Others work far below their capacity because they are afraid they will not be popular if they are too far ahead of their classmates. Some become bored, easygoing, or disenchanted with school-especially whenno attempt is made to put them in special classes or involve them in special projects. Although they usually do superior work in school, there are many exceptions. These characteristics are generally accompanied by excellent health, superior physical development, and good character, as well as sound emotional adjustment and a wider than average range of interests.This is not to say that gifted children have no problems. In addition, they show superior ability to remember and profit from their experiences, accept more responsibility, and make more mature moral judgments than the average child. As they grow, they develop far larger and richer vocabularies, start reading even before entering school (often teaching themselves), and almost immediately acquire a voracious appetite for books of all kinds. In the early years of life these children show more curiosity, ask more questions, and explore more widely than other children. As a result of extensive research, it is now recognized that, taken as a whole, they are more often above than below average in all major characteristics, though particularly outstanding in intellectual ability. At one time it was taken for granted that gifted children were bound to be frail, one-sided, and eccentric. Children with IQs above 170 or 180 are usually termed extremely gifted.
The 1 per cent of children with IQs above 135 or 140.