Savants __________.
A) do not exist outside of fiction
B) would be more numerous if Gardner's theory was right
C) offer support for the notion of multiple, different types of intelligence
D) typically outgrow their special abilities

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Savants, who have exceptional abilities in a specific area despite having intellectual or developmental disabilities, support the notion of multiple types of intelligence as they demonstrate that intelligence is not a unitary trait. Gardner, who proposed multiple intelligences theory, believed there are different kinds of intelligence that are independent of one another. Therefore, Gardner's theory is relevant to the discussion of savants only insofar as he argued that there are multiple, different types of intelligence. The remaining choices are false; savants are real people with extraordinary abilities, but they are relatively rare, and there is no evidence that their numbers would increase if Gardner's theory were correct. Furthermore, savants do not typically outgrow their special abilities.