STEVE DIFFERS WITH HIS FATHER IN PHYSICAL APPEARANCE.SECTION C - R...

40. Steve differs with his father in physical appearance.

SECTION C - READING

I. Read the following passage and then choose the best answer from A, B, C or D.

Although speech is the most advanced form of communication, there are many ways of

communicating without using speech. Signals, signs, symbols, and gestures may be found in every

known culture. The main function of a signal is to impinge upon the environment in such a way that it

attracts attention, as for example, the dots and dashes of a telegraph circuit. Coded to refer to speech,

the potential for communication is very great. Less adaptable to the codification of words, signs also

contain meaning in and of themselves. A stop sign or a barber pole conveys meaning quickly and

more difficult to describe than either signals or signs because of their intricate relationship with the

receiver’s cultural perceptions. In some cultures, applauding in a theatre provides performers with an

auditory symbol of approval. Gestures such as waving and handshaking also communicate certain

cultural messages.

Although signals, signs, symbols, and gestures are very useful, they do have a major

disadvantage. They usually do not allow ideas to be share without the sender being directly adjacent

to the receiver. As a result, means of communication intended to be used for long distances and

extended periods are based on speech. Radio, television, and the telephone are only a few.