Creativity
A basic question about creativity is, what factors produce it? Several contrasting answers have been proposed. Cognitive psychologists, for example, have tended to focus on the basic processes that underlie creative thought. Research findings indicate that such processes as retrieval of information from memory, association, synthesis, transformation, and categorical reduction(mentally assigning objects to basic categories) may all play roles in creativity. Moreover, a cognitive approach to creativity calls attention to the fact that creativity is part of our everyday lives: Each time we utter a new sentence or understand a new concept we are showing creativity. Thus, a key task in the study of creativity is that of distinguishing between this kind of everyday creativity and exceptional creativity-the emergence of something dramatically new, such as the idea of integrated circuits, which made modern computers possible.
According to Perkins (1997)， one psychologist who has focused on this issue, the difference may lie in the fact that everyday creativity occurs with respect to problems for which our past knowledge and experience give us valuable clues. We know where to look for a solution. In contrast, exceptional creativity may arise in areas in which we don’t know even where to begin looking. When we do find a solution in such situations, it is likely to be dramatic and to require thinking that is “outside the box” -thinking that breaks out of what is often described as “mental ruts.”
The cognitive approach to creativity has been dominant in psychology, but other approaches exist as well. For instance, social psychologists have often focused on the personality traits that make people creative and the environmental conditions that either encourage or discourage creativity. And still other researchers have focused on the motivation behind exceptional creativity-the kind of intrinsic motivation that can be sustained from within in the absence of external rewards.
While all of these approaches have certainly added to our understanding of creativity, a view known as the confluence approach has gained considerable acceptance. This view suggests that in order for creativity to occur, multiple components must converge(Amabile, 1983)， and according to proponents of the confluence approach, only when all of these conditions are present can a high level of creativity emerge. For example, according to the research of Lubart(1994), creativity requires a confluence of six distinct resources:
●Intellectual abilities: The ability to see problems in new ways, the ability to recognize which of one’s ideas are worth pursuing, and persuasive skills-the ability to convince others of these new ideas
●Knowledge: Enough knowledge about a field to move it forward Certain styles of thinking: A preference for thinking in novel ways and an ability to see the big picture-to think globally as well as locally
●Personality attributes: Such traits as willingness to take risks and to tolerate ambiguity
●Intrinsic, task-focused motivation: Creative people usually love what they are doing and find intrinsic reward in their work
●An environment that is supportive of creative ideas
A growing body of evidence offers support for the confluence approach. For example, consider one study by Lubart and Sternberg (1995). In this study, 48 adults ranging in age from 18 to 65 years old were asked to produce creative products in each of four domains: writing, art, advertising, and science. In the art category, for example, they were asked to produce drawings showing “hope”and “rage” and “the earth from an insect’s point of view”.With respect to advertising, they were asked to design television ads for bow ties. All of the products that participants created were rated for overall creativity, novelty, and perceived effort. Participants also completed a measure of fluid intelligence, a measure of thinking style, and two personality measures.
Results indicated, first, that there was considerable agreement among raters. They agreed on what was creative and what was not creative. This is an important finding, because it indicates that creativity can be studied scientifically. Second, it was found that creativity in one domain (art, writing, and so on) was only moderately related to creativity in other domains. Thus, as common sense suggests, people can be creative in one area but not in another. Third, intellectual ability, thinking style, and personality were all significantly related to creativity.
1
A basic question about creativity is, what factors produce it? Several contrasting answers have been proposed. Cognitive psychologists, for example, have tended to focus on the basic processes that underlie creative thought. Research findings indicate that such processes as retrieval of information from memory, association, synthesis, transformation, and categorical reduction(mentally assigning objects to basic categories) may all play roles in creativity. Moreover, a cognitive approach to creativity calls attention to the fact that creativity is part of our everyday lives: Each time we utter a new sentence or understand a new concept we are showing creativity. Thus, a key task in the study of creativity is that of distinguishing between this kind of everyday creativity and exceptional creativity-the emergence of something dramatically new, such as the idea of integrated circuits, which made modern computers possible.
