# The ability to communicate using language - 科目：雅思阅读真题（Part 3） - 最近考试：2026.9.18广东仲恺农学院 - 题目数：14 - 来源页：https://www.yaquan.site/paper/9961bc77-be80-4750-8790-5b7ef888dfd0（在线机考练习与音频请访问该页面） - 数据更新：2026-10-29 ## 题目原文 Daniel Everett has devoted his career to understanding a uniquely human attribute A A research question of continuing interest to modern academics concerns the origins of nouns, verbs, adjectives and so on – in other words, all the separate components that make up human language. Did they come about suddenly, or did they emerge gradually, adapted over time? Unlike fire, the use of language did not exist before humans first created it, so we must look elsewhere for any beneficial comparison. What is more, every culture in the history of the human race places its own mark on language. It is an invention that embraces all humans and provides us with our most intense source of happiness – focused and ordered thoughts. Homo sapiens has become Homo loquax, as well-known author Tom Wolfe puts it, or in other words, ‘speaking man’. I would argue that our minds are enabled by language to accomplish tasks that we could otherwise never hope to complete, such as debating philosophy, following recipes and thinking about where our children are going after school. B From each of the twenty or more languages I have studied in the Amazon, Mexico and the United States over the past decades, I have learned things about our species and our ability to communicate. These are things I would never have learned by living a different life. I have learned about humans’ relation to nature, and about living and speaking among ancient cultures living in remote forests. I have learned how words reach into my heart and change my life. Language gives humans their humanity. C The human species has the extraordinary ability to express thoughts and feelings with visual symbols and spoken sounds. So it is only natural that scholars should want to learn more about this communicative technology, for nothing has more to tell us about what it means to be human than the forms and uses to which we put language. Indeed, language is the foundation of every human advance, from prehistoric cave paintings, to Thomas Edison’s light bulb, to today’s digital revolution. D No linguist or anthropologist would disagree that language is useful. But there is enormous division about where it came from. Some of these experts say that language was discovered by chance. Others believe that one brilliant Homo sapiens might have invented it about 75,000 years or so ago, as the Native American chief Sequoya invented writing for his people. Still others claim that language is genetically encoded in the human mind. What does seem clear is that all human abilities, including language, derive from identifiable sources – genes and environment. The idea that language is exclusively a product of our environment is as simplistic and wrong as the opposite idea that language grows like hair, shaped by our genes with no learning involved. Language, like human reasoning, is surely the result of both of these sources working together, although the relative proportions of each are more difficult to determine. E My own views about human language are sometimes disputed, but this does not make them less worthy of consideration. One of my goals is to give alternatives a fair hearing, even if I ultimately reject them. In the process, it is sometimes necessary to make an argument opposing one particular view; this is standard scientific discourse and vital for progress. So long as we are polite and our evidence is valid, it is a healthy practice. F I would define language as a ‘cultural tool’. And in order to understand this cultural tool properly, we need to understand something about its original birthplace on the African plains. In addition, we must examine the relationship between language and culture in as many different linguistic groups as possible over the course of history. Then there is the issue of genetic influence on language. Those who support the influence of genes often ask, if language is not genetic, why is it such a universal human characteristic? This is an area that many people feel passionately about. Even among scientists, it is sometimes supposed that all languages are ‘equal’ in some way, and any suggestion to the contrary is not popular. However, as I have gone further into the issues, it has become clear that there is limited evidence that language is genetic. This does not mean that language speakers are not equal, but some languages are remarkably complex in terms of their form and framework – the tense systems, the parts of speech – and this is not true of some other languages. It is just not necessary for all languages to have the same form. Languages have developed over time to meet the requirements of their own cultural situation. And the beauty of each one lies in the fact that it is so well suited to its own purposes. G So what do researchers need now? Much of the heated opinion in the debate about relative language complexity is actually irrelevant, for the simple reason that we do not have enough practical information about the languages in use today. And in order to gather such details, it is necessary for researchers to do fieldwork. Increasingly, the evidence points away from the idea that languages can be understood by sitting at a desk studying formulas and equations. And while it is beyond doubt that genetics are partly responsible for human languages, we will learn most about those languages by studying how different cultures have adapted them. ## 题目与答案 ### 27. 