Left-Hand Dominance: Nature, Nurture and Neurology Reading Answers

Aug 12, 2025

Left-Hand Dominance: Nature, Nurture and Neurology Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. Left-Hand Dominance: Nature, Nurture and Neurology Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total. In the question set given, you have to state whether the statement is true, false or not given with the information given in the text. In the next set, you have to choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

The IELTS Reading section is an essential part of the test that evaluates a candidate's comprehension and analysis of various passage types. You will work through a number of IELTS reading practice problems in this section that resemble actual test situations. These questions are designed to help you improve your ability to recognise essential concepts, extract particular facts, and make inferences. Practising these IELTS reading problems can help you get comfortable with the structure and increase your confidence for the exam, regardless of whether you are studying for the Academic or General Training module.

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Section 1

LEFT-HAND DOMINANCE: NATURE, NURTURE, AND NEUROLOGY

Left-handedness, or left-hand dominance, has long fascinated scientists, educators, and the general public alike. Roughly 10% of the global population identifies as left-handed, a statistic that has remained remarkably consistent across cultures and centuries. But why are some individuals left-handed in a world that appears biologically and socially skewed toward right-handedness? The answers lie in a complex interplay of genetics, neurological development, and environmental influences.

Historically, left-handedness was associated with superstition and even suspicion. In many Western cultures, the left hand was linked with awkwardness or even malevolence, a perspective deeply embedded in language. The Latin word sinistra, meaning "left," is the root for the English word "sinister." Children in the 19th and early 20th centuries were often discouraged or even punished for using their left hand in schools, where right-handedness was the expected

norm.

Scientific exploration into the causes of left-handedness began in earnest in the 20th century. Researchers have identified a genetic component, although it does not follow simple Mendelian inheritance patterns. Studies of twins have shown that left-handedness is more likely to appear in identical twins than in fraternal ones, suggesting a heritable element. However, the genes involved remain elusive, and environmental factors appear to play a significant role as well.

Neurologically, handedness is associated with brain lateralization — the specialization of certain functions in either the left or right hemisphere of the brain. For most right-handed people, language processing and fine motor control are concentrated in the left hemisphere. Interestingly, many left-handed individuals also show this left-hemisphere dominance, though a larger proportion show right-hemisphere or more bilateral distribution. This suggests that the brains of left-handed people may be more symmetrical or organized differently.

There is also a growing body of research investigating the potential cognitive advantages and disadvantages associated with left-handedness. Some studies have found a slightly higher prevalence of left-handed individuals in populations of artists, musicians, and architects, prompting theories that left-handedness may be linked to creativity or divergent thinking. However, these claims remain controversial and are not universally supported by empirical data.

On the other hand, left-handed individuals may face specific challenges. They are more likely to experience learning difficulties, such as dyslexia or delayed language development, though the correlations are weak. Additionally, they live in a world designed primarily for right-handed people — from scissors and spiral notebooks to machinery and writing desks — which may result in minor but chronic inconveniences throughout their lives.

Modern society has become more accommodating of left-handedness, with educational institutions increasingly recognizing and respecting individual learning and motor preferences. Ambidextrous tools and adaptable technology have helped reduce physical disadvantages, while cultural stigmas have largely faded in many parts of the world. In sum, left-handedness is a multi-faceted trait shaped by both genetic predisposition and environmental factors. While it can pose certain difficulties, it also adds to the rich tapestry of human diversity.

Questions 1-7

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage?

TRUE - if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE — if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN - if there is no information on this

1. Left-handedness is evenly distributed across different populations worldwide.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: "Roughly 10% of the global population identifies as left-handed, a statistic that has remained remarkably consistent across cultures and centuries."

Keywords: remarkably consistent, across cultures and centuries

Keyword Location: Para 1, Lines 2-3

Explanation: The passage explicitly states that the 10% statistic for left-handedness has been remarkably consistent across cultures and centuries, indicating an even distribution globally.

2. The Latin word for "left" had negative connotations.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: " The Latin word sinistra, meaning "left," is the root for the English word "sinister."

Keywords: Latin word sinistra, root for "sinister"

Keyword Location: Para 2, Lines 3-4

Explanation: The connection between sinistra (meaning "left") and "sinister" (implying evil or ominous) clearly shows a negative connotation.

3. Genetic research has identified a single gene responsible for left-handedness.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: "Researchers have identified a genetic component, although it does not follow simple Mendelian inheritance patterns. … However, the genes involved remain elusive…"

Keywords: Researchers, Mendelian inheritance, genes

Keyword Location: Para 3, Lines 2-4

Explanation: The passage states that the genes involved remain elusive and that it doesn't follow simple Mendelian inheritance patterns, meaning a single gene has not been identified.

