If you were to examine the birth certificates of every soccer player in 2006s World Cup tournament, you would most likely find a noteworthy quirk: elite soccer players are more likely to have been born in the earlier months of the year than in the later months. If you then examined the European national youth teams that feed the World Cup and professional ranks, you would find this strange phenomenon to be even more pronounced.
What might account for this strange phenomenon? Here are a few guesses: a) certain astrological signs confer superior soccer skills; b) winter-born babies tend to have higher oxygen capacity, which increases soccer stamina; c) soccer-mad parents are more likely to conceive children in springtime, at the annual peak of soccer mania; d) none of the above.
Anders Ericsson, a 58-year-old psychology professor at Florida State University, says he believes strongly in none of the above. Ericsson grew up in Sweden, and studied nuclear engineering until he realized he would have more opportunity to conduct his own research if he switched to psychology. His first experiment, nearly 30 years ago, involved memory: training a person to hear and then repeat a random series of numbers. With the first subject, after about 20 hours of training, his digit span had risen from 7 to 20, Ericsson recalls. He kept improving, and after about 200 hours of training he had risen to over 80 numbers.
This success, coupled with later research showing that memory itself is not genetically determined, led Ericsson to conclude that the act of memorizing is more of a cognitive exercise than an intuitive one. In other words, whatever inborn differences two people may exhibit in their abilities to memorize, those differences are swamped by how well each person encodes the information. And the best way to learn how to encode information meaningfully, Ericsson determined, was a process known as deliberate practice. Deliberate practice entails more than simply repeating a task. Rather, it involves setting specific goals, obtaining immediate feedback and concentrating as much on technique as on outcome.
Ericsson and his colleagues have thus taken to studying expert performers in a wide range of pursuits, including soccer. They gather all the data they can, not just performance statistics and biographical details but also the results of their own laboratory experiments with high achievers. Their work makes a rather startling assertion: the trait we commonly call talent is highly overrated. Or, put another way, expert performers whether in memory or surgery, ballet or computer programming are nearly always made, not born.
1. The birthday phenomenon found among soccer players is mentioned to
A. stress the importance of professional training.
B. spotlight the soccer superstars in the World Cup.
C. introduce the topic of what makes expert performance.
D. explain why some soccer teams play better than others.
2. The word mania most probably means
A. fun.
B. craze.
C. hysteria.
D. excitement.
3. According to Ericsson, good memory
A. depends on meaningful processing of information.
B. results from intuitive rather than cognitive exercises.
C. is determined by genetic rather than psychological factors.
D. requires immediate feedback and a high degree of concentration.
4. Ericsson and his colleagues believe that
A. talent is a dominating factor for professional success.
B. biographical data provide the key to excellent performance.
C. the role of talent tends to be overlooked.
D. high achievers owe their success mostly to nurture.
5. Which of the following proverbs is closest to the message the text tries to convey?
A. Faith will move mountains.
B. One reaps what one sows.
C. Practice makes perfect.
D. Like father, like son.
1.C
2.B
3.D
4.D
5.C
上一篇: 考研英语翻译讲词析句(19)
下一篇: 考研英语翻译讲词析句(38)
喜欢吃甜食?科学家找到了抑制想吃甜食的方法
国内英语资讯:Xi arrives in Senegal for state visit
嫁入王室2个月,梅根口音竟变成标准英英?
体坛英语资讯:Mainz sign defender Niakhate from FC Metz
国际英语资讯:Angolan FM calls for free movement in Portuguese-speaking countries
“帮我翻译个东西吧”——“给钱吗兄dei?”
打败扎克伯格,21岁的她才是世界最年轻的亿万富翁
体坛英语资讯:Chinese shuttlers secure quarterfinal berths at Indonesia Open
国际英语资讯:Zimbabwean President Mnangagwa preaches peace ahead of election
娱乐英语资讯:Mongolian baritone wins Chigiana Prize
如何对付说话不算话的老板
国际英语资讯:Trump, Putin content with summit despite lack of concrete results
李娜,一个退役体育巨星的影响力范本
体坛英语资讯:Real Madrid: No agreement for French ace Mbappe
体坛英语资讯:Costa Rica coach Ramirez becomes latest World Cup managerial casualty
研究表明走路快的人比走路慢的人寿命长
国内英语资讯:Seminar opens in Xinjiang for senior editors from Silk Road Economic Belt countries
国内英语资讯:Interview: China-EU summit consolidates momentum of improvement in ties: ambassador
体坛英语资讯:Preview: Uruguay, France meet in battle of contrasting styles
My travel plan 我的旅游计划
国际英语资讯:Libyan navy rescues 158 illegal immigrants off western coast
国内英语资讯:Chinese state councilor meets WHO director-general
如果你总是盯着手机,这些方法可以缓解眼睛疲劳
体坛英语资讯:Hierro steps down as Spain boss
有哪些很有用的街头智慧
When I Group Up 当我长大后
国内英语资讯:China refutes US accusations of violating WTO rules
国内英语资讯:Chinese president meets Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi on China-UAE ties
国际英语资讯:Israel strikes 2 Hamas positions, retaliating burning kites
永远别对自恋狂说这些话