, though he had no idea his son was going to be an architect, always said he was a clever child. Apparently he was able to picture things in his mind and draw accurately at a very early age. The point is that his university life might not have been so difficult if his ability had been recognized sooner.
M: What you’re saying, then, is that some children have ability that is not easy to measure, that aren’t appreciated by many schools.
W: Precisely. And if these skills are not spotted sufficiently early, they can’t be developed. That’s why there are so many unhappy adults in the world. They are not doing the things they are best at.
M: What are these other kinds of intelligence, and how can we recognize them in our children?
W: Well, take musical talent as an example. Many children never get the chance to learn to play an instrument but, while they might not become great artists or composers, they may get a lot of pleasure and satisfaction. Musically gifted children are fascinated by all kinds of sounds—car horns, animal noises and so on. And they can easily recognize tunes and sing them in key.
M: How can a parent encourage them?
W: Sing to them and teach them new songs. Buy a piano or even a cheap instrument such as a recorder. If you can afford it, send them to lessons as soon as possible. Play records of different instruments to them.
M: What about a child who is good at sport or other things? I’m so sorry because our time is almost up, could you please make a brief summary?
W: Hardly anyone is good at everything. So in my opinion, a child should be judged on his individual talents. After all, being happy in life is putting your skills to good use, no matter what they are.
19. According to the talk, what is Mrs. Wolper?
20. What is IQ test?
21. How are musically gifted children different from others?
22. According to Mrs. Wolper, what is the correct attitude towards a child’s talent?