Handedness in Sport and Music - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 07 Academic Listening Test 2 · Part 4 · Questions 31–40
Audio
Questions
Questions 31–35 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Questions 36–40 Table Completion
Complete the table below.
Write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
| Sport | Best laterality | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Hockey | mixed laterality | • hockey stick has to be used in 36
• mixed-handed players found to be much more 37 than others |
| Tennis | single laterality | • gives a larger relevant field of 38
• cross-lateral players make 39 too late |
| Gymnastics | cross laterality | • gymnasts' 40 is important for performances |
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q31 | C | But what I soon became struck by was the sheer volume of both observation and investigation he had done in many different sports and I felt persuaded that what he had to say would be of real interest | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that Anita was impressed by the huge amount of study and evidence the author collected. Because of this large amount of work, she was convinced that his ideas were important. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Anita started to value the article once she saw how much research and data the author had gathered. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the speaker mentions that she was initially uninterested when the author talked about music. However, she changed her mind when she saw the 'sheer volume' (the large amount) of 'observation and investigation' (research) he had conducted. This made her believe the article would be very interesting and useful. Keywords to note are 'volume,' 'observation,' and 'investigation,' which all relate to the 'size' and depth of a research project. |
| Q32 | B | I think Matthews' findings will be beneficial, not so much in helping sportspeople to work on their weaker side, but more that they can help them identify the most suitable strategies to use in a given game | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the research is helpful for athletes to pick the best plans or methods (strategies) for a specific game, rather than just helping them improve their weak side. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the information about being left- or right-handed is useful for athletes when they are planning how to play against an opponent. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Anita mentions that the research can help players find the best "strategies" for a match. In sports, "tactics" and "strategies" are synonyms, meaning a plan to achieve a goal. She clarifies that the main benefit is not just about fixing a person's "weaker side" (which rules out choice A), but about choosing the right approach for the game. |
| Q33 | C | Although most trainers know how important handedness is, at present they are rather reluctant to make use of the insights scientists like Matthews can give, which I think is rather short-sighted because focusing on individual flexibility is only part of the story | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that while coaches understand the importance of whether an athlete is left- or right-handed, they are currently unwilling to use the helpful information provided by science. Anita views this lack of interest in scientific data as a mistake. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Anita thinks sports coaches do not value or use scientific research as much as they should to improve sports performance. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is supported by Anita's comment that coaches (called 'trainers' in the text) are 'reluctant' to use information from scientists. Even though they know the topic is important, she says they are 'short-sighted' because they avoid Using scientific 'insights' and only look at one small part of training. This shows they do not fully appreciate or utilize what science can provide for sports. |
| Q34 | A | Also those who started younger were more mixed-handed | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that musicians who began playing their instrument at a younger age were more likely to be able to use both their left and right hands equally. Answer Explanation: The answer means that musicians who began learning to play their instruments when they were very young were more likely to have 'mixed-handedness,' which is the ability to use both hands equally well. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the transcript specifically notes that musicians who began their training at an earlier age (in their 'youth') showed higher levels of mixed-handedness. While the researchers looked at other factors like how much a person practiced (regularity of practice) or what instrument they played, the finding about starting 'younger' directly matches the idea of starting in 'early youth.' |
| Q35 | A | Studies showed that apes consistently using the same hand fished out 30% more ants than those varying between the two | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that apes that always use the same hand were able to catch more ants than apes that used different hands. Answer Explanation: The answer means that apes that use only one specific hand all the time are better at catching food. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on research about how apes catch ants. The transcript says that apes who 'consistently' (which means always) used just one hand were able to catch 30% more ants than apes that switched between two hands. This higher number of ants caught shows they were more 'successful' at getting food. The transcript also mentions that left- and right-handedness is 'equal' in apes, which proves that options B and C are wrong. |
| Q36 | 2 directions | this is because a hockey stick must be deployed in two directions – it would be a drawback to have hand or eye favouring one side | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that moves in hockey require the stick to go in two different ways. Because of this, preferring only one side of the body would be a problem for the player. Answer Explanation: The answer means that in the sport of hockey, players must move their stick in two different ways or paths. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on the research mentioned by the speaker. According to Matthews, being 'mixed-handed' is the best approach for hockey. This is necessary because the stick needs to be moved or used in two directions. If a player favors only one side (is right- or left-handed only), it becomes a disadvantage or a 'drawback'. |
