Learning Languages Reading Answers

Learning Languages reading practice tests is provided with answers and explanations. This passage comprises 14 questions divided into three question types - multiple choice questions, complete the passage, yes/no/not given, choose the correct letter, Learning Languages reading answers with explanation.

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Table of contents:

• Solution for Learning Languages
• Learning Languages IELTS Reading Practice Test
• Passage
• Questions
• Answers with Explanations

Solution for Learning Languages

Learning Languages reading answers are listed in the table below. Verify your answers against our answer table, then correct any inaccuracies.

Answer Table

27. B	31. D	35. Linguistic maturity	39. NOT GIVEN
28. B	32. Acquire/Learn language	36. YES	40. B
29. B	33. Hear	37. NOT GIVEN
30. C	34. Repetition (of structures)	38. YES

Learning Languages IELTS Reading Practice Test - Exam Review

Learning Languages reading answers are given here, which will help you excel in the IELTS reading practice test. Paraphrasing can help you to understand the ideas clearly which makes you able to answer the questions efficiently. 

Passage

We’ve provided the reading passage of Learning Languages. Read the passage and carefully complete the questions. Check the answers with our Learning Languages reading answers with locations.           

Learning Languages

A. It is no small intellectual task that a child learns a language. In order: begin to communicate, young child must first gain an understanding of the internal structure of a system that, in reality, contains tens of thousands of units, all generated from a small set of basic building blocks. In the case of English, these basic building blocks' are the alphabet and the units' are words. Although initially, child may be able to grasp and manipulate basic letters of a language form an infinite number of units', he or she must progress to another higher form of comprehension - the understanding that only a subset of those combinations is correct - what are actual meaningful words. Somehow, a young child must become familiar with the structure of a particular language system such that I or she can use it to communicate others.

B. Given the complexity of the process of language acquisition, the question of how infants learn to speak in their native language so rapidly is an interesting one. Among linguists, the answer to this question has been researched and debated for decades. Some researchers think that the answer to the question - if indeed there is one • may unlock a secret to faster language acquisition amongst older people. Over the years, experiments where researchers have devised an artificial language that contained certain aspects of natural language structure have been tried. The artificial language was presented to the infants one piece sample at a time. Once they became familiar with one piece of the language, another piece from the same artificial language was introduced. Once the infant appeared comfortable with this process, a piece of real or bona fide language was introduced. The researchers then measured such things as surprise and interest shown in the new language samples to determine whether or not the infant related to them as being completely new or as being more of what had been previously learned. The infant's reactions to the new stimuli helped linguists to determine what mechanisms underpin the first stages of language acquisition. Experiments like this have uncovered some astonishing facts namely the rate at which an infant, even as young as 7 or 8 months, can take on the new' information. Some infants demonstrated the ability to process the new information after as little as 3 minutes of exposure. Their young minds to structure the linguistic input into relevant and ultimately meaningful units of Information.

C. Much of child's future social and intellectual development hinges upon their ability to acquire language. For this reason, language acquisition is one of the key milestones in early childhood development. Many child development experts encourage parents to start talking to their infant from the day of their birth. Some researchers maintain that the best way for a child to learn is to simply hear language as those around them talk. Repetition of structures seems to be a logical and academically defensible method of child language acquisition. Quite a large body of research has shown that optimal language development occurs when the same stories are read over and over again to young children. In one experiment, a mother exposed her son to only one book for nearly two years. The results were that the child spoke much earlier: his other siblings and was able to recite 90% of the text on each page by the age of two. Other studies have revealed that a knowledge of nursery rhymes among three-year-olds has been a significant predictor of later reading skill.

D. These examples of language learning, processing and producing, represent just a few of the many developments between birth and the eventual linguistic maturity that most children naturally attain. It is during this early period that children discover the raw materials in the sounds of their language, learn how they are assembled into longer strings, and used in meaningful contexts. These processes unfold simultaneously, requiring children to organise the code of communication that surrounds them. Even though each layer is complex, young children readily solve the linguistic puzzles they encounter. 

E. Regardless of the methods employed, the acquisition of a language is not an automatic process but rather one that occurs as a result of a process of learning. If a child does not take on a new language, then isolation and withdrawal often accompany learning difficulties and poor academic performance.

Questions

Questions 27-31
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

27. According to the writer, an 'internal language structure'

1. consists only of the alphabet.
2. is the starting point for communication.
3. comprises an infinite number of words.
4. is another term for linguistic comprehension.

28. The writer states that understanding a language occurs

1. once the learner understands the basic building blocks'.
2. once the learner grasps the 'units' of a language.
3. C once the alphabet is learned.
4. naturally, as soon as a child is old enough. iS

29. An 'artificial language'

1. A is a new form of communication amongst young children.
2. was used as a contrast with real language.
3. C was devised slowly, over a considerable period of time.
4. is a mixture of real and artificial words.

30. According to the writer, infant surprise and interest

1. indicated infant intelligence.
2. was greater amongst infants exposed to a bona fide language.
3. revealed how language is initially learned.
4. were the most dependable indicators of gauging infant reaction to new Stimuli.

31. What greatly surprised researchers of infant language acquisition was

1. how readily participants demonstrated an ability to learn new languages.
2. how quickly the infants learned to verbally communicate.
3. C how young the participants in the experiment were.
4. how quickly some infants learned new information.

