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LanguageCert Practice Listening: Part 3 (Monologue)
ID: #60171
Medium
Test 2
Instructions
You will hear a student giving a presentation about You will hear a student giving a presentation about the origin of languages. Complete the information on the notepad. Write short answers of one to three words. You will hear the presentation twice. You have thirty seconds to look at the notepad.
Transcript:
Today, I’m going to be talking about an interesting theory that deals with the origin of languages. This theory suggests that human language first developed not from sounds as you might think, but from gestures.
Let’s begin by looking at humans’ closest relatives, the primates – I mean, apes and monkeys, chimpanzees and bonobos. Their DNA is ninety-eight per cent the same as that of humans, and they use gestures a lot to communicate. For example, they can point, reach out and use other hand movements to express intentions. This suggests that early humans, too, might’ve conveyed meaning in this way, long before developing spoken language. Importantly, in primates, gestures show their intentions, whereas noises from their mouths are mostly emotional responses to things happening around them.
Archaeological findings suggest that early humans could use complex hand movements, even before they developed the body parts needed for speech. The complex tools which have been found reveal that the human brain was already wired to use these in precise, controlled hand movements. In addition, it’s plausible that early humans used gestures to coordinate hunting, gather food or build shelters, all activities that required clear communication but might not have involved speech.
Another significant piece of evidence comes from the study of the brain, particularly the discovery of things called ‘mirror neurons’. These neurons fire not only when individuals perform an action but also when they observe others performing the same action. Mirror neurons play a key role in copying actions and may have supported the teaching of gestures in early human societies. This development could’ve been a building block on the way to spoken language.
Interestingly, the areas of the brain responsible for motor control, specifically for hand movements, overlap with areas involved in language processing. This suggests that the brain circuits for controlling gestures and voice communication may have evolved together.
In modern times, we have direct evidence that gestures can develop into fully structured languages, with grammar, syntax – that is, word order – and vocabulary, just like spoken languages. This evidence comes from sign languages. If gestures can form the foundation of such languages today, this supports the notion that early humans might’ve started with gestures before evolving to use spoken communication.
Even in modern spoken language, gestures still play an important role in enhancing communication. Studies show that people use gestures alongside speech to clarify or to add emphasis to a point that they want to get across.
Another argument in support of the hypothesis is that gestures could’ve been understood by all members of a group because they usually resemble in some way the object or action which they’re standing in for. For example, someone might use a sweeping hand motion to indicate flying.
Some researchers propose that, as humans moved into environments where they couldn’t always see each other – like in dense forests, for example – gestures became less effective, so sounds were needed. Speech is also necessary to convey more precise meanings than gestures are capable of. But gestures didn’t disappear. Even today, most people still gesture when they talk, even when the other person can’t see them, as happens during a telephone call, for example. Also gestures often mean different things in different cultures – showing just how important they can be in conveying or supporting meaning.
Another important point is how children learn language. Children first use gestures like pointing or waving, before they start speaking words. These early gestures help them express meaning and communicate needs, suggesting that human communication may have followed a similar evolutionary path.
Thank you for listening, and I look forward to your questions.
Let’s begin by looking at humans’ closest relatives, the primates – I mean, apes and monkeys, chimpanzees and bonobos. Their DNA is ninety-eight per cent the same as that of humans, and they use gestures a lot to communicate. For example, they can point, reach out and use other hand movements to express intentions. This suggests that early humans, too, might’ve conveyed meaning in this way, long before developing spoken language. Importantly, in primates, gestures show their intentions, whereas noises from their mouths are mostly emotional responses to things happening around them.
Archaeological findings suggest that early humans could use complex hand movements, even before they developed the body parts needed for speech. The complex tools which have been found reveal that the human brain was already wired to use these in precise, controlled hand movements. In addition, it’s plausible that early humans used gestures to coordinate hunting, gather food or build shelters, all activities that required clear communication but might not have involved speech.
Another significant piece of evidence comes from the study of the brain, particularly the discovery of things called ‘mirror neurons’. These neurons fire not only when individuals perform an action but also when they observe others performing the same action. Mirror neurons play a key role in copying actions and may have supported the teaching of gestures in early human societies. This development could’ve been a building block on the way to spoken language.
Interestingly, the areas of the brain responsible for motor control, specifically for hand movements, overlap with areas involved in language processing. This suggests that the brain circuits for controlling gestures and voice communication may have evolved together.
In modern times, we have direct evidence that gestures can develop into fully structured languages, with grammar, syntax – that is, word order – and vocabulary, just like spoken languages. This evidence comes from sign languages. If gestures can form the foundation of such languages today, this supports the notion that early humans might’ve started with gestures before evolving to use spoken communication.