| Q37 | confident | An interesting finding is that mixed-handed hockey players were significantly more confident than their single-handed counterparts | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that researchers found that hockey players who are good with both sides of their bodies have more trust in themselves during a game than players who only use one side. Answer Explanation: The answer means that hockey players who can use both hands equally feel very sure of their abilities. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'confident' because the transcript discusses a study about hockey players. It mentions that those with 'mixed-handedness' (who use both sides well) were found to have much more self-assurance than players who favor only one side. Keywords to note are 'mixed-handed hockey players' and 'significantly more'. |
| Q38 | vision | This means that there is a bigger area of vision on the side where most of the action occurs | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that when a tennis player's dominant hand and dominant eye are on the same side of their body, they can see more of the space where the ball is moving. Answer Explanation: The answer 'vision' refers to the ability to see or the range of what can be seen by a player during a match. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'vision' because the text explains that in tennis, having both the dominant hand and eye on the same side is beneficial. This setup allows the player to have a 'bigger area of vision' on the side of the court where they are hitting the ball. In this context, 'field of vision' means the area a person can see while their eyes are fixed in one position. |
| Q39 | corrections | If a player is cross lateral the racket is invisible from the dominant eye for much of the swing. It means that they can only make corrections much later . . . and often the damage has been done by then | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that for players who use opposite sides for their eyes and hands, the racket is hard to see during the swing. This makes them wait too long before they can try to fix their mistakes. Answer Explanation: The answer 'corrections' refers to the changes or adjustments a sportsperson makes to their movement when they realize something is wrong. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'corrections' because the transcript explains that in tennis, players who are cross-lateral (using eyes and hands on different sides) have a hard time seeing the racket. Because they can't see the racket well, they are not able to fix or adjust their swing until it is too late to hit the ball correctly. The word 'corrections' matches the idea of fixing a movement. |
| Q40 | balance | The predominant reason for this is because it aids balance – which is of course absolutely central to performance in this sport | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the main reason cross-laterality is used in gymnastics is to help the athletes stay steady. It highlights that being steady is a fundamental and vital part of doing well in gymnastics. Answer Explanation: The answer 'balance' refers to the physical ability to keep your body steady and controlled, preventing you from falling. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'balance' because the speaker says that in gymnastics, having cross-laterality (favouring opposite sides for hands and eyes) is beneficial. The speaker states that the main reason for this is that it improves balance. The word 'central' in the text indicates that balance is a key or 'important' element for doing well in gymnastics performances. |
Transcript
My topic is handedness – whether in different sports it is better to be left- or right-sided or whether a more balanced approach is more successful. I'm left-handed myself and I actually didn't see any relevance to my own life when I happened to start reading an article by a sports psychologist called Peter Matthews. He spent the first part of the article talking about handedness in music instead of sport, which I have to say almost put me off from reading further. But what I soon became struck by was the sheer volume of both observation and investigation he had done in many different sports and I felt persuaded that what he had to say would be of real interest. I think Matthews' findings will be beneficial, not so much in helping sportspeople to work on their weaker side, but more that they can help them identify the most suitable strategies to use in a given game. Although most trainers know how important handedness is, at present they are rather reluctant to make use of the insights scientists like Matthews can give, which I think is rather short-sighted because focusing on individual flexibility is only part of the story.
Anyway, back to the article.
Matthews found a German study which looked at what he called 'mixed-handedness', that is, the capacity to use both left and right hands equally. It looked at mixed-handedness in 40 musicians on a variety of instruments. Researchers examined a number of variables, e.g. type of instrument played, regularity of practice undertaken and length of time playing instrument . . . and found the following: keyboard players had high levels of mixed-handedness, whereas string players like cellists and violinists strongly favoured one hand. Also those who started younger were more mixed-handed.
Matthews also reports studies of handedness in apes. Apes get a large proportion of their food by 'fishing' ants from ant hills. The studies show that apes, like humans, show handedness – though for them right- and left-handedness is about equal, whereas about 85% of humans are right-handed. Studies showed that apes consistently using the same hand fished out 30% more ants than those varying between the two.
Matthews started researching several different sports and found different types of handedness in each. By the way, he uses 'handedness' to refer to the dominant side for feet and eyes as well as hands. Anyway, his team measured the hand, feet and eyes of 2,611 players and found that there were really three main types of laterality: mixed – you work equally well on both sides – both hand and eye; single – you tend to favour one side but both hand and eye favour the same side; and cross-laterality – a player's hands and eyes favour only one side but they are opposite sides. Let's start with hockey. Matthews found that it was best to be mixed-handed – this is because a hockey stick must be deployed in two directions – it would be a drawback to have hand or eye favouring one side. An interesting finding is that mixed-handed hockey players were significantly more confident than their single-handed counterparts. Things are slightly different in racket sports like tennis. Here the important thing is to have the dominant hand and eye on the one side. This means that there is a bigger area of vision on the side where most of the action occurs. If a player is cross lateral the racket is invisible from the dominant eye for much of the swing. It means that they can only make corrections much later . . . and often the damage has been done by then.
And moving to a rather different type of sport which involves large but precise movements – gymnastics. It's been found that cross hand-eye favouring is best. The predominant reason for this is because it aids balance – which is of course absolutely central to performance in this sport.