# Right and left-handedness in humans: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 1, Test 2, Reading Passage 1

Source: Passage, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 1, Test 2, Reading Passage 1. © Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Used for educational practice. Explanations and evidence notes are written by Testmigo.

## Answer key

| Q | Answer | Proof |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | B | has suggested that evolution of speech went with right-handed preference. |
| 2 | D | anything on the right can be trusted while anything on the left is dangerous or even sinister |
| 3 | C | it is more likely to be affected in a male ... there are more left-handed males than females. |
| 4 | B | if a left-handed person is brain-damaged in the left hemisphere, the recovery of speech is quite often better |
| 5 | A | patients who had lost their powers of speech as a result of a stroke ... the brain damage must have been in the brain's left hemisphere. |
| 6 | C | studied the brains of human embryos and discovered that the left-right asymmetry exists before birth. |
| 7 | E | found that handedness goes with sidedness. ... So nine out of ten people are right-handed and eight are right-footed. |
| 8 | 15-20% | With one right and one left-handed parent, 15 to 20 per cent of the offspring will be left-handed. |
| 9 | 40% | perhaps 40 percent of the children will also be left-handed. |
| 10 | 6% | in fact about 6 percent of children with two right-handed parents will be left-handed. |
| 11 | D | Brinkman claims to have discovered a trend in monkeys towards the asymmetry that is evident in the human brain. |
| 12 | B | left-handers who have for centuries lived in a world designed to suit right-handed people. |

## Why these answers are right

**1. B.** The statement links right-hand preference to the arrival of language. Paragraph D says Dr Brinkman has suggested that the evolution of speech went with right-handed preference, as one side of the brain specialized for speech, so this opinion belongs to Brinkman (B).

**2. D.** Prejudice against left-handers is Charles Moore's point in paragraph G. He says the word "right" reinforces its own virtue and that language makes people think anything on the left is dangerous or sinister, which is a social bias, so the answer is D.

**3. C.** In paragraph F, Geschwind and Galaburda argue that problems in brain development during pregnancy more often affect males and the left hemisphere, which can lead to left-handedness. The paragraph ends that there are more left-handed males than females, so C matches.

The why and the trap for questions 4 onwards are free with an account on the [answers page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/reading/right-and-left-handedness-in-humans/answers).

[Practice Right and left-handedness in humans](https://testmigo.com/ielts/reading/right-and-left-handedness-in-humans)