The word “underlie” in the passage is closest in meaning to
Vocabulary Questions词汇题
Adistract from
Bare produced by
Cserve as control over
Dfrom the foundation of
2
A basic question about creativity is, what factors produce it? Several contrasting answers have been proposed. Cognitive psychologists, for example, have tended to focus on the basic processes that underlie creative thought. Research findings indicate that such processes as retrieval of information from memory, association, synthesis, transformation, and categorical reduction(mentally assigning objects to basic categories) may all play roles in creativity. Moreover, a cognitive approach to creativity calls attention to the fact that creativity is part of our everyday lives: Each time we utter a new sentence or understand a new concept we are showing creativity. Thus, a key task in the study of creativity is that of distinguishing between this kind of everyday creativity and exceptional creativity-the emergence of something dramatically new, such as the idea of integrated circuits, which made modern computers possible.
According to Perkins (1997)， one psychologist who has focused on this issue, the difference may lie in the fact that everyday creativity occurs with respect to problems for which our past knowledge and experience give us valuable clues. We know where to look for a solution. In contrast, exceptional creativity may arise in areas in which we don’t know even where to begin looking. When we do find a solution in such situations, it is likely to be dramatic and to require thinking that is “outside the box” -thinking that breaks out of what is often described as “mental ruts.”
Which of the following best describes the relationship of paragraph 2 to paragraph 1?
Organization Questions组织结构题
AParagraph 2 proposes an explanation for the distinction between the two types of creativity presented in paragraph 1.
BParagraph 2 describes alternative types of creativity in addition to the two types of creativity presented in paragraph 1.
CParagraph 2 explains that psychologists believe past knowledge causes each of the two types of creativity presented in paragraph 1.
DParagraph 2 argues that the two types of creativity presented in paragraph 1 are very similar in nature.
3
According to Perkins (1997)， one psychologist who has focused on this issue, the difference may lie in the fact that everyday creativity occurs with respect to problems for which our past knowledge and experience give us valuable clues. We know where to look for a solution. In contrast, exceptional creativity may arise in areas in which we don’t know even where to begin looking. When we do find a solution in such situations, it is likely to be dramatic and to require thinking that is “outside the box” -thinking that breaks out of what is often described as “mental ruts.”
Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
Sentence Simplification Questions句子简化题
APerkins, one psychologist who focused on everyday creativity, distinguishes creativity based on past knowledge from creativity based on experience.
BIn 1997 a psychologist named Perkins suggested that everyday creativity involves drawing upon existing knowledge to arrive at solutions to problems.
CIn 1997 psychologist Perkins suggested that problems occur when our past knowledge and experience influence our everyday creative thinking.
DAccording to Perkins, there is an important difference between everyday creativity and knowing where to look for a solution based upon past knowledge and experience.
4
According to Perkins (1997)， one psychologist who has focused on this issue, the difference may lie in the fact that everyday creativity occurs with respect to problems for which our past knowledge and experience give us valuable clues. We know where to look for a solution. In contrast, exceptional creativity may arise in areas in which we don’t know even where to begin looking. When we do find a solution in such situations, it is likely to be dramatic and to require thinking that is “outside the box” -thinking that breaks out of what is often described as “mental ruts.”
In using the phrases “outside the box” and “mental ruts” the author is making which of the following points?
Rhetorical Purpose Questions修辞目的题
AExceptional creativity requires thinking in unpredictable, unusual ways.
BFinding practical solutions involves familiarity with everyday objects.
CIt is necessary to categorize things correctly in order to find solutions to problematic situations.
DCreativity is more common in the dramatic arts than it is in everyday situations.
5
While all of these approaches have certainly added to our understanding of creativity, a view known as the confluence approach has gained considerable acceptance. This view suggests that in order for creativity to occur, multiple components must converge(Amabile, 1983)， and according to proponents of the confluence approach, only when all of these conditions are present can a high level of creativity emerge. For example, according to the research of Lubart(1994), creativity requires a confluence of six distinct resources:
●Intellectual abilities: The ability to see problems in new ways, the ability to recognize which of one’s ideas are worth pursuing, and persuasive skills-the ability to convince others of these new ideas
●Knowledge: Enough knowledge about a field to move it forward Certain styles of thinking: A preference for thinking in novel ways and an ability to see the big picture-to think globally as well as locally
●Personality attributes: Such traits as willingness to take risks and to tolerate ambiguity
●Intrinsic, task-focused motivation: Creative people usually love what they are doing and find intrinsic reward in their work
●An environment that is supportive of creative ideas
The bulleted list in paragraph 4 presents which of the following?
