Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[learner12]

Hello, teachers!!

Russell's own words:

At the age of eleven, I began Euclid, with my brother as my tutor. This was one of the great events of my life, as dazzling as first love. I had not imagined that there was anything so delicious in the world. After I had learned the fifth proposition, my brother told me that it was generally considered difficult, but I had found no difficulty whatever. This was the first time it had dawned upon me that I might have some intelligence. From that moment until Whitehead and I finished Principia Mathematica, when I was thirty-eight, mathematics was my chief interest, and my chief source of happiness. Like all happiness, however, it was not unalloyed.
----->
(*) This was the first time it had dawned upon me that I might have some intelligence.

What do you mean by "some" in the sentence above?

(1) being an undetermined or unspecified one
(2) of impressive or remarkable quality, consequence, extent, etc.

In my opinion, "some" means (1).

However (2) seems right because the following sentences are mentioned about mathematical aptitude. So, it seems that "some intelligence" means "wonderful mathematical intelligence" or whatever.

Thank you in advance.

[Bob S.]

[learner12]

Dear Bob S.:

Thank you so much for your quick and insightful replies.

Take care and have a nice day!!