Talking with Your Hands
B2 First · Open Cloze · Cambridge Ready original exercise
For questions 1–8, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap. There is an example at the beginning.
Many people believe that there is just one sign language, used all (0) ___ the world. In fact, there are more than three hundred, and (1) ___ of them is a complete language with its own grammar. British and American Sign Language, for example, are so different that users of one find it difficult (2) ___ understand the other. Learning to sign is becoming popular among hearing people too. Some want to communicate with deaf friends or relatives; others are simply interested (3) ___ languages. Beginners are often surprised to discover that facial expressions are just (4) ___ important as hand movements. Raising your eyebrows, for example, can turn a statement (5) ___ a question. Teachers say that the best way to make progress is to practise with deaf signers as often as (6) ___ . Some learners join deaf clubs, (7) ___ nobody uses spoken language at all. It can feel strange at first, but most people soon get used to it. Many continue for years, and some even go (8) ___ to become professional interpreters, helping deaf people at work, in hospitals and in court.
Talking with Your Hands
Available as a free printable PDF worksheet with an optional answer key.