雅思阅读真题（Part 3）
人类语言沟通能力的起源与本质
本篇也叫：语言沟通能力、人类语言起源、语言能力、说话的人、Homo loquax、语言是怎么来的
Part 3 · 最近考试：2026.9.18广东仲恺农学院
本篇为雅思阅读真题（Part 3）《The ability to communicate using language》，共 14 题，2026.9.18广东仲恺农学院雅思考试真题回忆，页面提供完整原文、题目、答案与解析，并支持在线机考模式免费练习。本页同时提供 Markdown 版本 供 AI 助手与搜索引擎直接读取。
文章探讨人类独有的语言沟通能力从何而来，涉及名词、动词等语言成分是突然出现还是逐渐演化。作者Daniel Everett结合自己在亚马逊、墨西哥和美国研究二十多种语言的经历，引用作家Tom Wolfe提出的“Homo loquax（说话的人）”，论述语言如何塑造人性、支撑人类从洞穴壁画到数字革命的一切进步。
Daniel Everett has devoted his career to understanding a uniquely human attribute
A
A research question of continuing interest to modern academics concerns the origins of nouns, verbs, adjectives and so on – in other words, all the separate components that make up human language. Did they come about suddenly, or did they emerge gradually, adapted over time? Unlike fire, the use of language did not exist before humans first created it, so we must look elsewhere for any beneficial comparison. What is more, every culture in the history of the human race places its own mark on language. It is an invention that embraces all humans and provides us with our most intense source of happiness – focused and ordered thoughts. Homo sapiens has become Homo loquax, as well-known author Tom Wolfe puts it, or in other words, ‘speaking man’. I would argue that our minds are enabled by language to accomplish tasks that we could otherwise never hope to complete, such as debating philosophy, following recipes and thinking about where our children are going after school.
B
From each of the twenty or more languages I have studied in the Amazon, Mexico and the United States over the past decades, I have learned things about our species and our ability to communicate. These are things I would never have learned by living a different life. I have learned about humans’ relation to nature, and about living and speaking among ancient cultures living in remote forests. I have learned how words reach into my heart and change my life. Language gives humans their humanity.
C
The human species has the extraordinary ability to express thoughts and feelings with visual symbols and spoken sounds. So it is only natural that scholars should want to learn more about this communicative technology, for nothing has more to tell us about what it means to be human than the forms and uses to which we put language. Indeed, language is the foundation of every human advance, from prehistoric cave paintings, to Thomas Edison’s light bulb, to today’s digital revolution.
D
No linguist or anthropologist would disagree that language is useful. But there is enormous division about where it came from. Some of these experts say that language was discovered by chance. Others believe that one brilliant Homo sapiens might have invented it about 75,000 years or so ago, as the Native American chief Sequoya invented writing for his people. Still others claim that language is genetically encoded in the human mind. What does seem clear is that all human abilities, including language, derive from identifiable sources – genes and environment. The idea that language is exclusively a product of our environment is as simplistic and wrong as the opposite idea that language grows like hair, shaped by our genes with no learning involved. Language, like human reasoning, is surely the result of both of these sources working together, although the relative proportions of each are more difficult to determine.
E
My own views about human language are sometimes disputed, but this does not make them less worthy of consideration. One of my goals is to give alternatives a fair hearing, even if I ultimately reject them. In the process, it is sometimes necessary to make an argument opposing one particular view; this is standard scientific discourse and vital for progress. So long as we are polite and our evidence is valid, it is a healthy practice.
F
I would define language as a ‘cultural tool’. And in order to understand this cultural tool properly, we need to understand something about its original birthplace on the African plains. In addition, we must examine the relationship between language and culture in as many different linguistic groups as possible over the course of history. Then there is the issue of genetic influence on language. Those who support the influence of genes often ask, if language is not genetic, why is it such a universal human characteristic? This is an area that many people feel passionately about. Even among scientists, it is sometimes supposed that all languages are ‘equal’ in some way, and any suggestion to the contrary is not popular. However, as I have gone further into the issues, it has become clear that there is limited evidence that language is genetic. This does not mean that language speakers are not equal, but some languages are remarkably complex in terms of their form and framework – the tense systems, the parts of speech – and this is not true of some other languages. It is just not necessary for all languages to have the same form. Languages have developed over time to meet the requirements of their own cultural situation. And the beauty of each one lies in the fact that it is so well suited to its own purposes.
