Read the following passage from a text about linguistics.
Before the twentieth century, the term "philology" was commonly used to refer to the science of language, which was then predominantly historical in focus. However, this focus has shifted and the term "philology" is now generally used for the "study of a language's grammar, history and literary tradition", especially in the United States. The term "linguistics" is now the usual academic term in English for the scientific study of language.
Linguistics concerns itself with describing and explaining the nature of human language. Relevant to this are the questions of what is universal to language, how language can vary, and how human beings come to know languages. Humans achieve competence in whatever language is spoken around them when growing up, with apparently little need for explicit conscious instruction.
Linguists assume that the ability to acquire and use language is an innate, biologically-based potential of human beings, similar to the ability to walk. It is generally agreed that there are no strong genetic differences underlying the differences between languages: an individual will acquire whatever language(s) he or she is exposed to as a child, regardless of parentage or ethnic origin.
According to the text, are the following statements true, false or not given?
- Up until the 1900s, the science of language was usually referred to as 'philology'.
- In order to learn a language, children need a significant amount of instruction.
- Research has shown that humans have an inbuilt capacity for language learning.
hello, my answer are
1)True
2)False
3)Not given(linguists assume)
Posted by: shahla | May 23, 2011 at 09:29
My answers are
False
Not given
True
Posted by: Ngan | May 23, 2011 at 09:51
1.True
2.False
3.True
Posted by: alice | May 23, 2011 at 10:26
my answers would be
1.true(before 20th century)
2.true(need for explicit conscious instruction)
3.true(innate)
Posted by: kani | May 23, 2011 at 10:27
Hello Simon,
Is my sentence correct when reporting the following Writing Task I sample question which is "students accepted onto modern language degree courses (French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian) at British universities over a five-year-period.")
The exceptional change of this graph was the increase in the number of students accepted onto Spanish courses. Spanish courses became more popular in this period and the numbers reached a peak in 1999, at approximately 4000.
Thank you..
Posted by: alice | May 23, 2011 at 10:34
true
false
not given
Posted by: deepika gunasekara kankanamge | May 23, 2011 at 10:35
True
False
Not given
Posted by: somia | May 23, 2011 at 11:16
My answers would be
1. True
2. False
3. True
Posted by: Masami | May 23, 2011 at 11:42
T
F
NG
Thanks Simon
Posted by: Sankalay | May 23, 2011 at 12:10
True
False
True
Posted by: Pete | May 23, 2011 at 12:43
1.True
2.False
3.Not Given
Posted by: Thin | May 23, 2011 at 13:14
Hi Simon
1-True
2-False
3-Not given
Thanks in advance
Posted by: Shahab | May 23, 2011 at 13:49
Hi Simon,
1. True
2. N.G
3. True
Posted by: Marzi | May 23, 2011 at 13:52
Hi Simon,
1.True
2.Not-Given
3.False
Thank in advance
Posted by: Chatirot | May 23, 2011 at 14:47
TRUE
NOT Given
TRUE
Posted by: NAIM | May 23, 2011 at 16:08
Hello Simon
My answers are,
1. False
2. False
3. True
Thank in advance
Posted by: Tatiana | May 23, 2011 at 16:08
True
NOT Given
True
Posted by: rani | May 23, 2011 at 16:20
Hi Simon
I took my ielts exam last Thursday .The writing task two was a discussion topic:Some people think that the best way to improve public health is to increase the number of sports facilities. Others think that there are different ways . Discuss both views and give opinion.
Task one was really difficult its simillar to the graph of the electricity consumption but the period started from 1980 till 2030,,so its in past and future comparison.and it took around 30 min to complete it which affected the timing of the second task...hope i can get the 7 ...
Posted by: Nehal | May 23, 2011 at 18:44
True
False
NOt given
Posted by: zwyx | May 23, 2011 at 20:07
1. Up until the 1900s, the science of language was usually referred to as 'philology'.T
2. In order to learn a language, children need a significant amount of instruction. f
3. Research has shown that humans have an inbuilt capacity for language learning. N.g
Posted by: sulaiman | May 24, 2011 at 00:26
1,true
2,false
3'ng
Posted by: NILESH PATEL | May 24, 2011 at 02:15
1.TRUE (.."Before the twentieth century, the term "philology" was commonly used to refer to the science of language"..)
