2015考研英语阅读集中练Whos the Smart Sibling_大学英语阅读

2015考研英语阅读集中练Whos the Smart Sibling

　　Meanwhile, many of the studies showing a birth-order pattern in IQ have a big, fat,methodological flaw. The Norwegian Science study is an example, says Cleveland: It s comparing Bill, the first child in one family; to Bob, the second child in another family. That would be fine if all families were identical, but of course they aren t. The study controls for variables such as parental education and family size. But Rodgers, the Oklahoma professor,notes that there are hundreds of other factors in play; and because it s so hard to discount all of them, he s not sure whether the patterns in the Science article are real.

　　No one is more sensitive to that criticism than the Norwegian scientists. In fact, they already have an answer ready in the form of a second paper. Soon to be published in the journal Intelligence, it s, similar to the Science study except for one big thing: instead of comparing Bill to Bob, it compares Bill to younger brothers Barry and Barney. The same birth- order pattern shows up: the firstborns, on average, score about two points higher than their secondborn brothers, and hapless thirdborns do even worse. The purpose of the two papers was exactly the same, says Petter Kristensen of Norway s National Institute of Occupational Health, who led both new studies. But this second one is much more comprehensive, and in a sense it s better than the Science paper. The data are there--within families, birth order really does seem linked to brain power. Even the critics have to soften their positions a little. The Intelligence study must be taken very seriously says Rodgers.