Human intelligence

High school (ages 12+)
Thinking & Learning

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/human-intelligence

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What makes the human brain special compared to other animals?Humans can think about their own thinking, use complex language, and build on knowledge over generations. These abilities come from a big, reorganized brain called the neocortex.
2. How did our brain grow bigger and smarter over millions of years?Early humans made tools, which made them use their hands more and solve problems. Making and using tools helped the brain grow, and learning language helped it grow even more.

Executive Functions: A set of mental skills that help you get things done: managing time, paying attention, and switching focus.
Neuroplasticity: The brain's ability to change and adapt by forming new neural connections throughout life.
Psychometrics: The field of study concerned with the theory and technique of psychological measurement.