Different abilities

Multiple intelligences

Human abilities are extremely varied. The following text will show you why some humans can do certain things that others can’t.

CHECK EXERCISE

Read the text and decide if the following statements are True, False or Doesn´t say.

Some people can remember faces, but no names. Other people can’t remember phone numbers. Some people can write very well, but others can’t. Some people can learn things by movement, but they can’t learn just by hearing things. That doesn’t mean they are not intelligent. This is because humans have what scientists call “multiple intelligences”. They explain that human intelligence has different abilities. Some of these intelligences are: kinesthetic that involves movement. People are good at sports, dancing, acting and making things. Verbal that involves words and speech. People are good at reading, writing, telling stories and memorizing words. Mathematical that involves numbers. People can get cause and effect relationships easily. Musical that involves melody, rhythm and harmony. People can sing, play instruments or compose music. Visual spatial that involves the use of graphs, pictures, maps, etc. People can draw pictures in their heads. They usually enjoy solving puzzles.

multiple intelligences
 

True

False

Doesn’t say

1. Different people are intelligent in different ways.

2. People who can’t remember names have bad memory.

3. Understanding music is one kind of intelligence.

4. People who can’t write well are not intelligent.

Writing exercise

Complete the table with intelligences from the text.

Abilities and Interests

Intelligence

I can sing very well and I can play music in my mind. I can remember musical pieces easily.
Musical
I can always remember phone numbers. I enjoy playing puzzles. I like to keep a list of things to do.
Mathematical
I can dance very well. I’m very athletic. I enjoy participating in active sports.
Kinesthetic
I can draw and paint. I can understand diagrams. I can read maps and charts easily.
Visual Spatial
I love to read. I can write stories. I like working with language and words.
Verbal

The Robot can...

Listening practice Multiple choice exercise

Listen to the conversation and choose the correct option for each statement.

The robot

1. The interviewed people are…

2. The interview is about…

3. The robot is ______ meters tall.

4. You can program the robot in …

5. The robot can help students…

6. The robot can´t replace the teacher because…

Different abilities

Humans have different abilities according to their age, education and preferences. Some of us can dance and some others can sing and dance. Some people can sing, but some others can’t. Some students can memorize things easily or they can write very fast.

Expressing abilities

POSITIVE FORM

I can swim very well.

NEGATIVE FORM

She can’t prepare sushi.

Contrasting abilities

We can dance salsa, but we can’t dance jazz.

She can speak French, but she can’t speak Chinese.

Angie can run very fast, but she can’t swim.

Joining positive abilities

My best friend can draw Manga and Anime very well.

Jonathan can solve Algebra and Statistics problems.

Expressing optional abilities

A: Tell me about your cooking abilities:
B: I can make pizza or pasta. I took a cooking course last summer.

A: What are your abilities for this job?
B:I can type very fast or if you need it I can design things on the computer too.

Writing exercise

Look at the images below and write about each person’s or people’s abilities. Use the subject given and can or can’t. Use linkers AND, BUT, OR. Use the verbs in the box given per image and add a logical complement.

A baby

A baby

A baby / cry / study / walk / eat / smile / sleep / run

A baby can cry, but can’t study.
A baby can eat, but can’t walk.
A baby can smile and sleep.
A baby can’t walk or run.
Children

Children

Children / read / jump / work / study / swim / use a credit card

Children can read and jump.
Children can study, but can’t work.
Children can’t use a credit card or work.
Children

Teenagers

Teenagers / dance / skate / read / write / run / work / drive / design houses

Teenagers can dance or skate.
Teenagers can read and write.
Teenagers can run, but can’t drive.
Teenagers can’t work or design houses.
A mechanic

A mechanic

A mechanic / drive / smile / fix cars / build houses / take art photos / work

A mechanic can drive or fix cars.
A mechanic can smile but can’t take art photos.
A mechanic can’t work or build houses.
Angie’s grandparents

Angie’s grandparents

Angie’s grandparents / jump high / use a cell phone / eat lots of sugar / sleep / skate / tell stories

Angie’s grandparents can’t jump high or skate.
Angie’s grandparents can use a cell phone, but can’t eat lots of sugar.
Angie’s grandparents can sleep and tell stories.
Mayra

Mayra

Mayra / read / write / use a cell phone / swim / sing / skate on ice

Mayra can read and write.
Mayra can use a cell phone or swim.
Mayra can sing, but can’t skate on ice.
Writing exercise

Listen the following situations and express abilities with CAN and CAN’T. Write them down. You can also record your voice on your cell phone and listen to yourself expressing abilities.

POW

Positive: fly / fight criminals / lift heavy things / be flexible / change size

Negative: use laser vision / read minds / hurt people / juggle

I can fly and lift heavy things.

I can be flexible as a rubber or change size.

I can fight criminals.

I can't read minds or use laser vision.

I can't juggle.

I can't hurt people.

Super Beauty

Positive: run fast / read minds / become invisible / use laser vision

Negative: die / make fire / fly / change size / hurt people / play basketball

I can run fast and read minds.

I can become invisible or use laser vision.

I am immortal, I can't die.

I can't make fire or fly.

I can't change size.

I can't play basketball.