27 It is useful to equate the discovery of fire with the invention of language. 27 It is useful to equate the discovery of fire with the invention of language. - YES - NO - NOT GIVEN **答案**：NO 原文定位：Unlike fire, the use of language did not exist before humans first created it, so we must look elsewhere for any beneficial comparison 同义替换：「equate the discovery of fire with the invention of language」↔「beneficial comparison」；「It is useful」↔「we must look elsewhere for any beneficial comparison」 ### 28. 28 The greatest pleasure people have is their ability to think clearly and rationally. 28 The greatest pleasure people have is their ability to think clearly and rationally. - YES - NO - NOT GIVEN **答案**：YES 原文定位：It is an invention that embraces all humans and provides us with our most intense source of happiness – focused and ordered thoughts 同义替换：「greatest pleasure」↔「most intense source of happiness」；「think clearly and rationally」↔「focused and ordered thoughts」 ### 29. 29 Tom Wolfe uses an expression that is copied by other authors. 29 Tom Wolfe uses an expression that is copied by other authors. - YES - NO - NOT GIVEN **答案**：NOT GIVEN 原文定位：Homo sapiens has become Homo loquax, as well-known author Tom Wolfe puts it, or in other words, ‘speaking man 同义替换：「uses an expression」↔「puts it」 ### 30. 30 Language allows human brains to do things that would be impossible without it. 30 Language allows human brains to do things that would be impossible without it. - YES - NO - NOT GIVEN **答案**：YES 原文定位：I would argue that our minds are enabled by language to accomplish tasks that we could otherwise never hope to complete, such as debating philosophy, following recipes and thinking about where our children are going after school 同义替换：「Language allows human brains」↔「our minds are enabled by language」；「do things」↔「accomplish tasks」；「that would be impossible without it」↔「that we could otherwise never hope to complete」 ### 31. 31 What is the writer doing in the second paragraph? 31 What is the writer doing in the second paragraph? - highlighting his own language abilities - outlining his personal fascination with language - proposing his own theory about language development - describing the best way to learn a new language **答案**：outlining his personal fascination with language 原文定位：From each of the twenty or more languages I have studied in the Amazon, Mexico and the United States over the past decades, I have learned things about our species and our ability to communicate. These are things I would never have learned by living a different life. I have learned about humans’ relation to nature, and about living and speaking among ancient cultures living in remote forests. I have learned how words reach into my heart and change my life. Language gives humans their humanity 同义替换：「outlining his personal fascination with language」↔「words reach into my heart and change my life」 ### 32. 32 The writer refers to Thomas Edison in order to 32 The writer refers to Thomas Edison in order to - compare older and more modern languages - highlight a misconception about language - contrast the study of language and science - illustrate the role of language over time **答案**：illustrate the role of language over time 原文定位：Indeed, language is the foundation of every human advance, from prehistoric cave paintings, to Thomas Edison’s light bulb, to today’s digital revolution 同义替换：「the role of language」↔「language is the foundation of every human advance」 ### 33. 33 What does the writer suggest about human reasoning in the fourth paragraph? 33 What does the writer suggest about human reasoning in the fourth paragraph? - It is oversimplified by some academics. - It cannot be compared to language. - It has been shaped by two factors. - It gives humans two distinct skills. **答案**：It has been shaped by two factors. 原文定位：Language, like human reasoning, is surely the result of both of these sources working together, although the relative proportions of each are more difficult to determine 同义替换：「It has been shaped by two factors」↔「the result of both of these sources working together」 ### 34. 34 What is the writer's main point in the fifth paragraph? 34 What is the writer's main point in the fifth paragraph? - Academics should not pay attention to criticism. - Scientific knowledge is advanced by balanced debate. - Researchers should not be influenced by public opinion. - Controversy rarely leads to a scientific breakthrough. **答案**：Scientific knowledge is advanced by balanced debate. 