能否学好数学由基因决定 与智商无关

　　Innate talent? New research shows that there is a link between an in-built 'number sense' and maths ability If you struggle with figures, you were probably born that way, research has suggested. Being good at mathematics may be entirely pre-destined – you either have it or you don’t. And those who find the numbers never add up shouldn’t feel too dim – mathematical talent does not appear to be linked to all-round intelligence.

　　还在为自己的孩子的“奥数成绩”而苦恼么？还在花重金培养孩子的数学运算能力么？最新研究表明，孩子学数学的好坏程度与后天培养并无直接关系，一切都是老天注定的，基因决定的，也就是说，孩子数学好不好，一生下来就已经注定了。那些数学不好的孩子们千万别灰心丧气，因为数学不好与智力无关。

　　Previous research has indicated that ‘number sense’ is basic to humans. We use it to estimate such things as the number of seats in a cinema or crowd sizes. U.S. psychologists at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore made their finding after testing children too young to have been taught mathematics. During the study, 200 four-year-olds viewed flashing groups of blue and yellow dots on a computer screen and were asked which colour was shown the most. The children then had to count items on a page, determine which of two numbers was greater or lesser, as well as read numbers. They were also tested on calculation skills, such as multiplication. The participants’ parents were then asked about their child’s vocabulary.

　　之前的许多研究报告将所谓的“数字能力”与人类的智力程度联系在一起，我们用“数字感觉”来计算在我们身边的所有可以用来做算术题的东西，比如说电影院的座椅等等。然而，来自Johns Hopkins大学的心理学家却认为我们让我们的孩子过早接触数学，有一项针对200名年仅4岁儿童的研究测试了儿童的“数字能力”与“语言能力”之间的关系。

　　The verbal test was done because language and maths abilities are thought to be linked through general intelligence. The researchers wanted to be sure success in maths was not part of an ability to perform better in all sorts of tasks or to some children feeling more comfortable being tested than others.

　　这项研究在“数字能力”与“语言能力”之间在已经被认定两者与智力关系密切的情况下提供相应的反证，研究人员希望能证明数学好的人并不是在任何方面都能取得优秀的成绩，虽然，在高中文理科分班有一条不成文的道理，那就是所谓的----理转文轻而易举，文科要是想转理科那就是难于上青天了。