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TOEFL Reading 10

 

[1] Language is one of humanity's most important capabilities and is also one of the most neglected fields of study. This is due to the scientific community's long-held beliefs and attitudes regarding the origins of language. The greatest challenge in studying the origins of language is simply the lack of empirical evidence. As a consequence, researchers and academics are restricted to inferences based on other areas of study. For example, when making comparisons between human and other animal communication, researchers refer to fossil records and even archaeology. Moreover, theories on the evolution of language and its origins are characterized by contrasting ideas and speculation.

[2] A lack of empirical evidence regarding the origins and evolution of language is the first and oldest barrier in this field of study. As early as 1866, the Linguistic Society of Paris debate and discussion on this area was forbidden. Thus, studies in these areas were unrecognized and shunned. It wasn't until the late 20th century when language studies began to take-off again with a renewed vigour and by the 1990s, linguists took on the “hardest problem in science.” Not only linguists but also archaeologists, anthropologists, and psychologists have entered the fray of discussion on the origin of language with diverse theories and methods.

[3] One of the key areas that are studied by those exploring the evolution and origins of language is how infants and children acquire their first language. First language acquisition encompassingly involves study in psycholinguistics, social anthropology, phonetics and even genetics. The ability to acquire language is said to start in the womb. A foetus can listen and interpret the speech patterns and sounds of its mother. By four months, babies can hear individual sounds and they begin to babble - the exploration of speech sounds. A hearing-impaired baby exposed to sign language will also babble with gestures the same way another baby babbles with sounds. As a consequence, scientists tend to believe that the need to communicate through language is an innate human trait, but geneticists aren't convinced of this point.

[4] Evolutionary biologists remain sceptical that language knowledge is conveyed through human genes. The debate regarding language acquisition is fierce and centres on a 50-year-old idea proposed by Noam Chomsky known as “Universal Grammar.” Chomsky's idea states that babies are born with an innate ability to learn language, specifically a 'language acquisition device.' Babies transform language to its simplest form and build from there. Opponents of this theory argue that language is learned through a baby's interaction with other communicators.

[5] This ever-evolving field symbolizes the nature of evolution itself: an on-going development and progression of growth. The challenge of breaking down the history, science, and evidence regarding this dynamic field continues to attract the academic community. Clues exist, but the smallest of details rarely sheds light on the greater picture of language. In spite of language seeming like a perfect study for evolution due to its nature as being learned and replicated, subject to mutation, and that aspects of language can be selected against, the truth is the complexity goes beyond even that of evolution. Thus, science's “hardest question” continues to challenge the brightest minds in academia and there is still no consensus to date.

1 According to paragraph 1, what is NOT a challenge of studying the evolution and origin of language?

  • Lack of direct evidence
  • The difficulty of making inferences
  • The scientific community
  • Lack of early human fossils

ANSWER EXPLANATION

Question is worth: 1 point.

Correct Answer: d
Your Selection: Not Answered

(D) is the correct answer. A lack of early human fossils is not mentioned in the text, although there is a reference to fossils.

To answer the question correctly, highlight each point that is referred to in paragraph 1 and then identify the sentence that is never mentioned.

(A), (B) and (C) are stated in the text.
(A): The greatest challenge in studying the origins of language is simply the lack of empirical evidence.

2 Based on the second paragraph, what can we infer about the Linguistic of Society of Paris' decision to ban discussion of the evolution and origins of language?

  • It led to other scientific groups and communities to cease similar study and discussion
  • It spurred the interest in the field
  • It caused other fields, aside from linguistics, to take an interest during the 19th century
  • It created the 'hardest problem' in science

ANSWER EXPLANATION

Question is worth: 1 point.

Correct Answer: a
Your Selection: Not Answered

(A) is the correct answer because we understand from the paragraph that there was no discussion whatsoever in the scientific community on this topic. To answer the question correctly, highlight the key words (infer...decision...to ban) to understand what to look for in the answers. Now, we know what is inferred by the decision to ban discussion. Read further into the text and highlight the key words that infer the conclusion of this decision: Thus, studies in these areas were unrecognized and shunned.

(B) is incorrect because it contradicts the general meaning of the paragraph that there was no involvement in the subject at this time; interest in the field did not increase until the 20th century.

(C) is not correct because the ban did not cause interest from other fields, and this is not stated in the text.

(D) is not correct because it did not create the "hardest problem" in science

3 According to the paragraph 3, why do babies babble?

  • To sample and practice language communication
  • To emulate behavior by all animal species
  • Babbling begins as a fetus
  • To utilize the evolution of language

ANSWER EXPLANATION

Question is worth: 1 point.

Correct Answer: a
Your Selection: Not Answered

(A) is the correct answer. As stated in the text, By four months, babies can hear individual sounds and they begin to babble - the exploration of speech sounds.
Babies use it to explore speech sounds. To answer the question correctly, identify the type of answer we are looking for – to find the reason that babies babble.
We can eliminate (C) immediately as it doesn’t offer a reason but only a statement about a foetus.

(B) and (D) are also eliminated as they are not referred to in the text.

4 The word 'its' in paragraph 3 refers to:

  • speech patterns
  • sounds
  • fetus
  • mother

ANSWER EXPLANATION

Question is worth: 1 point.

Correct Answer: c
Your Selection: Not Answered

(C) is the correct answer.
To answer the question correctly, identify the part of speech. Its is a possessive adjective. Its replaces the subject noun so the sentence isn’t redundant. Look back at the sentence to find that subject noun which appears at the beginning of the sentence: foetus.
A foetus can listen and interpret the speech patterns and sounds of its mother.

(A), (B) and (D) are object nouns and therefore, are not connected to the possessive adjective replacing the subject noun.

