Growth Mindset

Which of the following BEST states the central idea of the article?

• Whether a person is smart is a fixed characteristic someone is born with.
• The brain grows weak when we don’t use it.
• Neurons make connections between parts of the brain.
• Our brains are like muscles and can grow stronger when we practice and learn.

Which TWO pieces of evidence BEST support the correct answer to number 1?

• “Many people believe that a person is born either smart, average or not as smart and stays that way for life.”
• “when they practice and learn new things, parts of their brains get larger a lot like muscles do”
• “almost all babies learn to speak their parents’ language in the first few years of life.”
• “the more a person learns, the easier it gets to learn new things.”

How does the image “Effect of an Enriched Environment” help to develop the central idea of the text?

• It shows why toys are needed.
• It shows how the brains of animals that play with toys and other animals are more active and have better neuron connections.
• It shows how toys hurt the brain development of children.
• It shows how the neuron connections of children change over time.

According to the author, how does practice make the brain stronger?

• Practice causes temporary changes in the brain.
• Practice makes the brain heavier.
• Practice gives the brain the space to learn new things.
• Practice permanently changes the brain, making stronger connections between neurons.

According to the author, why do many people give up trying to learn new things?

• They have low self-esteem.
• They are unable to learn new things.
• They think new things are too challenging to learn.
• They have filled their brains to capacity.