Curiosity — the desire to know, to discover, to learn. Inspired by curiosity, humans are found everywhere on our planet, and beyond it in space. Yet according to human behaviourist and author of Curious, Ian Leslie, although we are all born curious, not all of us bring this into adulthood, and we can lose out as a result.
As Leslie explains, curiosity shapes us from the start. By trying new things, we build knowledge, and want to know more. “We are born aware that we don’t know stuff — we want to experience and discover.” However, the contrast between childhood and adulthood is clear. “We ask 40,000 questions a year between the ages of two and five,” says Leslie — around 110 each day; adults, in comparison, ask just 20.
As we get older, we may feel hesitant about asking questions, believing this reveals gaps in our knowledge. We can become scared to share unconventional ideas for fear of criticism or misunderstanding. We can also be a victim of our success, as Leslie explains. “Once you’ve worked out how to do your job, then you don’t feel curious anymore. The need to learn goes away — in a way, curiosity has done its job. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t cultivate it.”
Leslie’s tips for cultivating curiosity begin with spending time with the experts — children. “Talk to your kids, and try to answer those weird, difficult questions they have — like ‘What is air?’ This makes you think about things you’ve taken for granted — it reawakens your curiosity in what’s around us and how we perceive the world.”
So does finding what Leslie calls an ‘informal mentor’, through work or other circles, who is happy to share their expertise, from a skill, technology, to a field of learning. “Try to think of people the way children think of adults — as sources of secret knowledge, a great store of learning you can tap into,” says Leslie.
Leslie also suggests creating a ‘spark file’ — a digital or physical notebook in which you collect interesting thoughts. “Fill it with facts you’ve come across, sentences you like, insights that strike you. Let it be random. And let it build. Over time you’ll build up a rich source of inspiration, and you’ll think, ‘Oh that’s interesting, that relates to this…’ And suddenly your mind starts firing away with new ideas and ways of thinking.”
8. According to Leslie, what happens as we get older?
A.We gradually lose our natural curiosity. |
B.We are less aware of our knowledge gaps. |
C.We are unwilling to let others benefit from our ideas. |
D.We may think asking questions makes people foolish. |
9. Which of the following sayings might Leslie agree with?
A.A day’s planning is best done at daybreak. |
B.In the eyes of a lover, Xi Shi will appear. |
C.A master can lead you to the door, but the rest is up to you. |
D.When three people walk together, one can surely be my teacher. |
10. Which of the following is a characteristic of a ‘spark file’?
A.It is carefully organized. | B.It can help people connect ideas. |
C.It only contains complete sentences. | D.It can help people improve their memory. |
11. What is the writer’s aim in this passage?
A.To prove Ian Leslie’s arguments. | B.To summarise Ian Leslie’s viewpoint. |
C.To question Ian Leslie’s conclusions. | D.To introduce Ian Leslie’s achievements. |