Structure & Purpose
What is the main purpose of paragraph 1?
To introduce the nature-versus-nurture debate and pose the central question
Which two opposing claims make up the central argument of the text?
Nature shapes people vs. nurture shapes people.
Why is the twin study in paragraphs 9–10 effective evidence?
It compares people with identical and non-identical genetics to show each side of the debate.
Based on paragraph 2, what is the denotative meaning of the word environment?
The surroundings or conditions in which a person lives.
What central idea is introduced in paragraphs 1–3?
Scientists disagree about whether nature or nurture shapes who we become.
Why does the author use a series of questions in paragraph 8 (“Why are some students lazy…?”)?
To help readers connect the debate to real-life situations.
What type of reasoning is the author using in paragraph 4 when listing inherited traits like freckles and dimples?
Example-based reasoning.
How does the statistic “sixty percent of the country” contribute to the effectiveness of the argument?
It provides numerical data that strengthens the nature argument.
Using context clues in paragraph 9, what does identical mean?
Twins who share the same genetic makeup.
What central idea does the twin study support?
Both nature and nurture contribute to personality.
How do paragraphs 4–6 function in the overall structure of the text?
They explain the “nature” side of the debate using examples of genetic traits and diseases.
What reasoning do the researchers use to claim that nurture has the upper hand (paragraph 11)?
They argue that environment determines how genetic traits are expressed.
Why is the London exception an important piece of evidence?
It challenges the nature argument and shows that environment can have a stronger influence.
What connotation does non-identical carry in this text?
It suggests difference or variation in genetic traits.
What message does paragraph 11 convey about the debate?
Environment influences how genetic traits appear, giving nurture more influence.
What is the purpose of the transition in paragraph 7 (“there is plenty of gray area…”)?
To shift from simple explanations to the more complex idea that genetics alone cannot explain everything.
The text explains that identical twins raised in the same home may choose different friend groups (paragraph 10). What type of reasoning is this?
Cause-and-effect reasoning to show how environment can change outcomes.
How does describing late-onset Alzheimer’s in paragraph 6 support the author’s purpose?
It demonstrates a situation where both genetics and environment interact, adding complexity.
In paragraph 9, what does traits mean?
Specific personality or behavioral characteristics.
Which detail best supports the idea that genetics alone cannot determine personality?
Identical twins in the same home developing different behaviors based on their environment.
How does the structure of paragraphs 9–11 contribute to the author’s conclusion?
They present research, show exceptions, then summarize how environment affects genetic expression.
Which statement best describes how the author develops the argument?
A) The author presents only opinions with no evidence.
B) The author presents both sides, supports each with examples and research, and ends with a conclusion.
C) The author relies only on personal stories to persuade readers.
D) The author repeats the same point in every paragraph.
B
Which type of evidence is used when the author writes about diseases linked to genes (paragraphs 5–6)?
Scientific evidence that appeals to logic.
Using paragraphs 1 and 4, what does the word genes mean?
Units of heredity passed from parents to offspring that influence physical traits and health.
Which statement best expresses the article’s overall central idea?
A) Nature is always stronger than nurture.
B) Nurture is always stronger than nature.
C) Both nature and nurture influence who we become, but environment shapes how genes are expressed.
D) Genes determine everything about a person, no exceptions.
c