Two-Year-Old Boy Identifies 50 Different Cars

Category: Human Interest

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. astonish / əˈstɒn ɪʃ / (v) – to cause someone to be surprised and amazed
    Example:

    The gymnast astonished the audience with her unbelievably flexible body.


  2. fascination / ˌfæs əˈneɪ ʃən / (n) – the state of being very interested or attracted to something
    Example:

    The girl wants to be a veterinarian because of her fascination with animals.


  3. fanatic / fəˈnæt ɪk / (n) – someone who is strongly interested in something
    Example:

    She became a book fanatic because of her favorite book.


  4. remarkable / rɪˈmɑr kə bəl / (adj) – extraordinary; able to catch people’s attention
    Example:

    She won the competition because of her remarkable voice.


  5. prodigy / ˈprɒd ɪ dʒi / (n) – a person who has an unusual talent or ability
    Example:

    Many prodigies are becoming famous on the Internet nowadays.


Article

Read the text below.

Nicholas Drake, a two-year-old boy from North Carolina, astonished netizens with his ability to name 50 different cars.


A video wherein he demonstrated this talent was uploaded on YouTube. It gathered around nine million views and was shared multiple times on Facebook. Just days after, his viral video was uploaded on Ellentube. Not only can Nicholas identify car brands such as Ferrari, Ford, and Bugatti, he can also recite other information like where the cars were manufactured.


Nicholas’ love for cars started when he was six months old, which was when he got his first toy car. His mother shared that ever since he learned to talk, Nicholas never stopped talking about cars. Once, while their family was walking around Charleston, then 18-month-old Nicholas touched each car he passed by and asked his parents what it was. The experience prompted his father to teach him about cars every night. Because of Nicholas’ fascination with cars, watching Top Gear has become their family’s hobby.


According to his mother, the boy may have inherited his interest in cars from his grandfather, who was also a car fanatic. His mother is also considering that Nicholas might become a future machine engineer who works on cars, just like his grandfather.


Other remarkable child prodigies like Nicholas have also been featured on Ellentube. One is 12-year-old Sabre Norris, who was the second youngest surfer to compete in the World Surf League. Another child prodigy is 5-year-old Nate Seltzer, who can identify each country’s flag and what is associated with it. The show also featured a girl named Brielle Milla, who memorized the Periodic Table of Elements when she was only three.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

• What is the advantage of having a sharp mind at a young age?
• How can children develop a sharp mind?

Discussion B

• Does being famous at an early age affect how children grow up?
• How can parents protect their children from the possible risks of being famous?