谁更聪明，左撇子还是右撇子
Who are smarter—righties or lefties? As is often the case with social science research, the frustrating answer is “it depends”. But there are certain areas where left-handed people do seem to behave better. One such area is called “divergent thinking(发散性思维)” or the ability to think out new ideas based on existing information. That’s according to 1995 research by psychologist(心理学家) Stanley Coren, which was repeated more recently in a New Yorker article. Coren carried out several experiments that suggest left-handedness is associated with better divergent thinking, at least in men.
In one experiment, nearly 1,000 men and women had to think of ways to combine two common objects not typically used together, like a pole and a tin can. In another, participants had to organize a series of words into as many different categories as possible. Results showed that left-handed men performed better on these measures of divergent thinking than right-handed men —although there was no such difference for women.
Coren was able to effectively rule out the possibility that lefties are simply smarter by administering a test of convergent thinking(集合思维), which involves applying existing knowledge and rules to come up with a correct answer. Participants had to indicate which word in a series didn’t fit the pattern—and righties performed slightly better.
In the paper, Coren notes lefties are more common among architects, artists, and chess experts. More recent research has found that lefties have great skills of dealing space and working memory. Although none of these findings prove that lefties are more intelligent, they do suggest that they have certain cognitive(认知) advantages. Those advantages may influence not only their performance in psychological experiments, but also the professional paths they take and the areas they do well in.
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1.What conclusion did Stanley Coren draw from his research?
A The lefties will become much smarter.
B The left-handed people behave better.
C The lefties have better creative thinking.
D The righties have better divergent thinking.
解析：选C。C 推理判断题。根据文章第一段最后一句“Coren carried out several experiments that suggest left-handedness is associated with better divergent thinking...” 及 第 一 段 第 四 句 “One such area is called “divergent thinking” or the ability to think out new ideas based on existing information.”可知 他的实验得出了习惯用左手的人的发散思维能 力更强，即有更好的创造性思维。故选 C。
2.What should the participants do during the experiment?
A They should connect two different objects.
B They should give many names to the objects.
C They should find a lot oin cans and poles. f t
D They should remember different categories.
解析：选A。A 根据文章第二段第一句“In one experiment, nearly 1,000 men and women had to think of ways to combine two common objects not typically used together.”可知，参加测试的人员被要求把两个一 般不一起使用的两个物体联系起来。故选 A。
3.In which aspect did the righties do better?
A Administering some hard tests.
B Applying existing knowledge.
C Memorizing different words.
D Answering hard questions.
解析：选B。B 细节理解题。根据第三段的“which involves applying existing knowledge and rules to come up with a correct answer. Participants had to indicate which word in a series didn’t fit the pattern — and righties performed slightly better.”可知，习惯用右 手的人更善于运用已有的知识。故选 B。
4.Many architects, artists, and chess experts are lefties because _________.
A they have a high intelligence
B they have a great sense of space
C hey have psychological ideas
D they have professional paths
解析：选B。B 推理判断题。根据第四段第二句“More recent research has found that lefties have great skills of dealing space and working memory.”可知，因为习 惯用左手的人有很好的空间感知能力，所以艺术 家、建筑师和下棋专家中有很多的左手习惯的 人。故选 B。