Sign, Baby, Sign!
Read Sign, Baby, Sign! and check the IELTS Reading answers. Language is a powerful tool that humans use for a wide variety of purposes-from expressing emotions and sharing ideas to passing down cultural values and acquiring knowledge. It is not limited to spoken words; gestures, facial expressions,…
Passage preview
Language is a powerful tool that humans use for a wide variety of purposes-from expressing emotions and sharing ideas to passing down cultural values and acquiring knowledge. It is not limited to spoken words; gestures, facial expressions, and even posture all contribute to how we communicate. Language, whether signed or spoken, plays a vital role in how we engage with the world around us.
Vocabulary from this passage
10 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- accelerate verb
To cause something to happen more quickly; to increase the speed or rate of development
Early exposure to signing may actually accelerate the overall speech development of young children.
- advocate noun
A person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause, policy, or system
Dr. Daniels is a prominent advocate for the use of sign language in early childhood education.
- articulate verb
To pronounce words clearly and distinctly; to express an idea fluently and coherently
Babies can use signs to communicate long before they are physically able to articulate spoken words.
- cognitive advantages noun
Benefits related to mental processes such as memory, reasoning, and the acquisition of knowledge
Research suggests that early bilingualism through sign language offers significant cognitive advantages for children.
- empathy noun
The ability to understand and share the feelings, perspectives, or experiences of another individual
Learning sign language helps hearing students develop empathy toward the challenges faced by the Deaf community.
- inclusive adjective
Aiming to provide equal access and opportunities to everyone, regardless of their background or disabilities
A more inclusive social environment is created when children learn to communicate through signing.
- literacy noun
The ability to read and write; competence or knowledge in a specified area
The foundations of literacy are strengthened when children learn the grammar and structure of sign language.
- motor skills noun
The ability to perform movements using muscles, often categorized into fine and gross physical actions
Infants often master basic motor skills before they are capable of complex vocal articulation.
- outdated notion noun
An idea or belief that is no longer valid, relevant, or acceptable in modern times
Modern research contradicts the outdated notion that signing hinders the development of spoken language.
- symbolic representation noun
The use of signs, symbols, or images to stand for or represent ideas and objects
Signing enhances a child's understanding of symbolic representation, which is essential for future reading skills.
Answers with explanations
- 27. A
Paragraph A provides a very clear, explicit list of the **different things people use language for**, specifically mentioning **expressing emotions, sharing ideas**, and **acquiring knowledge**. This directly matches the informational statement.
- 28. B
Paragraph B discusses how learning ASL can positively **influence students** to pursue specific **careers** (which matches the concept of **future subject choices**) such as **special education or speech therapy**.
- 29. G
Paragraph G explicitly states the formal **assertion** that deaf children have an absolute **right** to a full, accessible language, and the author specifically notes that this **language is often sign**.
- 30. E
Paragraph E observes that very **small children** (specifically babies as young as six months) have the capacity to learn to use their **hands** for simple signs long before they are able to develop verbal articulation skills.
- 31. C
Paragraph C explicitly mentions the **clear benefit** (meaning advantage) of **broader social interaction**, pointing out that it allows hearing children to easily communicate with **deaf peers** and making their social circles far more inclusive.
- 32. G
Paragraph G explicitly outlines the ongoing **debate** (representing different views) between educators who strongly believe **speech and lip-reading should come first** and those who passionately advocate for **immediate exposure to sign language**.
- 33. F
Paragraph F clearly notes the scientific observation that **hearing children** who are exposed to sign language tend to predictably have **stronger reading skills** by the time they reach **primary school** age.
- 34. FALSE
The statement claims parents should intentionally make up their own gestures. The text directly contradicts this, stating Dr. Daniels clearly emphasizes there is **no need for parents to invent their own signs**, actively suggesting they use standardized systems instead. Answer: FALSE.
- 35. NOT GIVEN
The passage mentions ASL is formally recognized in American schools and provides extensive benefits, but it **never compares** its overall global usage to other existing sign languages. There is no factual information regarding it being the **most widely used in the world**. Answer: NOT GIVEN.
- 36. TRUE
The text plainly states that American schools are beginning to recognize ASL as a **valid foreign language credit**, explicitly comparing its status directly to options **like Spanish or French**, which confirms it is viewed as an equivalent option. Answer: TRUE.
- 37. NOT GIVEN
While the text briefly mentions that learning sign language can help strengthen the understanding of **grammar**, there is absolutely **no mention** of any brain research directly comparing the relative learning difficulty of vocabulary versus grammar. Answer: NOT GIVEN.
- 38. NOT GIVEN
The passage discusses the various cognitive advantages and general academic success related to learning ASL early on, but it provides **no neurological or anatomical details** regarding how or where first and second languages are physically **stored in the brain**. Answer: NOT GIVEN.
- 39. TRUE
The text clearly states that babies can successfully use physical signs **long before they can articulate those words** (make sounds), and that this early capability reduces frustration. This definitively confirms that making signs is physically easier for them early on. Answer: TRUE.
- 40. TRUE
The statement claims the view is considered **old-fashioned**. The passage explicitly quotes Dr. Daniels directly calling the idea that children must learn lip-reading first an **"outdated notion,"** which is an exact synonym for old-fashioned. Answer: TRUE.