4 Identical twins are more likely to be left-handed than fraternal twins.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: "Studies of twins have shown that left-handedness is more likely to appear in identical twins than in fraternal ones, suggesting a heritable element."

Keywords: twins, heritable

Keyword Location: Para 3, Lines 3-4

Explanation: This statement directly mirrors the information provided in the passage regarding twin studies.

5. Most left-handed people have language centres in the right hemisphere of the brain.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: "Interestingly, many left-handed individuals also show this left-hemisphere dominance, though a larger proportion show right-hemisphere or more bilateral distribution."

Keywords: left-handed individuals, left-hemisphere dominance

Keyword Location: Para 4, Lines 4-5

Explanation: The passage states that "many left-handed individuals also show this left-hemisphere dominance" (like most right-handed people), meaning it's not "most" who have language centers in the right hemisphere. A "larger proportion" might show right or bilateral, but "many" still show left.

6. Left-handedness is strongly linked to higher intelligence.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: "Some studies have found a slightly higher prevalence of left-handed individuals in populations of artists, musicians, and architects, prompting theories that left-handedness may be linked to creativity or divergent thinking. However, these claims remain controversial and are not universally supported by empirical data."

Keywords: higher prevalence, theories, empirical data

Keyword Location: Para 5, Lines 2-3

Explanation: While there are theories about links to creativity, the passage notes these claims are "controversial" and "not universally supported by empirical data," meaning there isn't a strong, proven link to higher intelligence.

7. Educational systems still generally discourage left-handedness.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: "Modern society has become more accommodating of left-handedness, with educational institutions increasingly recognizing and respecting individual learning and motor preferences."

Keywords: Modern society, accommodating, educational institutions

Keyword Location: Para 7, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The passage explicitly states that "educational institutions [are] increasingly recognizing and respecting" left-handedness, which contradicts the idea that they still generally discourage it.

Questions 8-13

Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

8. Left-handedness was historically associated with______ and negative traits.

Answer: SUPERSTITION

Supporting statement: "Historically, left-handedness was associated with superstition and even suspicion."

Keywords: superstition, suspicion

Keyword Location: Para 2, Line 1

Explanation: The passage directly states superstition and even suspicion, with suspicion being a negative trait.

9. Children in schools were once _______for using their left hand.

Answer: PUNISHED

Supporting statement: "Children in the 19th and early 20th centuries were often discouraged or even punished for using their left hand in schools, where right-handedness was the expected norm."

Keywords: Children, punished, schools

Keyword Location: Para 2, Lines 4-5

Explanation: The text explicitly mentions that children were punished for using their left hand in schools.

10. The_____in brain activity differs between right- and left-handed individuals.

Answer: LATERALIZATION

Supporting statement: "Neurologically, handedness is associated with brain lateralization — the specialization of certain functions in either the left or right hemisphere of the brain."

Keywords: Neurologically, brain lateralization

Keyword Location: Para 4, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The passage states that handedness is associated with brain lateralization, which describes the differing brain activity patterns between right and left-handed individuals.

11. Some studies suggest left-handed people may excel in __________and similar fields.

Answer: ART/MUSIC/ARCHITECTURE (ANYONE IS ACCEPTABLE)

Keywords: artists, musicians, and architects

Keyword Location: Para 5, Lines 2-3

Explanation: The passage lists "artists, musicians, and architects" as fields where left-handed individuals may have a higher prevalence, suggesting they might excel.

12. Physical items like_________are often designed with right-handed users in mind.

Answer: SCISSORS

Supporting statement: "Additionally, they live in a world designed primarily for right-handed people — from scissors and spiral notebooks to machinery and writing desks — which may result in minor but chronic inconveniences throughout their lives."

Keywords: right-handed, scissors and spiral

Keyword Location: Para 6, Lines 3-4

Explanation: The passage lists scissors and spiral notebooks as examples of items designed for right-handed people. Scissors are the first example given.

13. Today, ________have reduced the difficulties faced by left-handed people.

Answer: ADAPTABLE TECHNOLOGY

Supporting statement: "Ambidextrous tools and adaptable technology have helped reduce physical disadvantages, while cultural stigmas have largely faded in many parts of the world."

Keywords: ambidextrous tools, adaptable technology

Keyword Location: Para 7, Lines 3-4

Explanation: The passage states that adaptable technology has helped reduce physical disadvantages, directly answering the question.

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