1 What can be inferred from paragraph 1 about the correlation between genes and hand preference?
Genes are the single most powerful determinant of hand preference in humans.
Genes have a degree of influence on hand preference in some humans.
Genes have no decisive effect on how hand preference develops in humans.
Genes and hand preference have a rather ambiguous link between one another.
2 According to paragraph 1, how do the hand preferences of parents affect the ones of children?
Children of left-handed parents have the highest chance of being left-handed.
Children of right-handed parents have no chance of becoming left-handed.
Children of parents with different hand preferences still grow up right-handed.
Children who are twins exhibit hand preferences of their parents identically.
3 The word 'variables' in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to:
subtleties
From her research, Brinkman believes that one side of the brain became specialized for fine motor skills, which are necessary for speech and as the brain continued to evolve for speech, the right-hand preference emerged.
Brinkman's research has pointed out that the side of the brain specialized for fine motor skills is just as essential for speech as it is for right-hand preference.
Brinkman has discovered from her research that the brain's specialization for fine motor skills, speech, and right-hand preference are closely related and their development happens side by side.
Brinkman's research has led her to believe that the right-hand preference has appeared alongside the brain's involvement for speech in the side of the brain specialized for fine motor skills.
Brinkman has found out that the right-hand preference and the ability for speech are associated with the same side of the brain as specialization for fine motor skills.
5 According to paragraph 4, what has Dr. Brinkman uncovered during her research into primates?
Hemispheric specialization fosters physical differences in the brain's anatomy.
Monkeys and apes do not possess the ability for speech.
Infant macaque monkeys pick up hand preferences from their mothers.
Centers in the brain linked to speech production are larger on the left side.
As it turns out, handedness isn't nearly as unique to humans as it has long been believed by the science.
Dr. Brinkman research has expanded her research into primates as well. █ [A] In her studies of macaque monkeys, she found that the year-old babies appeared to learn either hand preference from their mothers. █ [B] In humans, on the other hand, specialization of the two hemispheres' functions actually creates physical differences in the anatomy of the brain, with areas associated with speech production often being larger on the left side than on the right. Because monkeys and apes do not have the ability of speech, one would not expect to see such a variation in these animals. █ [C] However, Brinkman believes that she has discovered a trend in monkeys' brains which suggests the same asymmetry seen in human brains. █ [D] .
7 Paragraph 5 implies that lateralization in the human brain:
Becomes noticeable when an aptitude for certain skills comes out.
Unfolds at a different rate for every individual.
Is more likely to occur in a male rather than a female brain.
Takes place during the brain's formation in the fetal stage.
8 All of the following are mentioned in paragraph 5 as peculiarities of brain development EXCEPT:
Without the production of specific hormones by the fetus, the brain is bound to remain female.
A male brain is more susceptible to various influences and takes longer to mature.
Fetal gender determines the rate at which the right and the left hemispheres develop.
Losing a degree of lateralization in the brain makes left-handedness more likely to occur.
9 In paragraph 6, the author says "our language subliminally reinforces the notion that the right side is good" to:
Highlight that the bias against left-handed people goes back to the times of ancient Rome.
Point out that the view of left-handedness as an abnormality hasn't relied on research.
Suggest that left-handedness is poorly researched due to the notion that it's potentially dangerous.
Emphasize that the forced use of the right hand in left-handed kids causes them to stammer.
Handedness, a phenomenon closely associated with lateral asymmetry in humans and some animal species, has been quite puzzling for scientists.
A. While there is a clear link between genetics and handedness, a theory that could accurately predict hand preference in humans is yet to emerge.
B. Despite the impact of genetics, handedness seems to be closer associated with the development of speech and language centers of the brain.
C. From genetics to fetal brain development, multiple factors appear to have a stake in which hand becomes the preferred one.
D. As research suggests, monkeys in particular seem to manifest the same lateral asymmetry patterns, including handedness, as the ones observed in humans.
E. Until recently, the causes of handedness have seen almost no research due to the long-held irrational beliefs about the phenomenon.
F. As the understanding of handedness increases, its relation to aptitude for certain occupations becomes more apparent, leading to a better perception of left-handed individuals.
[1] Research suggests that humans aren't the only members of several species in the animal kingdom which exhibit handedness, meaning the preference for one hand over the other. Handedness is related to lateral asymmetry, which refers to physical and functional aspects between sides of the brai...