1. Are humans getting dumber?
1) What kind of student were you at school?
2) 2) What are some of the greatest achievements,
inventions, and innovations of mankind? Make a
list with your classmates.
3) 3) In what ways, if any, are you superior to a
caveman?

2. Text: “Humans Getting Dumber”
Given the technological advances we have witnessed in our
lifetimes, it seems ridiculous to argue that humans are getting
dumber. This is, however, what Stanford University
researcher Gerald Crabtree has suggested. In two recent
articles, he writes:
“I would be willing to wager that if an average citizen of
Athens of 1000 BC were to appear suddenly among us, he or
she would be among the brightest and most intellectually
alive of our colleagues and companions. We would be
surprised by their memory, broad range of ideas and clear-
sighted view of important issues. I would also guess that they
would be among the most emotionally stable of our friends
and colleagues."

3. Text: “Humans Getting Dumber”
Crabtree’s thesis is based on the idea that our genes must be
functioning at full capacity to optimize intellectual and
emotional behavior. He contends that our intelligence may
have peaked before our hunter-gatherer ancestors left
Africa. At that time, due to selective pressures, humans
evolved to have genes that maximized brainpower. Since
then, selective pressures have decreased. This has made it
possible for several 'genetic mutations’ that hinder our
intellectual and emotional capabilities to survive.

4. Text: “Humans Getting Dumber”
Despite these "two or more" harmful mutations, Crabtree
believes that technology will allow humans to compensate
for these mutations in the future. "We have a long time to
solve it. People 300 years ago had no idea where we'd be
scientifically now," he says. "We'll be able to deal with this
problem with a range of humane and ethical solutions.”
Critics say there is insufficient data to support Crabtree's
thesis. Others, such as psychology professor Eyal Reingold,
argue that the modern-day threats to intelligence are not
genetic but environment-based. These threats, rooted in our
upbringing and socialization, are the cause of school bullying
and children bringing guns to school, according to Reingold.

5. Vocabulary

6. Questions:
According to Crabtree, how would an Athenian from
1000 BC differ from a modern man?
What does Crabtree believe has caused this decline
in intelligence?
True or False: Crabtree believes the decline will
continue indefinitely.
Give two criticisms of Crabtree’s thesis.

7. 1. bet
A. Given sth.
2. taking into account a fact,
B. optimize factor, etc,; considering
C. wager 3. say sth is true, especially in an
argument
D. contend
4. make sth as good as it can be
E. peak (verb)
5. a person in your family who
F. ancestor
lived before you
6. reach the highest point

8. 1. prevent sb from easily
doing/achieving sth
A. Mutation
2. change in genetic material
B. hinder
(verb) 3. provide sth good to balance or
reduce the bad effects of
C. compensate for damage
D. humane 4. showing kindness by making
E. rooted in sth sure people/animals don't
suffer unnecessarily
5. developed by sth or strongly
influenced by it

9. Create sentences using the following words:
1. Given / population
2. Wager / ancestors
3. Optimize / performance
4. Scientist / contend
5. Peak / civilization
6. Mutation / hinder
7. Compensate / stupidity
8. Technology / humane
9. Problems / rooted

10. Debate: Humans Getting Dumber
Person 1: build an argument to support Crabtree’s
idea.
Person 2: build a counterargument against
Crabtree’s idea.
Think of examples.
Use persuasive language.

11. The Darwin Awards
1. What is the gene pool?
2. How important is it to you that
you pass on your genes, i.e. have
children?
3. What are potentially deadly things
that you encounter every day?
4. What is black humour?

12. The Darwin Awards
According to DarwinAwards.com, the Darwin Awards
"commemorate individuals who protect our gene
pool by making the ultimate sacrifice of their own
lives.
“Darwin Award winners eliminate themselves in an
extraordinarily idiotic manner, thereby improving
our species' chances of long-term survival.”
The award is always bestowed posthumously.

13. The Darwin Awards
South Carolina:
An armed robber used gold spray paint to disguise his
face and then raided a convenience store. The paint
released toxic fumes and the man collapsed and died
shortly after the robbery. To add insult to injury, the
disguise didn't work — witnesses easily identified the
23-year-old.

14. The Darwin Awards
England:
The police found the body of a 33-year old man in the
hallway of his house. He had bled to death from stab
wounds to the chest, and a knife was found near the
body. His wife, who was away on holiday at the time
of the incident, later revealed that her husband had
been wondering if the jacket was ‘stab-
proof.’ Apparently, it was not.

15. The Darwin Awards
Florida:
A man was stuck in a traffic jam when ‘nature called’.
He got out of his car and jumped over a concrete wall
to find a more secluded spot. Little did he know he
was parked on top of a bridge. He fell 65 feet to his
death.

16. Role Play

17. The Darwin Awards
Are the Darwin Awards cruel?
What is the purpose of life according to a biologist?
What is it according to you?
What do we mean by survival of the fittest?
Do you think society would benefit if we let loose a
handful of wild and dangerous animals (e.g. grizzly
bears, hippos) into urban areas?