Modul 16 Text How Twins Work
Modul 16 Text How Twins Work
Modul 16 Text How Twins Work
Jedinica: 38 od 46
Introduction
There have been many stories about identical twins. Let’s read the following text and find out why
identical twins are unique. We will also learn many new words as well how Past Perfect is used.
You take it for granted that you are a totally unique person, different from everybody else on Earth.
And you understand that everybody else is also unique.
On a most basic level, identical twins are fascinating because they challenge this truth. They are
unique people, of course, but they're eerily like each other.
Consider the extreme case of the "Jim twins." Identical twins Jim Lewis and Jim Springer were only
four weeks old when they were separated; each infant was taken in by a different adoptive family. At
age five, Lewis learned that he had a twin, but he said that the notion never truly "soaked in" until he
was 38 years old. Springer learned of his twin sibling at age eight, but both he and his adoptive
parents believed the sibling had died. The two were finally reunited at age 39. The similarities the
twins shared not only amazed one another, but researchers at the University of Minnesota as well.
The very fact that you had twin siblings separated at birth bearing the same name, both 6 feet tall
and weighing exactly 180 pounds is pretty incredible. But there's more.
Slika 38.1. Twins
In her book Entwined Lives, Nancy Segal lists the following shared characteristics:
Of course, before you start thinking about science fiction movies with pod people, the Jims, like other
identical twins, are not carbon copies of each other. Some obvious differences were discovered
during their participation in the "Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart," including:
Each styled his hair differently; one Jim wore it combed straight, hanging down over his forehead
(think Beatles circa 1961) and the other Jim wore it combed back and sported sideburns (think
Johnny Cash circa 1957, but with longer 'burns’).
One Jim more clearly conveyed himself through speech, while the other was better suited to writing.
While both Jims had been married twice, one Jim had taken vows with a third wife (called "Sandy")
While not all as eerily similar as the Jim twins, many more instances of uncanny likenesses can be
found among twins who were raised apart. The CBS news show 48 Hours interviewed five sets of
identical twins who were raised apart, including the following:
Also known as the "giggle twins" (because they "laugh and fold their arms the same way"), Barbara
Herbert and Daphne Goodship spent the first four decades of their lives apart. In the time following
their reunion, they've discovered some remarkable parallels in their lives.
Identical twins Tom Patterson and Steve Tazumi had very different upbringings. Raised in a Christian
family by two janitors in rural Kansas, Tom still managed to choose the same career as his brother.
Steve, who lives in Philadelphia, was raised in a Buddhist household. Both men own body building
gyms.
Debbie Mehlman and Sharon Poset were also raised by families of different faiths. But nature versus
nurture prevails in some interesting ways with these women. They both have the unusual habit of
crossing their eyes when they get excited.
The Minnesota study even included a set of triplets. Although raised separately, Bobby Shafran,
David Kellman and Eddy Galland shared similar personalities. According to the book Entwined Lives,
all were described as, "intelligent, extraverted and slightly rambunctious." Bobby and Eddy were the
first to meet, reunited by one of Eddy's college friends. Upon seeing a newspaper photo of his
brothers, David immediately contacted his siblings and the triplets were fully reunited.
It's obvious from these twins' stories that genetics are certainly a factor in shaping who we are.
Vocabulary
Tabela 38.1.
Synonyms