5 Which sentence is most similar to the following sentence from paragraph 4?

Opponents of this theory argue that language is learned through a baby's interaction with other communicators.

  • Opponents argue that a baby learns language through genetic coding.
  • It is argued by opponents of this theory that babies learn language through interactions with others.
  • Babies are born knowing how to talk.
  • Opponents argue that the fetus learns language through interacting with others.

ANSWER EXPLANATION

Question is worth: 1 point.

Correct Answer: b
Your Selection: Not Answered

(B) is the correct answer because it contains the original information from the sentence. The key to answering the question successfully is to highlight key words in the original sentence and find their synonyms or matching words in the correct answer.

(A) is not correct because it inverts the meaning of the original sentence.

(C) is not correct because it is not stated in the text.

(D) is not correct because the theory is about babies not foetuses.

6 Which sentence is most similar to the following sentence from paragraph 5?

Clues exist, but the smallest of details rarely sheds light on the greater picture of language.

  • There is some information, but finding large pieces of information is easy when examining language.
  • Small bits of information are hard to come by, but when found, offer great insight.
  • Small pieces of information can be found, but they rarely provide greater understanding of language as a whole.
  • Large chunks of information provide great insight into the picture of language.

ANSWER EXPLANATION

Question is worth: 1 point.

Correct Answer: c
Your Selection: Not Answered

(C) is the correct answer. It retains all of the original information. The key to answering this question correctly is by highlighting the key words in the sentence and finding their synonyms in the answer.
the smallest of details = small pieces of information
rarely sheds light = rarely provide greater understanding
the greater picture of language = language as a whole

(A) is incorrect as the original sentence does not mention large pieces of information.

(B) is not correct because it inverts the original meaning that small pieces of information do not often give insight.

(D) is wrong because large chunks of information are not found.

7 The word 'consensus' in paragraph 5 is closest in meaning to:

  • impetus
  • conscientious
  • objective
  • agreement

ANSWER EXPLANATION

Question is worth: 1 point.

Correct Answer: d
Your Selection: Not Answered

(D) is the correct answer. Agreement has the most similar definition to consensus.
(A) is wrong as impetus is a moving force.
(B) is incorrect as conscientious means to be governed by your conscience.
(C) is not correct as objective is a goal or target.

8 According to paragraph 5, what is NOT a reason or challenge that attracts the academic community to studying language origins and evolution?

  • finding evidence
  • examining history
  • developing new theories
  • pursuing a historically prestigious field

ANSWER EXPLANATION

Question is worth: 1 point.

Correct Answer: d
Your Selection: Not Answered

(D) is the correct answer. It is not mentioned in the text as a reason. We can find this answer by using elimination. A, B, and C are stated in the text. (There is no mention of pursuing a prestigious field)

(A): The challenge of breaking ...evidence...attract the academic community

(B): The challenge of breaking ...history...attract the academic community

(C): The challenge of breaking ...science...attract the academic community (C can be a bit more challenging because it does not say science, but new theories. But science is the act of developing theories and testing them)

9 Examine the four █ in the selection below and indicate at which block the following sentence could be inserted into the passage:


The process of how humans acquire language is a natural starting point for various researchers to begin looking at how language may have evolved.

 

█ [A] One of the key areas that is studied by those exploring the evolution and origins of language is how infants and children acquire their first language █ [B] First language acquisition encompasses different elements of multiple fields. █ [C] The field is not limited to just linguists. █ [D] On the contrary, it branches out into psycholinguistics, social anthropology, phonetics, and even genetics..

  • [A]
  • [B]
  • [C]
  • [D]

ANSWER EXPLANATION

Question is worth: 1 point.

Correct Answer: a
Your Selection: Not Answered

(A) is the correct answer. The inserted sentence sets up the paragraph for a discussion of the starting point for language acquisition research. The key to answering the question correctly is to highlight the key words in this sentence and find the ‘follow-on words’ in the following sentence:
The process of how humans acquire language = key areas that is studied
Researchers = those exploring the evolution and origins of language

In (B), (C) or (D), this sentence would have interrupted the discussion by referring back to previously stated information and created an illogical sequence of thought.

10Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points.

Drag your answer choices to the spaces where they belong. To remove an answer choice, drag it back. To review the passage, click VIEW TEXT.

 

The evolution and origins of language are difficult to study and document because of the lack of concrete evidence.

  • C. It is difficult to find reliable information to track language evolution through history.
  • E. Scientists and linguists still debate today many aspects of language evolution.
  • F. First language acquisition is a key point for understanding how human beings are built, or evolved, to learn language

 

  • A. Academics have persisted in studying language evolution since the 18th and 19th centuries.
  • B. Linguists are the experts in this field surpassing other academic professionals from other fields.
  • C. It is difficult to find reliable information to track language evolution through history.
  • D. First language acquisition offered little to the study of language evolution.
  • E. Scientists and linguists still debate today many aspects of language evolution.
  • F. First language acquisition is a key point for understanding how human beings are built, or evolved, to learn language

ANSWER EXPLANATION

Question is worth: 2 points.

Correct Answer: c,e,f
Your Selection: Not Answered

(C), (E), and (F) are the correct answers as they are supported by statements in the text.

(C): Clues exist, but the smallest of details rarely sheds light on the greater picture of language.

(E): Thus, science's “hardest question” continues to challenge the brightest minds in academia.

(F): First language acquisition encompasses involves study in psycholinguistics, social anthropology, phonetics and even genetics.

(A) is not correct because, although it is accurate, it is not a main point of the passage.

(B) is not correct because it is not stated in the passage.

(D) is not correct because first language acquisition is the starting point for the study of language evolution. The sentence inverts the main idea of the passage.

 

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