Page 19 - Grasp English C1+ (Workbook)

Rumours 2

C. Read the text and answer the questions. D. Complete the sentences with the correct form
of the words from exercise B.
1. How many sign languages are there around the
world? 1. Although IS is a language,
2. When was the first Deaflympics held? it’s largely based on certain sign languages,
not all.
3. How many countries participated in the first
Deaflympics? 2. Working as an , you get to
meet people from around the world.
4. What percentage of words are used in
International Sign, but are not found in other 3. People who moved between other countries
sign languages? when they were young also tend to be good
at .
5. When was a standardised International Sign
vocabulary devised? 4. My brother-in-law is ,
but everyone always makes an effort to
6. How do people spell out words in International
Sign? communicate with him.
5. When speakers from different European
7. Why are many signs easy to understand?
languages meet, they will often use
8. Which languages is IS largely based on?
English to communicate.
6. One of the main to
learning English is the pronunciation, which
many people find tricky.
7. When Zamenhof first
Esperanto in the 1880s, he hoped it would
become a universal second language.
8. Although some people say a
of Esperanto is that there
are no native speakers, others argue it’s a
positive thing as nobody owns the language.

E. Work in a group of three. Devise a sign for
each of the words below.
• rabbit
• pizza

• freedom
• kindness
Now share your signs with the class. How similar
were your signs for each word?

F. Discuss with a partner.

1. Should deaf people be taught a second sign
language in the same way you are learning
English? Why/Why not?
2. What are the benefits of an international
language, such as International Sign or
Esperanto?

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