2.FALSE (.."Humans achieve competence in whatever language is spoken around them when growing up, with apparently little need for explicit conscious instruction.")
3.TRUE (..."Linguists assume that the ability to acquire and use language is an innate...")
Posted by: Thành Chương | May 24, 2011 at 02:22
1 True
2 Not given
3 True
Posted by: Grace | May 24, 2011 at 04:49
1.true
2.false
3.true
Posted by: Abbos ali | May 24, 2011 at 05:10
1.true
2.false
3.ture
Posted by: Sunny | May 24, 2011 at 06:45
1. True
2. False
3. True
Posted by: nadda | May 24, 2011 at 08:29
Hi Simon,
My answer to these questions are:
1, True (commonly used to refer = usually referred)
2, False ("a significant amount of instruction" is totally different from "little need for explicit conscious instruction")
3,False (Scients ASSUME, NOT reearch has shown) ")
Posted by: ha tang van | May 24, 2011 at 09:30
True
False
NOt given
Posted by: beer | May 24, 2011 at 10:35
CORRECT ANSWERS FROM SIMON:
1. TRUE
2. FALSE
3. NOT GIVEN
Question 1 means the same as line one of the text (typical IELTS paraphrasing)
Question 2 - see the last two lines of paragraph two (little need for instruction)
Question 3 was a trick! "Linguists assume" means they think language ability is inbuilt. However, no "research" is mentioned. So the answer is not given.
Posted by: Simon | May 24, 2011 at 11:21
Hi Alice,
Yes, that looks fine.
...
Hi Nehal,
Good luck, and let me know when you get your score.
Posted by: Simon | May 25, 2011 at 11:29
1. T
2. F
3. NG
Posted by: Zamaan | May 25, 2011 at 17:11
Thank you,Simon.
Posted by: alice | May 25, 2011 at 20:29
hi simon ;
have you just solved the questıons of ielts cambridge 8 ?
l find it much more difficult than previous ones,actually.l wonder what is your view on that book?
l will take the ielts exam next saturday.but l feel lack of confidence because l have not done enough listening practices. may l take your suggestion for the next couple of days
Posted by: bajar | May 25, 2011 at 20:34
Hi Bajar,
I've used book 8 and it seems to be the same level as the other books.
Just keep working through the different lessons on this site - you will find lots of advice, language and practice materials.
Good luck on Saturday!
Posted by: Simon | May 25, 2011 at 23:12
Hi Simon, I will take ielts exam next Saturday, too. I actually nervous :(.
Posted by: Cherry AnNhat | May 26, 2011 at 02:12
Hi Simon, I will take ielts exam next Saturday, too. I'm actually nervous :(.
Posted by: Cherry AnNhat | May 26, 2011 at 02:13
TRUE
FALSE
NOT GIVEN
Posted by: movsar | May 26, 2011 at 12:37
true
not given
false
Posted by: mohammadi | May 26, 2011 at 16:15
Where is the rt answer?
Posted by: Moka | May 26, 2011 at 23:50
I ll go for
False
Not given
True
Posted by: Moka | May 26, 2011 at 23:51
CORRECT ANSWERS FROM SIMON:
1. TRUE
2. FALSE
3. NOT GIVEN
Question 1 means the same as line one of the text (typical IELTS paraphrasing)
Question 2 - see the last two lines of paragraph two (little need for instruction)
Question 3 was a trick! "Linguists assume" means they think language ability is inbuilt. However, no "research" is mentioned. So the answer is not given.
...
Good luck Cherry!
Posted by: Simon | May 27, 2011 at 10:04
Thx simon,but shouldn't we expect the questions to be in order.
Posted by: Moka | May 31, 2011 at 02:05
Hi Moka,
They are in order:
1 = line one
2 = last two lines of paragraph two
3 = not given, but something similar is mentioned in line one of paragraph 3
In my experience,"true, false, not given" questions are always in order.
Posted by: Simon | May 31, 2011 at 15:26
t
ng
t
Posted by: karwan | June 05, 2011 at 16:31
Hi Karwan,
Check my answers further up this page.
