Many people who ended up winning prestigious intellectual prizes only reached an average standard when young.

Correct Answer: YES

  • Strategy: Look for examples of prize winners and their early years. Keywords: “Nobel prize winners,” “average standard,” and “young.”
  • Passage reference: “Most Nobel prize winners were unexceptional in childhood. Einstein was slow to talk as a baby. He failed the general part of the entry test to Zurich Polytechnic.”
  • Explanation: The passage mentions that many Nobel prize winners, including Einstein, were unremarkable or had difficulties in their youth. This confirms the statement, making the answer YES.