Essex teenager has higher IQ than Einstein

A 16-year-old schoolgirl from Essex has been revealed as having an IQ higher than Einstein.

Lauren Marbe, 16, shocked teachers by scoring 161 on the Mensa brain test after she was entered with other pupils from her school for fun. The "normal" teenager loves fake tanning, blonde highlights, manicures and getting dressed up for parties themed around her favourite reality TV show.

But her remarkable brain test score means she is now officially smarter than Professor Stephen Hawking, Bill Gates and even Albert Einstein - who all have an IQ of 160.

The schoolgirl, who is already predicted straight A's and A*'s for her GCSE's (General Certificate of Secondary School), said she was delighted to have "blown away" the Essex stereotype. Miss Marbe said: "It was such an achievement and I got a bit tearful to tell you the truth.” She added: "I am blonde, I do wear make-up and I do go out. I love my fake tan and fake nails as well so I guess I am a bit of an Essex girl in that sense. I watch TOWIE and I love the programme, it's addictive but now most people do seem to think that's what everyone in Essex is like. I love living in Essex and I'm glad that I might be able to show people that we aren't all ditzy and blonde."

Lauren is now aiming to take A-Levels in art, physics and maths after her GCSEs, this summer, and would love to study architecture degree at the University of Cambridge. But she admits she is torn between her academic ability and pursuing her dream of becoming a professional singer and dancer. The teenager has already performed in the West End for two years as part of the chorus for Andrew Lloyd Webber smash-hit Joseph, with Lee Mead, from 2007.

Her proud parents admitted they have no idea where her brains come from. Mrs Marbe said: "Living in this area there is a lot of pressure to be the stereotypical Essex girl but she has a real nice support from the other girls. Most of the time Essex gets a bit of a negative press. People think all girls are blonde and all girls are dim.  Lauren is blonde but it does seem like she has shaken the stereotype that all Essex girls are stupid.”

Einstein never took an IQ test as none of the modern intelligence tests existed during the course of his life, but experts believe he had an IQ of around 160. The IQ test is designed to test a range of abilities to determine the level of intelligence of the student - in the UK the average score is 100.

Question 1. Indicate whether these sentences are true or false. Justify your answers with evidence from the text.

a)      Lauren’s teachers took for granted her good results.

b)       Lauren likes going to fancy dress parties.

c)       Lauren behaves like an ordinary Essex girl.

d)      Lauren’s parents are quite intelligent.

Question 2. Answer the following questions in your own words.

a)      What does Lauren want to do in the future

b)      What does a “typical” Essex girl look like?

Question 3. Find a word or a phrase in the text that means the same as:

a)      More clever (par. 2)

b)      A great success (par. 4)

c)       Backing (par. 5.)

Question 4. Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning.

a)      People think that in Essex all the girls are blonde and dim.

In Essex, girls…

b)      Mrs Marbe said: “Lauren is blonde but it seems like she had shaken the stereotype that all Essex girls are stupid”

Mrs Marbe said that…

c)       Einstein never took an IQ test. His results wouldn’t be better than Lauren’s

If…

Question 5. Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:

            Appearance is very important in our society.