Are we becoming dumber? – C1 English Reading Test

C1 English Reading Test

Read the text about thinking and intelligence. For questions 1–7, choose the correct answer (A–D).

Are we becoming dumber?

My grandfather used to say that if fools could fly, we’d never see the sun. I remember him repeating this when I was a child, in the late 80s and 90s. He was firmly convinced that, as a species, we had somehow—and I quote—’put intelligence into reverse’. At the time, it sounded like one of those exaggerated comments older people make, the kind a younger person doesn’t pay much attention to.

But looking back, I’m not so sure. It is now increasingly common to hear similar complaints: that we are dumbing down, that we struggle to concentrate, that attention spans are shrinking, or that fewer people take the time to think things through. I’m sure you’ve heard some of these, or maybe even said them yourself. If not, scroll through any comment section; you won’t have to look far to find them.

And yet, this idea is far from new. My grandfather, born in 1921, was just one of many to express it. Long before smartphones or social media, generation after generation had already complained that people were becoming more distracted, more superficial, or less capable of careful thought. Perhaps, then, the real question is not whether we are becoming less intelligent, but whether we are simply engaging with the world in a different way.

So what does the evidence actually say? For much of the 20th century, average IQ scores were rising steadily, a trend known as the Flynn Effect. In simple terms, people were becoming better at certain kinds of thinking, particularly abstract reasoning and problem-solving.

More recently, however, that trend appears to have slowed down, and in some places even reversed slightly. Some researchers point to declining attention spans or changes in reading habits, while others argue that IQ tests simply measure a narrow set of skills and fail to capture how we think in real life. In other words, the picture is far from clear.

If anything, the problem may not be that we are becoming less intelligent, but that we are thinking differently. In a world of constant notifications, endless scrolling, and immediate answers, it has become easier to react than to reflect. We skim rather than read, respond rather than consider, and move on rather than question. Over time, this shift may give the impression that our thinking is becoming shallower, when in fact it may simply be becoming faster and more fragmented.

This is clearly evident in the way we consume information. A complex issue is reduced to a headline, a short video, or a comment thread where opinions are expressed with confidence but rarely examined in depth. Even tools like artificial intelligence, which can generate answers instantly, encourage speed over reflection. The tools we use are not necessarily making us less capable, but they are changing the habits we rely on. And like any habit, the less we practise deep thinking, the less natural it becomes.

So perhaps my grandfather was both right and wrong. It may sometimes feel as though we are regressing, but the reality is more complex. We are not necessarily becoming less intelligent; we are simply adapting to a different way of thinking. The real question is not whether we can think deeply, but whether we still choose to.

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Page 1 of 7

1 What did the author's grandfather mean by his words?

A. There are more fools than intelligent people.

B. There is a downward trend in human intelligence.

C. Human intelligence appears to be at a standstill.

D. People no longer make an effort to think carefully.

Page 2 of 7

2 In paragraph 2, what is the author 'not so sure' about?

A. That his grandfather's view was completely correct.

B. That such complaints are justified.

C. That people today are less intelligent than before.

D. That his grandfather's comments were overstated.

Page 3 of 7

3 Why is his grandfather mentioned again in paragraph 3?

A. To highlight the timeless nature of the main claim.

B. To suggest that his grandfather’s view still applies today.

C. To reinforce his grandfather's personal influence on his thinking.

D. To disprove that he was right.

Page 4 of 7

4 What does the Flynn Effect suggest?

A. That our thought process changed during the 20th century.

B. That the increase in human intelligence has now come to an end.

C. That human intelligence increased over the years.

D. That humans simply learned to perform better on IQ tests.

Page 5 of 7

5 What's the main idea in paragraph 5?

A. That we are less intelligent than a few years back.

B. That the apparent drop in intelligence may not reflect reality.

C. That we read differently and are losing the ability to focus.

D. That IQ tests are an unreliable way of measuring intelligence.

Page 6 of 7

6 What does the phrase 'it has become easier to react than to reflect' imply?

A. People tend to express their opinions impulsively.

B. People tend to respond quickly instead of thinking things through.

C. People are no longer capable of careful thought.

D. People react emotionally because they lack information.

Page 7 of 7

7 Which idea is NOT supported in paragraph 7?

A. People are unable to process complex ideas anymore.

B. Deep analysis is being taken out of the picture.

C. AI doesn't necessarily impair our cognitive functions.

D. We are losing the habit of deep reflection, rather than the ability itself.

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