In Focus 2 Reading Extra Practice

Unit 1 A World of English

Reading 1

In his job, Joseph Garcia noticed that hearing babies of deaf parents started communicating

their needs with sign language at an earlier age than children of hearing parents. To find out

more, he decided to do research on the use of American Sign Language (ASL) with hearing

babies of hearing parents at Alaska Pacific University in 1987. He learned that babies could

learn how to use sign language at six to seven months of age. And when they become eight or

nine months old, they can use many simple signs to let their parents know their needs.

Therefore, they don’t have to cry or scream because they can’t use many spoken words. With

these findings, Garcia believed that parents can use sign language as a good way of

communication with their babies.

1. Which of the following is true about Joseph Garcia?

(A) He is deaf.
(B) He graduated from Alaska Pacific University.
(C) He taught his own baby to use sign language.
(D) He did research on babies using ASL.

2. What did Joseph Garcia find in his research?

(A) Hearing babies of deaf parents started communicating with sign language earlier than
babies of hearing parents.
(B) Deaf babies of deaf parents started communicating with sign language earlier than
babies of deaf parents.
(C) Signing babies could communicate well with sign language at eight to nine months of age.
(D) Signing babies can communicate well with sign language at six to seven months of age.

3. What kind of people will come to this company?

(A) People who want to rent DVDs.
(B) People who want to communicate with their babies.
(C) People who want to shop on line.
(D) People who want to learn American Sign Language.

© Hwa Tai Publishing 2014 In Focus 2 U1 – Reading Extra Practice 1

Reading 2

In the early 1970's, a chimpanzee named Washoe was taught to use American Sign Language

(ASL) to communicate. For their research, Beatrix and Allen Gardner raised Washoe as a child, and

taught her to use sign language in her daily life. Before she died in 2007, at the age of 42, Washoe

could use up to 240 signs. She used those signs in conversations not only with humans, but also

with four other chimpanzees. Her chimpanzee friends were also research subjects and were

taught to sign. Washoe even taught her own adopted son to sign without help from humans. She

was the first non-human animal to learn a human language. Her adopted son, Louis, was the first

non-human animal to learn a human language from another chimpanzee.

1. Which of the following is true about Washoe?

(A) She was a free-living chimpanzee.
(B) She was a research subject.
(C) She never taught ASL to other chimpanzees.
(D) She was the first non-human animal to speak a human language.

2. What did Washoe use sign language for?

(A) Communicating with her human friends.
(B) Communicating with her chimpanzee friends.
(C) Teaching her adopted son.
(D) All of the above.

3. How many signs in ASL did Washoe know?

(A) 42.
(B) 240.
(C) 142.
(D) 382.

© Hwa Tai Publishing 2014 In Focus 2 U1 – Reading Extra Practice 2