Questions 32-35
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.

If a child does not 32) ........... in early childhood, he or she will be greatly restricted in both the ability to interact with others and academic growth and development. To teach infants language, some researchers recommend that they 33) ............. it, while others feel that 34) ........... is the most effective way for them to learn. Regardless of which method of language acquisition is used, most children reach 35) ............. as they grow and develop.

Questions 36-39

Do the following statements reflect the claims of the writer? In boxes 36-40 on your answer sheet write

YES          if the statement agrees with the views of the writer
NO         if the statement contradicts the views of the writer
NOT GIVEN    if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

36.  Understanding how children learn language may help adults learn language.
37. The reactions of infants to artificial languages were quite similar.
38. Learning about organizing and then using sounds occurs regularly among Children.
39. Language learning ability impacts upon writing ability.

Questions 40

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, D or E.

40. What is the best title for Reading Passage 3?
Clues for adult language learning.
Language acquisition in infants and young children.
Measuring speaking ability amongst infants.
Acquiring language: The key to future learning.
Experiments in infant language acquisition

Answers for Learning Languages With Explanations

Learning Languages reading answers with explanations is given below. Refer to the following answers with an explanation section in order to correct your errors.

(Note: The text in italics mentions the location and referring lines written in the reading passage.)

27. Answer: B

Explanation: Located in first 2 lines paragraph 1, “It is no small intellectual task that a child learns a language. In order: begin to communicate, young child must first gain an understanding of the internal structure of a system that, in reality, contains tens of thousands of units, all generated from a small set of basic building blocks”.

28. Answer: B

Explanation: Located in the first 4 lines of paragraph 1, “It is no small intellectual task that a child learns a language. In order: begin to communicate, young child must first gain an understanding of the internal structure of a system that, in reality, contains tens of thousands of units, all generated from a small set of basic building blocks. In the case of English, these basic building blocks' are the alphabet and the units' are words. Although initially, child may be able to grasp and manipulate basic letters of a language form an infinite number of units', he or she must progress to another higher form of comprehension - the understanding that only a subset of those combinations is correct - what are actual meaningful words”.

29. Answer: B

Explanation: Located in the 4th and 5th lines of paragraph 2, “Over the years, experiments where researchers have devised an artificial language that contained certain aspects of natural language structure have been tried. The artificial language was presented to the infants one piece sample at a time”.

30. Answer: C

Explanation: Located in the 7th and 8th lines of paragraph 2, “Once the infant appeared comfortable with this process, a piece of real or bona fide language was introduced. The researchers then measured such things as surprise and interest shown in the new language samples to determine whether or not the infant related to them as being completely new or as being more of what had been previously learned”.

31. Answer: D

Explanation: Located in the 3rd last line of paragraph 2, “Experiments like this have uncovered some astonishing facts namely the rate at which an infant, even as young as 7 or 8 months, can take on the new' information”.

32. Answer: Acquire/Learn language

Explanation: Located in the 1st sentence of paragraph 3, “Much of child's future social and intellectual development hinges upon their ability to acquire language.”.

33. Answer: Hear

Explanation: Located in the 4th sentence of paragraph 3, “Some researchers maintain that the best way for a child to learn is to simply hear language as those around them talk”.

34. Answer: Repetition (of structures)

Explanation: Located in the 5th sentence of paragraph 3, “Repetition of structures seems to be a logical and academically defensible method of child language acquisition”.

35. Answer: Linguistic maturity

Explanation: Located in the 1st sentence of paragraph 4, “These examples of language learning, processing and producing, represent just a few of the many developments between birth and the eventual linguistic maturity that most children naturally attain”.

36. Answer: YES

Explanation: Located in the first 3 lines of paragraph 2, “Given the complexity of the process of language acquisition, the question of how infants learn to speak in their native language so rapidly is an interesting one. Among linguists, the answer to this question has been researched and debated for decades. Some researchers think that the answer to the question - if indeed there is one • may unlock a secret to faster language acquisition amongst older people”.

37. Answer: NOT GIVEN

Explanation: Not avaliable

38. Answer: YES

Explanation: Located in the 2nd,3rd and 4th line of paragraph 4, “It is during this early period that children discover the raw materials in the sounds of their language, learn how they are assembled into longer strings, and used in meaningful contexts. These processes unfold simultaneously, requiring children to organise the code of communication that surrounds them. Even though each layer is complex, young children readily solve the linguistic puzzles they encounter”.

39. Answer: NOT GIVEN

Explanation: Not Avaliable

40. Answer: B

Explanation: Located in the entire paragraph 3, “Much of child's future social and intellectual development hinges upon their ability to acquire language. For this reason, language acquisition is one of the key milestones in early childhood development. Many child development experts encourage parents to start talking to their infant from the day of their birth. Some researchers maintain that the best way for a child to learn is to simply hear language as those around them talk. Repetition of structures seems to be a logical and academically defensible method of child language acquisition. Quite a large body of research has shown that optimal language development occurs when the same stories are read over and over again to young children. In one experiment, a mother exposed her son to only one book for nearly two years. The results were that the child spoke much earlier: his other siblings and was able to recite 90% of the text on each page by the age of two. Other studies have revealed that a knowledge of nursery rhymes among three-year-olds has been a significant predictor of later reading skill”.

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