Even in modern spoken language, gestures still play an important role in enhancing communication. Studies show that people use gestures alongside speech to clarify or to add emphasis to a point that they want to get across.
Another argument in support of the hypothesis is that gestures could’ve been understood by all members of a group because they usually resemble in some way the object or action which they’re standing in for. For example, someone might use a sweeping hand motion to indicate flying.
Some researchers propose that, as humans moved into environments where they couldn’t always see each other – like in dense forests, for example – gestures became less effective, so sounds were needed. Speech is also necessary to convey more precise meanings than gestures are capable of. But gestures didn’t disappear. Even today, most people still gesture when they talk, even when the other person can’t see them, as happens during a telephone call, for example. Also gestures often mean different things in different cultures – showing just how important they can be in conveying or supporting meaning.
Another important point is how children learn language. Children first use gestures like pointing or waving, before they start speaking words. These early gestures help them express meaning and communicate needs, suggesting that human communication may have followed a similar evolutionary path.
Thank you for listening, and I look forward to your questions.
The origin of language
Primates, whose DNA is 98% the same as that of humans, rely heavily on gestures to communicate. Primate gestures convey intention, but the sounds they make are mainly (1) reactions to events. Archaeology shows that early humans used (2) before they had the capacity for speech. Mirror neurons in the brain allow humans to both observe and begin (3) the actions of others. The same areas of the brain control both hand movements and language processing, so perhaps evolved together. Modern (4) show that gestures can be the foundation of structured languages. Gestures are still important to (5) meaning and to help people emphasise what they’re saying. The speaker uses the example of a gesture representing (6) to show that gestures often resemble objects or actions. The example of a (7) shows that gestures accompany speech even when unseen. Children communicate meaning and needs with gestures before using words.
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Result:
Explanation
{<br> "questions": [<br> {<br> "question": 1,<br> "correct_answer": "<b>emotional</b>",<br> "why_correct": "The speaker says a primate's noises 'are mostly emotional responses to things happening around them'. The notepad calls these sounds 'reactions to events', so the answer is <b>emotional</b>.",<br> "alternative_answers": [],<br> "common_mistakes": "Students may write 'intention' because gestures 'show their intentions', but that word is about gestures, not sounds. This is a Near-Miss Distractor mistake.",<br> "key_listening_points": [<br> "Listen for how the speaker describes the sounds primates make",<br> "The notepad word 'reactions' matches the audio word 'responses'"<br> ],<br> "tips": "Check whether the gap is about sounds or about gestures, because the talk keeps comparing the two.",<br> "transcript_reference": "...Importantly, in primates, gestures show their intentions, <u>whereas noises from their mouths are mostly emotional responses to things happening around them.</u> Archaeological findings suggest that early humans could use complex hand movements...."<br> },<br> {<br> "question": 2,<br> "correct_answer": "<b>complex tools</b>",<br> "why_correct": "The speaker says 'The complex tools which have been found reveal that the human brain was already wired' for precise hand movements before speech. So archaeology shows early humans used <b>complex tools</b>.",<br> "alternative_answers": [<br> "tools",<br> "complex hand movements",<br> "hand movements"<br> ],<br> "common_mistakes": "Some students write 'speech', but that is exactly what humans did not have yet. This is a Paraphrase Confusion mistake.",<br> "key_listening_points": [<br> "Listen for what archaeology found that early humans could use",<br> "The notepad phrase 'before they had the capacity for speech' matches 'before they developed the body parts needed for speech'"<br> ],<br> "tips": "The word 'archaeology' in the notepad points you to the part about findings and discoveries.",<br> "transcript_reference": "...Archaeological findings suggest that early humans could use complex hand movements, even before they developed the body parts needed for speech. <u>The complex tools which have been found reveal that the human brain was already wired to use these in precise, controlled hand movements.</u> In addition, it's plausible that early humans used gestures to coordinate hunting...."