A closer examination of a study on verbal and non-verbal messages
Read A closer examination of a study on verbal and non-verbal messages and check the IELTS Reading answers. The findings of a study on verbal and non-verbal messages in communication by Albert Mehrabian and his colleagues at UCLA* in 1967 have been quoted so frequently that they are now often regar…
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The findings of a study on verbal and non-verbal messages in communication by Albert Mehrabian and his colleagues at UCLA* in 1967 have been quoted so frequently that they are now often regarded as a self-evident truth.
Vocabulary from this passage
10 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- credibility noun
The quality of being trusted, believed in, or accepted as convincing or authoritative
The researcher lost credibility after failing to replicate the results of his initial study.
- devalue verb
To reduce the perceived worth, importance, or influence of something; to make it seem less significant
Critics argue that automated grading systems devalue the creative aspects of student writing.
- mystique noun
An aura of mystery, awe, and fascination surrounding a particular person, activity, or concept
The deep ocean retains a powerful mystique that continues to inspire marine biologists worldwide.
- non-verbal cues noun
The unspoken physical behaviors, such as facial expressions and gestures, that communicate information to others
Interpreting non-verbal cues is essential for counselors to understand their clients' true feelings.
- numerical precision noun
The quality of being exact, accurate, and clearly defined through the use of mathematical numbers
Scientific experiments require numerical precision to ensure that findings can be replicated by others.
- pedagogical adjective
Relating to the methods, theory, and practice of teaching and instructional education
The school adopted new pedagogical approaches to improve student engagement in science classes.
- pedagogy noun
The method and practice of teaching, especially as an academic subject or theoretical concept
Modern university pedagogy emphasizes active learning rather than passive listening during lectures.
- phenomenon noun
A remarkable development, circumstance, or event whose cause or explanation is of scientific interest
Northern lights are a natural phenomenon caused by solar particles colliding with the atmosphere.
- self-evident truth noun
A statement, proposition, or concept that is universally accepted as obviously true without requiring proof
That all humans deserve equal rights is considered a self-evident truth in modern philosophy.
- validity noun
The quality of being logically or factually sound; soundness or cogency of research methodology
Scientists questioned the validity of the study due to its extremely small sample size.
Answers with explanations
- 27. D
The gap needs a noun that fits **comparing the ___ of verbal and non-verbal communication**. The opening paragraph says the study looked at verbal and non-verbal messages. The researchers then concluded that **7%** of feeling comes from words, **38%** from tone of voice and **55%** from body language. These percentages show how much each channel affects the listener, so the word that fits is **effects**. The words purposes and characteristics are never discussed.
- 28. G
The text states subjects were asked to identify 'emotions'. Mehrabian himself later says his findings dealt with 'feelings and attitudes'. This corresponds directly to Option G (feelings).
- 29. A
The summary notes the first experiment focused on voice tones and a second area. The text says subjects were shown 'photos of female faces', identifying facial expression as the other key area. This matches Option A (facial expressions).
- 30. E
For the second experiment, subjects listened to recorded words. The text explicitly divides these into words with positive, neutral, and negative 'meanings'. Thus, it focused on voice tone and 'word meanings', which is Option E.
- 31. YES
The statement claims a limitation was having too few subjects. Paragraph 3 lists limitations, beginning with 'The first is that the entire study involved only 62 subjects,' indicating this low number was indeed a flaw. Therefore, the answer is YES.
- 32. NO
The statement claims the subjects' similar background was an advantage. The text states their backgrounds were 'remarkably uniform' and argues this is a limitation, suggesting the findings might merely be a 'product of the nature of the sample'. Because the writer views this as a flaw, not an advantage, the answer is NO.
- 33. NOT GIVEN
The statement says the two experiments should have been done in a **different order**. The passage describes the **first experiment** with the word 'maybe' and then the **second experiment** with nine words, and critics later complain that the formula was **pieced together** from two experiments. None of this suggests that reversing the order would have helped. The writer never discusses sequence, so the claim is not confirmed or contradicted: **NOT GIVEN**.
- 34. NO
The statement claims the choice of a neutral word was helpful. However, Paragraph 4 argues this was a flaw, stating that because they used a neutral word, subjects 'found little meaning there' and 'it was impossible for the effects of changes in verbal input to be assessed'. Therefore, it was not helpful. The answer is NO.
- 35. NOT GIVEN
The statement claims the study would have been more valid if it had included a range of languages. While the author notes that people 'make extensive use of the multi-faceted vehicle of language' in real contexts, there is no mention that the study should have tested multiple or foreign languages. Thus, the answer is NOT GIVEN.
- 36. A
The question asks what the writer says about 'numerical precision'. The text states that this precision is an 'appealing aspect' of the study, which makes people trust it more. This perfectly aligns with Option A: 'It makes the claims more attractive'.
- 37. B
The writer is concerned that the popularity of the formula encourages people to overestimate non-verbal messages 'compared with the verbal one', implying the verbal message (language) is being incorrectly devalued. This matches Option B (undervaluing of language).
- 38. D
Bradley sarcastically notes that if non-verbal cues were truly 93% of communication, learning language would be a waste of time. The underlying point is that because we *do* make the immense effort to learn language, language must be vitally important. This aligns with Option D.
- 39. A
The question asks what **Mehrabian himself** says about his findings. He recalls that they **dealt with** communications of **feelings and attitudes**, and calls it **absurd** to suggest that the verbal part of all communication is only 7%. His findings therefore apply to one area only, namely feelings and attitudes. The maths example is an illustration, not a claim that only maths is fully verbal, and he does not say non-verbal communication is the main part of every message.
- 40. C
The question asks for the **purpose** of the paragraph beginning 'To be fair'. It notes that many textbook writers try to be **faithful to the context**, others **play down** the percentages, and still others simply **use the numbers** without limits. These are different ways of treating the same study, so the purpose is to present varying **interpretations** of it. The paragraph does not defend the study's strengths, outline other research or claim textbooks ignore non-verbal behaviour.