Brainpower in focus

Great minds

What does being smart mean? For some people, it means they are good at Maths. But some are good at other things! Read about four people with very different talents. 

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a music genius. He learned to play the piano when he was four. At five, he started to write his own music. When Mozart was eight, he played for kings and queens. He liked music, but it was still hard work, and Mozart practiced for many hours every day. People loved his music. Today, many people still listen to his pieces. He wrote symphonies, operas, and many other types of music.

Frida Kahlo was a famous artist from Mexico. When she was 18 years old, she had an accident. She had to stay in bed for a long time. During that time, she started to paint. Frida painted pictures about her feelings, her life, and Mexican culture. She often used bright colours and unusual ideas in her art. With her husband, she travelled to many countries and showed her art. Today, people all over the world admire her creativity.

Magnus Carlsen is a chess player from Norway. When he was five, his dad taught him chess. At first, Magnus wasn’t very interested. But soon, he wanted to be better than his sister, who was a great player. At nine, he won his first tournament. He became a grandmaster at thirteen. Today, he is one of the best chess players in the world. He has won many major tournaments. People watch his games online and on TV. He also plays in international competitions with other top players.

Jane Goodall was a scientist from England. She was born in 1934 and loved animals as a child. In 1960, she went to Africa. She lived in the woods and studied chimpanzees every day. She saw that they use tools and care for each other. Her work showed that animals could be smart and have feelings. This was new for many people! Goodall also worked to protect animals and nature. She travelled around the world to teach people about animals.

These examples show that there are many ways to be smart. Every person has a talent, and all talents are important. Being smart can look very different for each person.