Unit VIII Thinking and problem-solving

Left-handers have different brains

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People who grow up left-handed have a different, more flexible brain structure than those born to take life by the right hand. The reason is that right-handers have genes that force their brains into a slightly more one- sided structure. Left-handers have a more symmetric brain. Their brain has more flexibility.

Of all the primates, only people display such a strong predisposition to right-handedness. Right-handers make up about 90 percent of the population. The left and right halves of the brain are different in both their anatomy and their functions, related in part to hand preference. Right- and left-handedness is partially determined by genetics. If a person inherits the gene for right-handedness, that person will be right-handed. People who do not have that gene, however, can be either left- or right-handed. There is no specific gene for left-handedness.

Right-handers typically have a larger left brain hemisphere (полушарие), where their language abilities are concentrated. Left-handers have more balanced brains, with both sides relatively symmetrical. The language abilities of left-handers more often are concentrated on the right side. Scientists studied identical twins and had the following results. If identical twins carry the gene for hand preference, both must be right-handed. If they lack the gene, one twin can develop right-handed while the other develops left- handed.

The researchers found that the brains of identical right-handed twins were very similar in size and structure. But when a left-hander was part of the twin set, the brains were different. The conclusion is that the absence of the gene for hand preference allows the brain to develop differently as the individual grows up.

Lesson 1 Defining thinking

1. Study the following words:

thinking [ ' IiEkiE] – 1) псих. мышление, 2) размышление, 3) мнение,to my~ - по моему мнению

ponder ['pKndB] – обдумывать, взвешивать, размышлять (on, upon,over)

reflect [ri'flect] – 1) отражать(ся); 2) размышлять, раздумывать (on,upon)

daydream ['deidri:m] – грезить наяву, мечтать, фантазировать

represent [@ripri'zent] – 1) изображать. Представлять в определенном свете, 2) представлять, олицетворять, 3) быть представителем

internal [in'tB:nl] – 1) внутренний; 2) сокровенный

2. Make the derivatives from the following words: ponder, reflect, think, represent, daydream, define

3. Write the three forms of the following verbs: think, may, mean, get, be, dream, make, win, go, keep, have, find, do, put, arise, see, know, grow, have, do

4. Write the three forms of the following regular verbs and group them in accordance with the pronunciation of the ending –ed:

use, ponder, like, call, try, define, turn, live, insist, include, start, originate, satisfy, control, enable, form, develop, direct, adapt, adjust, reach, close, solve, expect start.

5. Give the Russian equivalents to the following words and word combinations. Use your dictionary if necessary:

intellectual activities, mental activities, making a decision:, internal representation of events, walk straight to the place, broad range, internal world, daydreaming, the internal representation of events, extremely broad range, to win lots of money, to disagree with something.

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