A
“Baby signing” classes established to improve language skills actually make little difference to children's development, according to new research.Scholars claimed (声称) there was no evidence that the lessons—in which babies are taught simple gestures to communicate their everyday needs—enable children to talk quicker than others.
In a threeyear study, it was claimed that the method could make mothers more responsive to their children's behaviors but failed to actually increase babies' vocabulary.An active home environment in which parents regularly talk to their children was much more effective, researchers warned.The conclusions will cast doubt on the movement—born in the United States—which has proved hugely popular among middleclass parents.
Baby signing is now a multimillion pound industry, with thousands of mothers and fathers paying for classes, books and DVDs.Young children are taught simple gestures for words and phrases to communicate their everyday needs, such as “milk” “more” “all gone” “food” and “tired”．It is claimed that the technique brings great benefits, including improving the relationship between mother and child, helping language development and even increasing a child's intelligence.
But research from Hertfordshire University has found no evidence that using baby signing helps to improve their language development.The scholars added，“Baby signing has become big business and mothers, particularly firsttime mums or less confident parents, feel the pressure to do it.Some even think ‘if I don't do it and everyone else does, I must be a bad mother’．”
But baby signing experts contradicted the findings.Wendy Moat, 45, who has been running baby signing classes for three years, said that the classes encouraged speech development, and may help develop a higher IQ.She said，“So many mums say that their children talk so well because they did baby signing when they were babies.Parents wouldn't say it if they didn't believe it.”
【语篇解读】 研究发现，“宝宝手语课堂”并不能真正提高孩子们的语言能力。
1．Which of the following may help improve children's language skills?
A．Using simple words and phrases.
B．Talking to them as much as possible.
C．Buying them more books and DVDs.
D．Creating a serious home environment.
B [细节理解题。根据第二段的“An active home environment in which parents regularly talk to their children was much more effective”可知。]
2．According to Paragraph 4, some new mothers choose baby signing classes because ．
A．they are influenced by others
B．they are sure of the effects of them
C．they don't want to be looked down upon
D．they don't know how to teach their children
A [推理判断题。根据第四段的“...mothers ...feel the pressure to do it.Some even think ‘if I don't do it and everyone else does, I must be a bad mother’．”可知，刚当妈的人选择宝宝手语课堂更多的是受他人影响，属于盲目跟风。]
3．The underlined word “contradicted” in the last paragraph means “ ”．
A．supported B．discovered
C．disagreed with D．researched into
C [词义猜测题。最后一段的 “the findings” 指的是第四段的“But research from Hertfordshire University has found no evidence that using baby signing helps to improve their language development.”。 宝宝手语专家Wendy Moat 所说的“the classes encouraged speech development”与前面的研究发现形成对立的观点。由此可知, “contradict”意为“反驳”。]
4．What's the main idea of the text?
A．How to teach children to communicate effectively.
B．Baby signing classes increase children's intelligence.
C．How to improve the relationship between mother and child.
D．Baby signing classes fail to improve children's language skills.
D [主旨大意题。本文是一篇新闻报道，文章首句“‘Baby signing’ classes ...make little difference to children's development”点出了本文的主题，因此D项符合题意。]