Posted by: Simon | June 06, 2011 at 16:10
Thx Simon
Posted by: Moka | June 09, 2011 at 14:23
Hi Simon
I have always been good at reading comprehension but now I'm a bit confused because of this type of question. I think I need a trick!
the idea of "Not Given" , is that the information is not mentioned in the text, right? so here :"Research has shown that humans have an inbuilt capacity for language learning." 'has shown' (with evidence) contradicts the meaning of assume (suppose to be the case, with no proof) which means that the answer is FALSE... I don't get how it is NOT GIVEN...
I'd appreciate an explanation :)
Posted by: Sameh | June 17, 2011 at 11:25
Hi Sameh,
I agree that it's a bit confusing. My tip/trick is to put "not given" if the answer is not CLEARLY true or false.
A false answer to the question above would be "research has NOT shown" or "there is NO research". Even though you have the word "assume", I don't think it is clear that no research has been done.
Hope this makes it a bit less confusing.
Posted by: Simon | June 17, 2011 at 16:39
Yes. It's less confusing now. I like your tip. It makes more sense.
I'm still not convinced about this example because it's not about whether the research is done or not , but rather about the difference in meaning of "has shown" and "assume". If they weren't kind of antonyms, it would be easier to state that it's NG. But it's ok!
I'm practicing this type of exercise and I'm doing well so far. I think I should avoid overthinking as you mentioned in other threads!
I'm glad I found this website. :)
best,
sam
Posted by: Sameh | June 17, 2011 at 19:33
Thanks Sam. Keep up the good work!
Posted by: Simon | June 20, 2011 at 18:00
hi simon
if instead of 'significant'i Q2 was 'little' ,the answer might be "not givven" or true?
because of 'childeren'and in text is 'human'
thanks
Goli
Posted by: Goli | September 24, 2011 at 19:43
Hi Goli,
I think the question would be too ambiguous if it said 'little'. The word 'significant' is used so that the answer is clear.
Posted by: Simon | September 26, 2011 at 09:58
Hai simon I had a doubt : Should we compare the sentence with text or else text with sentence ..please clear my doubt I am having exam tomorrow..
Posted by: Krishna | January 20, 2012 at 13:56
Hi Krishna,
Look at the question first, then try to find it in the text.
Good luck in your exam!
Posted by: Simon | January 21, 2012 at 11:56
T
F
NG
Posted by: sharad | August 18, 2012 at 07:47
wheres the answers ?how can i check answers simon?
Thanks
Posted by: sharad | August 18, 2012 at 07:49
Hi Simon,
Still I can't agree with Q1. Because of the logic fact is wrong. You see, while we can say A refers to B is correct, but that doesn't mean the vice versa is still the turth! In many cases, it's not actually. For example, America, to some extent, is used by many people to refer to the spirit of freedom and democracy, but should "freedom and democracy" can be used to refer to America? My answer is absolutely no.
This is my confusion.
Thanks,
larry
Posted by: larry | July 25, 2013 at 10:00
Hi Larry,
Let's try it with the word "computer":
1. The term 'computer' is used to refer to the object I'm working on.
2. The object I'm working on is referred to as a "computer".
I don't see the problem with this. I understand what you are saying, but as the second sentence uses a passive construction, I don't think the problem you describe occurs.
Posted by: Simon | July 25, 2013 at 17:34
Hi Simon,
Now I understand where is my problem. Thanks for your help Simon. This website is really awesome! I love it.
Best,
Larry
Posted by: larry | July 26, 2013 at 09:36
Hi Simon,
I confused that the phrase " up until the 1900s" and " before 20th century" has the same meaning.
Please help me to clarify that, thank you!
Posted by: Lucy | October 15, 2014 at 12:25
Hi simon,
I also don't understand 'up until the 1900s' and 'before 20th century ' are the same. For me..
Up until the 1900s = including 20th century
Before the 20th century = not including 20th century
Pls explain about it.
Thanks a lot!
Posted by: Helen | November 06, 2014 at 22:11
Hi Simon,
Thanks for the reading. Would you please explain me clearer? I couldn't get question 2.
In question 3, there's nothing about 'research', so it's NOT GIVEN. That's clear.
But in question 2, similarly, it doesn't mention about 'children'. Why do we have to choose FALSE in this case? I read your explanation above, but I'm still confused.
Thank you.
Posted by: Dee Nguyen | March 04, 2016 at 08:10
T
T
NG
Posted by: Sky | October 13, 2017 at 01:47