Factual Information Questions事实信息题
AContrasting explanations for creative thought
BFactors in creativity that have been identified by different psychologists
CApproaches to studying creativity that have gained considerable acceptance
DAttributes that have been identified as necessary for creativity
6
The word “overall” in the passage is closest in meaning to
Vocabulary Questions词汇题
Agenuine
Bgeneral
Cunusual
Dobvious
7
A growing body of evidence offers support for the confluence approach. For example, consider one study by Lubart and Sternberg (1995). In this study, 48 adults ranging in age from 18 to 65 years old were asked to produce creative products in each of four domains: writing, art, advertising, and science. In the art category, for example, they were asked to produce drawings showing “hope”and “rage” and “the earth from an insect’s point of view”.With respect to advertising, they were asked to design television ads for bow ties. All of the products that participants created were rated for overall creativity, novelty, and perceived effort. Participants also completed a measure of fluid intelligence, a measure of thinking style, and two personality measures.
According to paragraph 5, which of the following best describes the study conducted by Lubart and Sternberg?
Factual Information Questions事实信息题
ALubart and Sternberg evaluated 48 participants for their degree of creativity while these participants were experiencing various emotions.
BLubart and Sternberg asked 48 well-known writers, artists, advertising specialists, and scientists to produce creative projects.
CForty-eight adults of different ages each produced four different types of creative projects and were evaluated for personality traits connected to creativity.
DThe researchers evaluated the creative products of 48 participants to determine which domain required the most creativity.
8
A growing body of evidence offers support for the confluence approach. For example, consider one study by Lubart and Sternberg (1995). In this study, 48 adults ranging in age from 18 to 65 years old were asked to produce creative products in each of four domains: writing, art, advertising, and science. In the art category, for example, they were asked to produce drawings showing “hope”and “rage” and “the earth from an insect’s point of view”.With respect to advertising, they were asked to design television ads for bow ties. All of the products that participants created were rated for overall creativity, novelty, and perceived effort. Participants also completed a measure of fluid intelligence, a measure of thinking style, and two personality measures.
Results indicated, first, that there was considerable agreement among raters. They agreed on what was creative and what was not creative. This is an important finding, because it indicates that creativity can be studied scientifically. Second, it was found that creativity in one domain (art, writing, and so on) was only moderately related to creativity in other domains. Thus, as common sense suggests, people can be creative in one area but not in another. Third, intellectual ability, thinking style, and personality were all significantly related to creativity.
Paragraph 6 suggests that the research described in paragraph 5 was significant because
Inference Questions推理题
Ait led researchers to a systematic method of defining creativity
Bit had not previously been clear that creativity could be studied in a scientific way
Cresearchers had not done successful studies on creativity before this research
Dthe research ended the debate about the influence of personality on creativity
9
A growing body of evidence offers support for the confluence approach. For example, consider one study by Lubart and Sternberg (1995). In this study, 48 adults ranging in age from 18 to 65 years old were asked to produce creative products in each of four domains: writing, art, advertising, and science. [■] In the art category, for example, they were asked to produce drawings showing “hope”and “rage” and “the earth from an insect’s point of view”. [■] With respect to advertising, they were asked to design television ads for bow ties. [■] All of the products that participants created were rated for overall creativity, novelty, and perceived effort. [■] Participants also completed a measure of fluid intelligence, a measure of thinking style, and two personality measures.
Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage
The products in these two domains demanded a high level of creativity, involving unusual perspectives.Insert Text Questions句子插入题
Where would the sentence best fit？Click on a square sentence to the passage.
10
Psychologists have advanced various ideas about the factors that produce creativity.
Prose Summary Questions概要小结题
Select 3 answers
AThe cognitive approach has replaced other methods of investigating creativity.
BMost approaches to creativity emphasize that creativity occurs only in dramatic situations.
CThe confluence approach argues that a high level of creativity emerges when multiple intellectual and personal components cooccur.
DCognitive scientists recognize the importance of particular mental processes and emphasize the need to distinguish everyday from exceptional creativity.
ESocial psychologists emphasize the importance of such factors as personality traits,the environment,and motivation.
FCreativity is an area of inquiry that cannot be approached easily from an exclusively psychological perspective.
