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PASSAGE 2

Read the text and answer questions 14-26

IQ Scores

How they are changing and what the changes mean

A Studies from numerous countries suggest that IQ scores have been rising fast since at least the 1950s – enough to mean that someone with an IQ classed as average at that time could be labelled as having low intelligence today. However, psychologists disagree about what the upward trend in scores really means. Some researchers argue that people are not getting more intelligent overall, but just getting better at a particular sort of problem solving. Others say they have found echoes of rising IQ scores in 'real world' measures of intelligence. To confuse things still more, there are hints that the trend may be about to grind to a halt.

B James Flynn, a professor of political science, first showed that IQ scores were rising in the mid-1980s, and became famous after others dubbed the pattern he had observed the Flynn effect. In a landmark paper he made detailed comparisons across fourteen countries of trends in the results of tests that measure reasoning power. Overall, these showed a real growth in scores of up to 25 points in a generation. To find out more, Flynn went on to look at scores for each type of reasoning that IQ tests set out to measure, such as verbal, numerical and visuo-spatial. This last category usually includes 'Raven's matrices' – sequential patterns with one piece missing. The task is to choose the missing piece from several options. Looking at the scores, the pattern was clear. The strongest gains in almost every case were on Raven's matrices and similar tests, while verbal and arithmetical scores showed more modest rises. Since presenting his original paper, Flynn has looked at data from further countries and found the same upward trend, with the same skills responsible for most of the increase.

C Flynn feels that his eponymous effect is meaningful, but does not interpret it as evidence that people are becoming cleverer. "Our grandparents were not retarded and we are not geniuses," he says. More likely we have simply developed the skills and habits of mind that make us better at solving abstract problems, and – just as importantly – we take such problems seriously. Flynn believes that demands on visuo-spatial abilities have grown because of TV, computers and modern education, which may explain why these problem-solving skills develop faster than other skills. >> 🔥 Form đăng kí giải đề thi thật IELTS 4 kĩ năng kèm bài giải bộ đề 100 đề PART 2 IELTS SPEAKING quý đang thi (update hàng tuần) từ IELTS TUTOR

D Other researchers have taken a different view. Psychologist Robert Howard, for example, argues that the Flynn effect reflects a genuine increase in intelligence. He points to what he calls the "cultural multiplier effect" – the idea that a small increase in cognitive ability in one generation can lead to a much larger increase in the next, as brighter people create more intellectually demanding environments for their children. Howard also notes that rising IQ scores correlate with real-world measures such as increased scientific discovery, technological innovation, and economic productivity. In his view, the Flynn effect is not just a curiosity of psychometrics but a genuine reflection of human cognitive advancement.

E However, recent research has complicated the picture. Thomas Teasdale, a psychologist at the University of Copenhagen, analysed IQ scores from Danish military conscripts tested between 1959 and 2004. He found that scores rose steadily until the late 1990s, but then began to plateau and even decline slightly. Similar patterns have emerged in Norway, Britain, and other countries. Teasdale suggests that the long-term rise in IQ scores may have reached its natural limit. "You cannot go on getting brighter forever," he says. "There may be a ceiling effect, beyond which further gains are impossible." This finding has sparked debate about whether the Flynn effect is ending and what might replace it.

F The causes of the Flynn effect remain hotly contested. Some researchers emphasise environmental factors such as improved nutrition, better healthcare, and smaller family sizes, which allow more parental attention per child. Others point to the spread of formal education and the increasing complexity of everyday life. A child growing up in the 21st century is surrounded by abstract symbols, graphs, maps, and digital interfaces that would have been unfamiliar to previous generations. This constant cognitive stimulation may exercise the same mental muscles that IQ tests measure. Still others suggest that genetic changes could be at work, though most researchers consider this unlikely given the short timescale involved.

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G Whatever the explanation, the Flynn effect has profound implications for how we understand intelligence. It challenges the notion that IQ measures a fixed, innate capacity. Instead, it suggests that intelligence is malleable and responsive to environmental conditions. This has practical consequences for education and social policy. If IQ can be boosted by environmental interventions, then investments in early childhood education, nutrition, and healthcare may have lasting cognitive benefits. At the same time, the recent plateau in scores warns us that these gains are not automatic. Maintaining and increasing cognitive abilities may require sustained effort and attention.

H The debate over the Flynn effect is far from settled. Flynn himself remains cautious, warning against over-interpreting the data. "The rise in IQ scores is real, but its meaning is complex," he says. "We need to understand that intelligence is not a single thing but a bundle of different abilities, and they can change in different ways." As researchers continue to gather data and refine their theories, the Flynn effect reminds us that human intelligence is not a static quantity but a dynamic and evolving characteristic, shaped by the world we create for ourselves and for our children.

Questions 14–18

Look at the following statements (Questions 14–18) and the list of people below.
Match each statement with the correct person, A, B, C or D.
Write the correct letter, A, B, C or D, in boxes 14–18 on your answer sheet.

NB You may use any letter more than once.

1. Modern technology has influenced some aspects of human intelligence.

2. IQ scores may not have attained their natural limit.

3. The rise in IQ scores does not mean people are becoming more intelligent overall.

4. There is evidence that IQ scores have recently stopped rising in some countries.

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List of People

Questions 19–22

Complete the summary below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 19–22 on your answer sheet.

The Flynn effect refers to the observation that IQ scores have been 19 __________ since at least the 1950s. James Flynn found that the strongest gains were in tests measuring 20 __________ abilities, such as Raven's matrices, while verbal and numerical scores showed smaller increases. Flynn believes this is because modern life, including television and computers, demands more abstract 21 __________. However, recent research by Thomas Teasdale suggests that scores have begun to 22 __________ in some countries, possibly reaching a natural ceiling.

Questions 23–26

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.
Write your answers in boxes 23–26 on your answer sheet.

1. What did James Flynn's original research compare?
   A. IQ scores of children and their parents
   B. Trends in reasoning test results across fourteen countries
   C. The effectiveness of different types of IQ tests
   D. The relationship between education and intelligence

2. According to section F, which factor is mentioned as a possible cause of rising IQ scores?
   A. Genetic changes within the population
   B. Increased complexity of everyday life
   C. Reduced exposure to digital technology
   D. Larger family sizes

3. What implication of the Flynn effect is mentioned in section G?
   A. Intelligence is fixed and cannot be changed.
   B. Environmental interventions may improve cognitive abilities.
   C. IQ tests are no longer useful for measuring intelligence.
   D. Education has no impact on problem-solving skills.

4. What is James Flynn's overall conclusion about the rise in IQ scores?
   A. It proves that modern generations are inherently smarter.
   B. It is an illusion caused by flawed testing methods.
   C. It is real but complex, reflecting changes in different abilities.
   D. It will continue indefinitely as technology advances.

14. A
15. D
16. A
17. C
18. B
19. rising
20. visuo-spatial
21. problems
22. plateau
23. B
24. B
25. B
26. C
 

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