Real-Life Super Children 得天獨厚的小神童們

　　We all have talents, skills, and things we are especially good at doing. However, some youngsters have developed amazing abilities that average people just can't compare with. Child prodigies are able to understand and do difficult tasks at an adult level, even though they are much younger. One example is Mozart, who started composing his own music when he was only five years old. Most children at his age are only learning the basics of playing the piano.
　　One reason child prodigies are able to learn so well is because of their memory. They use long-term memory more often, which keeps information in their minds for a longer duration. By doing this, they learn how things are connected better and build knowledge on top of knowledge. It has also been found that the strong emotions they have for the things they love excite the cerebellum. This makes it easy for information to come in rapidly and be stored quickly.
　　It has always been questioned whether these children are naturally born geniuses or if it is because of their environment. The answer is both. Some child prodigies learn all on their own, while others are pushed and trained from a young age.


 
Words & Phrases
  1. average a. 平常的，一般的
    Unlike the average girl, Mindy prefers building model cars instead of playing with dolls.
    不同於一般女孩，敏蒂比較喜歡組裝汽車模型，而不是玩洋娃娃。
  2. not compare with...　　比不上……
    The bagels in Chicago just don't compare with the ones you get in New York City.
    芝加哥的貝果就是比不上紐約市裡頭賣的。
  3. compose vt. 作（曲、詩等）
    Emily composes poems based on what she sees in nature.
    艾蜜莉根據她在大自然中所觀察到的事物來寫詩。
  4. the basics of...　　……的入門∕基礎
    Ted watched a few videos on YouTube to learn the basics of photography.
    泰德藉由觀看 YouTube 上的一些影片來學習攝影的基礎。
  5. duration n. 持續時間
    for the duration of...　　在……的期間
    Wilson had to stay in the hospital for the duration of the medical treatment.
    威爾森在治療期間都必須住在醫院裡。
  6. excite vt. 使（器官、神經等）活動；刺激
    Studies show that playing mahjong can excite older people's brains.
    研究顯示打麻將可以活化老年人的腦部。
  7. rapidly adv. 急速地，很快地
    The disease is highly contagious and spreading rapidly across the country.
    這個疾病具有高度傳染力，很快就蔓延了全國。
    * contagious a. 有感染性的
  8. store vt. 儲存，貯藏
    Chocolate needs to be stored in a cool place, or else it will melt.
    巧克力必須存放於陰涼處，否則會融化。
Extra Words
  1. youngster n. 小孩；年輕人
  2. child prodigy　n. 神童
    prodigy n. 天才
  3. cerebellum n. 小腦
  4. genius n. 天才
     
Tips in Use


用 whether 或 if 所引導的名詞子句
本文"...whether children are naturally born geniuses or if it is because of their environment." 一句中，whether 和 if 皆為表『是否』的連接詞，但用法稍有不同：

1. 在 whether 引導的名詞子句中，or not 可省略，亦可將 or not 置於 whether 之後。
I don't know whether the boss will love the idea (or not).
= I don't know whether (or not) the boss will love the idea.
（我不知道老闆是否會喜歡那個點子。）
2. whether 引導的名詞子句作及物動詞的受詞時，whether 可用 if 代替，句子最後的 or not 可省略，亦可置於 whether 之後，但不可置於 if 之後。
We don't know if or not the missing climber is still alive. (╳)
→ We don't know if the missing climber is still alive (or not). (○)
= We don't know whether the missing climber is still alive (or not).
= We don't know whether (or not) the missing climber is still alive.
（我們不曉得失蹤的登山客是否還活著。）
＊ 根據上述，本文可有下列的改寫：
...whether/if children are naturally born geniuses or whether/if it is because of their environment.

3. 僅有 whether 可用以引導名詞子句作主詞或介詞的受詞，if 則不可。
If he will come or not isn't known. (╳)
→ Whether he will come (or not) isn't known. (○)
但: It isn't known if/whether he will come. (○)
（他是否會來還不知道。）
 
中文翻譯＆標準答案


　　我們都具有某些天份、技能，以及我們特別擅長做的事情。不過， 有些人年紀輕輕就發展出一般人所比不上的驚人能力。神童們雖然年紀小得多，但卻能以成人的程度去理解並執行困難的任務。其中一例即為年僅五歲就開始作曲的 莫札特。大部分他那個年齡的孩童都還只是在學習彈鋼琴的基礎而已。
　　這些神童之所以學習能力這麼強，其中一個原因就是他們的記憶力。他們較常使用能讓資料停留在腦中較久時間的長期記憶。藉由如此，他們學會如何讓各種事 物能更加地連結在一起，並能在既有的知識上累積更多知識。研究還發現他們對於喜愛事物的強烈情感會刺激小腦。這使得資訊能很容易地快速進入腦中並立刻儲 存。
　　一直有人懷疑這些神童到底是天生的天才，還是他們的環境所造就。答案是兩者皆是。有些神童全靠自己學習，而其他則是很小就被人鞭策學習和訓練。

資料來源：常春藤電子報

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