Question

    Intelligence makes for better leaders —from undergraduates to managers to presidents — according to multiple studies. It certainly makes sense that handling a market shift or anything alike requires intelligence. But new research on leadership suggests that, at a certain point, having a higher IQ stops helping and starts hurting.

Although previous research has shown that groups with smarter leaders perform better by objective measures, some studies have suggested that followers might subjectively view leaders with extremely high intellect as less effective. Decades ago, Dean Simonton, a psychologist from the University of California, Davis, proposed that brilliant leaders’ words may simply go over people’s heads, their solutions could be more complicated to carry out and followers might find it harder to relate to them. Now Simonton and two colleagues have finally tested that idea, publishing their results in the July 2017 issue of the Journal of Applied Psychology.

The researchers looked at 379 male and female business leaders in 30 countries across fields including banking, retail and technology. The managers took IQ tests and each was rated on  leadership  style  and  effectiveness  by  an  average  of  eight  co-workers.  IQ  positively correlated (和......正相关)with ratings of leader effectiveness, strategy formation, vision and several other characteristics—up to a point. The ratings peaked at an IQ of around 120, which is higher than roughly 80 percent of office workers. Beyond that, the ratings declined(降低).

The researchers suggest the “ideal” IQ could be higher or lower in various fields, to 140 or 100, depending on whether technical or social skills are more valued in a given work culture.

“It’s an interesting and thoughtful paper,” says Paul Sackett, a management professor at University of Minnesota, who was not involved in the research. “To me, the right interpretation of the work would be that it highlights a need to understand what high-IQ leaders do leads to lower understanding by followers,” he says. “The wrong interpretation would be, “Don’t hire high-IQ leaders.”

The study’s lead author, John Antonakis, a psychologist at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland, suggests leaders should use their intelligence to use creative language that will persuade and inspire others—the way former U.S. President Barack Obama did. “I think the only way a smart person can signal their intelligence properly and still connect with the people,” Antonakis says, “is to speak in charming ways.”

1.The reason why those with high IQs are viewed as worse leaders is probably that _______.

A.followers think of their leaders to be less effective

B.it is hard for them to get their plans across to followers

C.their IQ has a positive correlation with leader effectiveness

D.their social skills can’t be recognized in some work culture

2.Which of the following graphs shows the correct relationship between IQ points and leadership qualities?

A. B.

C. D.

3.To improve their leadership, high-IQ leaders can _______.

A.use inspiring and accessible language B.interpret the work they are involved in

C.take a course in leader effectiveness D.communicate more with their followers

4.What is Paul Sackett’s attitude towards hiring high-IQ leaders?

A.Unconcerned. B.Positive. C.Doubtful. D.Unclear.

5.What could be the best title for the passage?

A.A Way to Success for High-IQ Leaders.

B.The Latest Research on Intelligence.

C.Does a High IQ Advance Your Leadership?

D.Choose to be a Leader of Low Intelligence.

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.A

4.B

5.C

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章主要探讨的是高智商的领导和其领导力的关系。文章开头提出高智商对领导力有害，紧接着举例一些相关研究者做过的实验，阐述器其观点和结论，说明了其背后的原因，指出高智商领导者应该用他们的智慧来使用创造性的语言，从而说服和激励他人，提高自身领导能力。

1.

细节理解题。根据文章第二段中Decades ago, Dean Simonton, a psychologist from the University of California, Davis, proposed that brilliant leaders’ words may simply go over people’s heads, their solutions could be more complicated to carry out and followers might find it harder to relate to them.“几十年前，来自加州大学戴维斯分校(University of California, Davis)的心理学家迪安·西蒙顿(Dean Simonton)提出，杰出领导者的话语可能只是被人们所忽略，他们的解决方案可能更复杂，追随者可能更难与他们产生共鸣。”可知，高智商的人之所以被认为是糟糕的领导者，可能是因为他们很难把自己的计划传达给下属。故选B。

2.

细节理解题。根据文章第三段中IQ positively correlated (和......正相关)with ratings of leader effectiveness, strategy formation, vision and several other characteristics—up to a point. The ratings peaked at an IQ of around 120, which is higher than roughly 80 percent of office workers. Beyond that, the ratings declined(降低).“在某种程度上，智商与领导者的效率、战略形成、远见和其他一些特征的评分正相关。得分最高的时候在120左右，比80%的办公室职员都高。除此之外，收视率下降。”由此可知，智商与领导效能的关系为当智商评分小于120时，二者成正相关；当智商大于120时，二者成负相关。故选A。

3.

细节理解题。根据文章最后一段中a psychologist at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland, suggests leaders should use their intelligence to use creative language that will persuade and inspire others“瑞士洛桑大学(University of Lausanne)的一位心理学家建议，领导者应该运用自己的智慧，使用具有创造性的语言，以说服和激励他人”以及I think the only way a smart person can signal their intelligence properly and still connect with the people,” Antonakis says, “is to speak in charming ways. “我认为一个聪明人能恰当地展示自己的智慧，同时又能与他人保持联系的唯一方式，”Antonakis说，“就是用迷人的方式说话。”由此可知，高智商的领导者可以使用鼓舞人心和吸引人的语言来提高他们的领导力。故选A。

4.

推理判断题。根据第五段“It’s an interesting and thoughtful paper,” says Paul Sackett, a management professor at University of Minnesota, who was not involved in the research. “To me, the right interpretation of the work would be that it highlights a need to understand what high-IQ leaders do leads to lower understanding by followers,” he says. “The wrong interpretation would be, “Don’t hire high-IQ leaders.” “这是一篇有趣而有思想的论文，”明尼苏达大学管理学教授Paul Sackett说，他没有参与这项研究。他说:“在我看来，对这项工作的正确解读应该是，它强调了理解高智商领导者所做的事情会导致下属理解度降低的必要性。”错误的解释是:“不要雇佣高智商的领导。”由此可知，保罗·萨克特(Paul Sackett)对聘用高智商领导者持积极的态度。故选B。

5.

主旨大意题。根据第一段最后一句But new research on leadership suggests that, at a certain point, having a higher IQ stops helping and starts hurting.“但有关领导力的新研究表明，在一定程度上，高智商不再有帮助，反而开始产生伤害。”以及文章主要内容围绕着探讨高智商的领导和其领导能力的关系。由此可知，C项Does a High IQ Advance Your Leadership?（高智商能提升你的领导能力吗?）切题。故选C。