Circle of Life: Reading Task (Twins)

Unlike non-identical twins, identical twins

• are more common among Asians than

  Africans.

• are becoming more and more common.

• are more common among older mothers.

• are no more frequent in one geographical area than another.

Scientists are particularly interested in identical twins who

• have been raised by different families.

• haven't been studied before.

• look and behave in very similar ways.

• are not alike in terms of personality.

While they were growing up, twins Jim Lewis and Jim Springer

• were in regular contact.

• knew about their twin, but had no contact.

• did not know they had ever had a twin.

• were prevented from seeing each other by their adoptive families.

When the two Jims met as adults, how did they react to the similarities between them?

• They had always expected them.

• They found them very amusing.

• They did not realize how similar they were until the researchers told them.

• They were very surprised.

As adults, the twins

• both had only one child.

• each had two wives.

• had pets with the same name.

• married women who were identical twins.

How do other cases of twins raised apart compare with the 'Jim twins'?

• They are all just as surprising.

• They are less surprising, but often show interesting coincidences.

• Many of them are even more surprising.

• Most of them show that other pairs of identical twins are not very similar.