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Hard: Upper intermediate level and above, B2 and above 

Introduction

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1 Would you be the same person if you'd grown up in different surroundings? How might you be different if you'd grown up in an urban versus a rural environment, or in a different country altogether? This is the age-old, nature-nurture debate that has had people pondering for many years. Is your personality written in your genes or shaped by your experience? Most experts agree that it is a combination of both. Let's hear about ways this can be put to the test.

2 A common way is to study twin pairs, because if personality came only from genes, you might expect identical twins to have the same, or a very similar, personality. Research called 'Meta-analysis of the heritability of human traits based on fifty years of twin studies' looked at 14 million twin pairs in 39 countries. Do identical twins, who share almost identical DNA, have more similar personalities than non-identical twins, who share about half? By comparing the two, the authors concluded that about 50% of the differences between people can be explained by genetic factors, meaning that our genes play a significant role in shaping who we are, but our environment and experiences are just as important.

3 Other studies looked to see whether personality traits were more prevalent in certain geographical regions than in others. For example, in a 2015 study called 'Regional Personality Differences in Great Britain', researchers investigated how the 'Big Five' personality traits, which include extraversion, openness and agreeableness, were geographically distributed. They found there were areas where each trait was more prevalent. For example, agreeableness, which is about friendliness and trust, was more prevalent in the Scottish Highlands and Northern England – more rural areas with lower population densities. Whereas openness, which is associated with curiosity and intellect, was more prevalent in urban, densely populated areas like London, Manchester and Brighton, suggesting that a person's environment can help to foster various traits.

4 While our DNA provides a starting point, it is only part of the jigsaw puzzle that makes our personality. As we go through life, we encounter obstacles, we make mistakes, and we learn what we enjoy through experience – all of which can change how we interact with the world.

Questions

1. Choose the best summary for the article.

a. Personality is mostly influenced by genes.
b. Personality is mostly influenced by the environment.
c. Personality is influenced by a combination of both genes and the
environment.

2. Choose the correct option based on the content of the article. 

1. Why are twin studies helpful for understanding what influences personality?
a. We can study whether identical twins have more similar personalities than non-identical twins.
b. We can study how twin pairs interact with each other.
c. We can compare the physical differences between identical and non-identical twins.

2. The twin study meta-analysis found that genetics were exclusively responsible for the personality differences between people.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

3. One of the 'Big Five' personality traits is flexibility.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given 

4. People in the Scottish Highlands and Northern England are more likely to be friendly and trustworthy than other parts of Great Britain.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given 

5. What does 'it' refer to in the following sentence? While our DNA provides a starting point, it is only part of the jigsaw puzzle that makes our personality.
a. DNA
b. a starting point
c. the jigsaw puzzle 

3. Use the words from the list to complete the summary of the article.

The 1) ________ has intrigued scientists and philosophers for many years. Genes explain about half of the differences between people, but your environment is just as important. A 2015 study found that certain personality 2) ________ were more 3) ________ in certain areas of Great Britain. So, if you have ever 4) ________ how much your personality is influenced by your 5) ________ versus your environment, it turns out, it's a bit of both. 

Answers

1. Choose the best summary for the article.

c. Personality is influenced by a combination of both genes and the environment.

2. Choose the correct option based on the content of the article.

1. a.Do identical twins, who share almost identical DNA, have more similar personalities than non-identical twins, who share about half?

2. b. False. … the authors concluded that about 50% of the differences between people can be explained by genetic factors, meaning that our genes play a significant role in shaping who we are, but our environment and experiences are just as important.

3. c. Not given. Agreeableness, openness and extraversion are given as examples of the Big Five, but not the other two.

4. a. True.For example, agreeableness, which is about friendliness and trust, was more prevalent in the Scottish Highlands and Northern England.

5. a. 'It' refers back to the subject of the sentence, which is DNA.

3. Use the words in the box to complete the summary of the article.

The nature-nurture debate has intrigued scientists and philosophers for many years. Genes explain about half of the differences between people, but your environment is just as important. A 2015 study found that certain personality traits were more prevalent in certain areas of Great Britain. So, if you have ever pondered how much your personality is influenced by your DNA versus your environment, it turns out, it's a bit of both.

Vocabulary

age-old
something that has existed for a long time

nature-nurture debate
the discussion about whether people are shaped more by their genes (nature) or their environment and experiences (nurture)

ponder
to think carefully about something

shape
to influence or form something

put (something) to the test
to try something out to see if it works

heritability
how much of a trait is passed down from parents through genes

trait
a characteristic or quality of a person

DNA
the material in your body that carries genetic information and determines traits

prevalent
common, happening often

extraversion
a personality trait where someone is outgoing, social, and energetic

agreeableness
a personality trait where someone is kind, friendly, and cooperative

population density
how many people live in a certain area

foster
to help something grow or develop

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