<br> },<br> {<br> "question": 3,<br> "correct_answer": "<b>copying</b>",<br> "why_correct": "The speaker says 'Mirror neurons play a key role in copying actions'. The notepad says humans 'observe and begin ___ the actions of others', so the answer is <b>copying</b>.",<br> "alternative_answers": [],<br> "common_mistakes": "Students may write 'observe', but that word is already in the notepad sentence. Listen for the matching audio word instead. This is a Paraphrase Confusion mistake.",<br> "key_listening_points": [<br> "Listen for what mirror neurons help us do besides watching",<br> "The notepad word 'observe' matches the audio word 'observe others performing'"<br> ],<br> "tips": "Do not write a word you can already see on the notepad; find its partner word in the audio.",<br> "transcript_reference": "...These neurons fire not only when individuals perform an action but also when they observe others performing the same action. <u>Mirror neurons play a key role in copying actions and may have supported the teaching of gestures in early human societies.</u> This development could've been a building block on the way to spoken language...."<br> },<br> {<br> "question": 4,<br> "correct_answer": "<b>sign languages</b>",<br> "why_correct": "The speaker says 'This evidence comes from sign languages', which can form the foundation of full languages. The notepad says 'Modern ___ show', so the answer is <b>sign languages</b>.",<br> "alternative_answers": [<br> "sign language"<br> ],<br> "common_mistakes": "Some students write 'grammar' or 'vocabulary', which are parts of a language, not the modern proof. This is a Near-Miss Distractor mistake.",<br> "key_listening_points": [<br> "Listen for the modern example that proves gestures can become a real language",<br> "The notepad word 'foundation' matches the audio phrase 'form the foundation'"<br> ],<br> "tips": "When the notepad says 'modern', listen for a present-day example the speaker gives.",<br> "transcript_reference": "...In modern times, we have direct evidence that gestures can develop into fully structured languages, with grammar, syntax and vocabulary, just like spoken languages. <u>This evidence comes from sign languages.</u> If gestures can form the foundation of such languages today, this supports the notion that early humans might've started with gestures...."<br> },<br> {<br> "question": 5,<br> "correct_answer": "<b>clarify</b>",<br> "why_correct": "The speaker says people 'use gestures alongside speech to clarify or to add emphasis'. The notepad says gestures help 'to ___ meaning', so the answer is <b>clarify</b>.",<br> "alternative_answers": [],<br> "common_mistakes": "Students may write 'emphasise' because it is close by, but the notepad already uses 'emphasise' later. This is a Near-Miss Distractor mistake.",<br> "key_listening_points": [<br> "Listen for a verb that means to make meaning clearer",<br> "The notepad word 'meaning' matches the audio idea of getting a point across"<br> ],<br> "tips": "When two verbs are joined by 'or' in the audio, check which one the notepad actually needs.",<br> "transcript_reference": "...Even in modern spoken language, gestures still play an important role in enhancing communication. <u>Studies show that people use gestures alongside speech to clarify or to add emphasis to a point that they want to get across.</u> Another argument in support of the hypothesis is that gestures could've been understood by all members of a group...."<br> },<br> {<br> "question": 6,<br> "correct_answer": "<b>flying</b>",<br> "why_correct": "The speaker gives an example: 'someone might use a sweeping hand motion to indicate flying'. This shows gestures resemble actions, so the answer is <b>flying</b>.",<br> "alternative_answers": [],<br> "common_mistakes": "Some students write 'sweeping hand motion', but that is the gesture, not the thing it stands for. This is a Near-Miss Distractor mistake.",<br> "key_listening_points": [<br> "Listen for the action the sweeping hand motion stands for",<br> "The notepad word 'resemble' matches the audio idea of gestures standing in for actions"<br> ],<br> "tips": "Examples usually come right after the words 'for example', so listen carefully there.",<br> "transcript_reference": "...gestures could've been understood by all members of a group because they usually resemble in some way the object or action which they're standing in for. <u>For example, someone might use a sweeping hand motion to indicate flying.</u> Some researchers propose that, as humans moved into environments where they couldn't always see each other, gestures became less effective...."<br> },<br> {<br> "question": 7,<br> "correct_answer": "<b>telephone call</b>",<br> "why_correct": "The speaker says people gesture 'even when the other person can't see them, as happens during a telephone call'. This is the example of unseen gestures, so the answer is <b>telephone call</b>.",<br> "alternative_answers": [<br> "phone call"<br> ],<br> "common_mistakes": "Students may write only 'telephone' and drop 'call', making the phrase incomplete. This is a Partial Answer mistake.",<br> "key_listening_points": [<br> "Listen for a situation where people cannot see each other",<br> "The notepad word 'unseen' matches the audio phrase 'can't see them'"<br> ],<br> "tips": "If a gap comes with 'a' before it, the answer is often a two-word noun phrase.",<br> "transcript_reference": "...But gestures didn't disappear. <u>Even today, most people still gesture when they talk, even when the other person can't see them, as happens during a telephone call, for example.</u> Also gestures often mean different things in different cultures...."<br> }<br> ]<br>}
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