原文定位：In the process, it is sometimes necessary to make an argument opposing one particular view; this is standard scientific discourse and vital for progress. So long as we are polite and our evidence is valid, it is a healthy practice 同义替换：「Scientific knowledge is advanced by balanced debate」↔「make an argument opposing one particular view」 ### 35. Language: the cultural tool To understand language, it is necessary to learn about its original birthplace in Africa and also to study its use in 35_____ since then. Language: the cultural tool To understand language, it is necessary to learn about its original birthplace in Africa and also to study its use in 35_____ since then. - similar structures - evolving needs - complicated grammar - strong emotions - intellectual abilities - mathematical analysis **答案**：numerous communities 原文定位：And in order to understand this cultural tool properly, we need to understand something about its original birthplace on the African plains. In addition, we must examine the relationship between language and culture in as many different linguistic groups as possible over the course of history 同义替换：「numerous communities」↔「different linguistic groups」；「since then」↔「over the course of history」；「study」↔「examine」 ### 36. The debate about genetic influence on language causes 36_____ , because some academics believe that all languages are equal. The debate about genetic influence on language causes 36_____ , because some academics believe that all languages are equal. - similar structures - evolving needs - complicated grammar - strong emotions - intellectual abilities - mathematical analysis **答案**：strong emotions 原文定位：Those who support the influence of genes often ask, if language is not genetic, why is it such a universal human characteristic? This is an area that many people feel passionately about. Even among scientists, it is sometimes supposed that all languages are ‘equal’ in some way, and any suggestion to the contrary is not popular 同义替换：「debate about」↔「This is an area that many people feel passionately about」；「strong emotions」↔「passionately about」；「some academics」↔「among scientists」；「believe」↔「supposed」 ### 37. But this is wrong: language speakers are equal, but some languages have 37_____ and others do not. But this is wrong: language speakers are equal, but some languages have 37_____ and others do not. - similar structures - evolving needs - complicated grammar - strong emotions - intellectual abilities - mathematical analysis **答案**：complicated grammar 原文定位：This does not mean that language speakers are not equal, but some languages are remarkably complex in terms of their form and framework – the tense systems, the parts of speech – and this is not true of some other languages 同义替换：「language speakers are equal」↔「This does not mean that language speakers are not equal」；「complicated grammar」↔「remarkably complex in terms of their form and framework」；「others do not」↔「and this is not true of some other languages」 ### 38. This is because each language has developed in order to meet the 38_____ of the people who use it. This is because each language has developed in order to meet the 38_____ of the people who use it. - similar structures - evolving needs - complicated grammar - strong emotions - intellectual abilities - mathematical analysis **答案**：evolving needs 原文定位：Languages have developed over time to meet the requirements of their own cultural situation 同义替换：「evolving needs」↔「requirements」；「of the people who use it」↔「their own cultural situation」 ### 39. What researchers need now is 39_____ of more languages. What researchers need now is 39_____ of more languages. - similar structures - evolving needs - complicated grammar - strong emotions - intellectual abilities - mathematical analysis **答案**：useful descriptions 原文定位：Much of the heated opinion in the debate about relative language complexity is actually irrelevant, for the simple reason that we do not have enough practical information about the languages in use today. And in order to gather such details, it is necessary for researchers to do fieldwork 同义替换：「useful descriptions」↔「practical information」 ### 40. This requires fieldwork, because we cannot learn about language by 40_____ . It's true that language is partly the product of human genetics, but our languages have developed more from cultural experience. This requires fieldwork, because we cannot learn about language by 40_____ . It's true that language is partly the product of human genetics, but our languages have developed more from cultural experience. - similar structures - evolving needs - complicated grammar - strong emotions - intellectual abilities - mathematical analysis **答案**：mathematical analysis 原文定位：Increasingly, the evidence points away from the idea that languages can be understood by sitting at a desk studying formulas and equations 同义替换：「requires」↔「necessary for」；「mathematical analysis」↔「studying formulas and equations」 --- 以上内容由鸭圈雅思真题库（www.yaquan.site）提供，收录近期雅思考试真题回忆，支持在线机考模式免费练习。