Many companies may be cutting expenses as much as possible, but arts sponsorship is doing

ty, although most of us can recognize genius when we see it or hear it. (1)By contrast intelligence is possibly easier to quantify and like genius is a polygenic character that can be moulded by the environment. Intelligence is a qualitative trait, which does have a genetic component, but we should not assume that it has a single dimension of expression. (2)There are several limitations in measuring intelligence by a linear scale ranging from dull to bright, since individuals differ greatly in their genotypes. Any number of gene combination may predispose an individual to musical genius, or to painting, or to designing computer programs, etc. The possession of any one of these abilities may or may not be associated with another. Moreover, the same genotype may be expressed in markedly different ways in markedly different environments. (3)For example, intelligence quotient test scores vary considerably with illness and disease, educational, social and economic levels—even the skin color of the examiner conducting the IQ test may have a significant effect! There is also difficulty in deciding what intelligence should be applied to. Is it the ability to learn? Is it related to the enquiring mind or to motivation? Consequently comparisons between an IQ test given to a University .student and to an Aborigine in Australia will give meaningless results, since the test is most unlikely to measure the same behavior. (4)Not only are the genotypes and the environments of these two individuals totally different, but their motivations for achievement in particular activities will be different.

Indeed, as some articles which deal with the problems mentioned above show, people who believe they can estimate genetic and environmental contributions to differences in intelligence between races are statistically naive. (5)If some races or social groups in the human population can be shown to be inferior in intelligence, it opens up the possibility that some segregationists or politicians could bring in legislation or policies to suppress or even eliminate such races or groups in the population. History certainly shows that this suggestion is quite likely when ruthless individuals are in positions of power. Can you see why the false scientific conclusions could become dangerous socially and politically?

Notes:

polymeric: having many genes

mould: to shape or form.

linear: of lines

genotypes: types of gene

(6)

材料一 1931年这一年因一显著特征而不同于“战后”前几年，也不同于“战前”前几年。1931年，世界各地所有的人都在认真地思考并坦率地议论着西方的社会制度也许会失败和不再起作用的可能性。

阿诺德.J.汤因比

大萧条的影响和意义因苏联的几个五年计划而增大。在西方的经济确实一团糟的同时，苏联正在继续进行经济发展方面的独特实验。虽然五年计划伴有严厉的压制和民众的穷困，但实质上是成功的。

(选自斯塔夫里阿诺斯《全球通史》)

材料二

①与资本主义各国在1929年生产规模比较。

(选自王斯德主编《世界现代史参考资料》)

请回答：

(1)材料一中的“显著特征”是指什么?为什么人们在1931年对西方的社会制度表示怀疑?

(2)如何理解“实质上是成功的”?为什么苏联几乎没有受到大萧条的影响?

(3)简述1931年大萧条发生的根源(原因)和特点。