TEXT B
What we know of prenatal development makes all this attempt made by a mother
to mold the character of her unborn child by studying poetry, art, or
mathematics during pregnancy seem utterly impossible. How could
such extremely complex influences pass from the mother to the child? There is
no connection between theirnervous systems. Even the blood vessels of mother and
child do not join directly. An emotional shock to themother will affect her
child, because it changes the activity of her glands and so the chemistry her
blood. Any chemical change in the mother's blood will affect the child for
better or worse. But we can not see how a looking
for mathematics or poetic genius can be dissolved in blood and produce a
similar liking or genius in the child.
In our discussion of instincts we saw that there was reason to believe that
whatever we inherit must be of
some very simple sort rather than any complicated or very definite kind of
behavior. It is certain that no one
inherits a knowledge of mathematics. It may be, however, that children
inherit more or less of a rather general
ability that we may call intelligence. If very intelligent children become
deeply interested in mathematics, they
will probably make a success of that study.
As for musical ability, it may be that what is inherited is an especially
sensitive ear, a peculiar structure of the
hands or the vocal organs connections between nerves and muscles that make it
comparatively easy to learn the
movements a musician must execute, and particularly vigorous emotions. If
these factors are all organized
around music, the child may become a musician. The same factors, in other
circumstance might be organized
about some other center of interest. The rich emotional equipment might find
expression in poetry. The capable
fingers might develop skill in surgery. It is not the knowledge of music that
is inherited, then nor even the love of
it, but a certain bodily structure that makes it comparatively easy to
acquire musical knowledge and skill.
Whether that ability shall be directed toward music or some other undertaking
may be decided entirely by forces
in the environment in which a child grows up.
6.Which of the following statements is not true?
A. Some mothers try to influence their unborn children by studying art and
other subjects during their
pregnancy.
B. It is utterly impossible for us to learn anything about prenatal
development.
C. The blood vessels of mother and child do not join directly.
D. There are no connection between mother's nervous systems and her unborn
child's.
7.A mother will affect her unborn baby on the condition that ____.
A. she is emotionally shocked
B.she has a good knowledge of inheritance
C. she takes part in all kind of activities
D. she sticks to studying
8.According to the passage, a child may inherit____.
A. everything from his mother B. a knowledge of mathematics
C. a rather general ability that we call intelligence
D. her mother's musical ability
9.If a child inherits something from his mother, such as an especially
sensitive ear, a peculiar structure of the
hands or of the vocal organs, he will ____.
A. surely become musician
B. mostly become a poet
C. possibly become a teacher
D. become a musician on the condition that all these factors are organized
around music
10.Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A. Role of Inheritance.
B. An Unborn Child.
C. Function of instincts.
D. Inherited Talents.