G
So what do researchers need now? Much of the heated opinion in the debate about relative language complexity is actually irrelevant, for the simple reason that we do not have enough practical information about the languages in use today. And in order to gather such details, it is necessary for researchers to do fieldwork. Increasingly, the evidence points away from the idea that languages can be understood by sitting at a desk studying formulas and equations. And while it is beyond doubt that genetics are partly responsible for human languages, we will learn most about those languages by studying how different cultures have adapted them.
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答案：NO
原文定位：Unlike fire, the use of language did not exist before humans first created it, so we must look elsewhere for any beneficial comparison
同义替换：「equate the discovery of fire with the invention of language」↔「beneficial comparison」，「It is useful」↔「we must look elsewhere for any beneficial comparison」
答案：YES
原文定位：It is an invention that embraces all humans and provides us with our most intense source of happiness – focused and ordered thoughts
同义替换：「greatest pleasure」↔「most intense source of happiness」，「think clearly and rationally」↔「focused and ordered thoughts」
答案：NOT GIVEN
原文定位：Homo sapiens has become Homo loquax, as well-known author Tom Wolfe puts it, or in other words, ‘speaking man
同义替换：「uses an expression」↔「puts it」
答案：YES
原文定位：I would argue that our minds are enabled by language to accomplish tasks that we could otherwise never hope to complete, such as debating philosophy, following recipes and thinking about where our children are going after school
同义替换：「Language allows human brains」↔「our minds are enabled by language」，「do things」↔「accomplish tasks」，「that would be impossible without it」↔「that we could otherwise never hope to complete」
答案：outlining his personal fascination with language
原文定位：From each of the twenty or more languages I have studied in the Amazon, Mexico and the United States over the past decades, I have learned things about our species and our ability to communicate. These are things I would never have learned by living a different life. I have learned about humans’ relation to nature, and about living and speaking among ancient cultures living in remote forests. I have learned how words reach into my heart and change my life. Language gives humans their humanity
同义替换：「outlining his personal fascination with language」↔「words reach into my heart and change my life」
答案：illustrate the role of language over time
原文定位：Indeed, language is the foundation of every human advance, from prehistoric cave paintings, to Thomas Edison’s light bulb, to today’s digital revolution
同义替换：「the role of language」↔「language is the foundation of every human advance」
答案：It has been shaped by two factors.
原文定位：Language, like human reasoning, is surely the result of both of these sources working together, although the relative proportions of each are more difficult to determine
同义替换：「It has been shaped by two factors」↔「the result of both of these sources working together」
答案：Scientific knowledge is advanced by balanced debate.
原文定位：In the process, it is sometimes necessary to make an argument opposing one particular view; this is standard scientific discourse and vital for progress. So long as we are polite and our evidence is valid, it is a healthy practice
同义替换：「Scientific knowledge is advanced by balanced debate」↔「make an argument opposing one particular view」
答案：numerous communities
原文定位：And in order to understand this cultural tool properly, we need to understand something about its original birthplace on the African plains. In addition, we must examine the relationship between language and culture in as many different linguistic groups as possible over the course of history
同义替换：「numerous communities」↔「different linguistic groups」，「since then」↔「over the course of history」，「study」↔「examine」
答案：strong emotions
原文定位：Those who support the influence of genes often ask, if language is not genetic, why is it such a universal human characteristic? This is an area that many people feel passionately about. Even among scientists, it is sometimes supposed that all languages are ‘equal’ in some way, and any suggestion to the contrary is not popular
同义替换：「debate about」↔「This is an area that many people feel passionately about」，「strong emotions」↔「passionately about」，「some academics」↔「among scientists」，「believe」↔「supposed」
答案：complicated grammar
原文定位：This does not mean that language speakers are not equal, but some languages are remarkably complex in terms of their form and framework – the tense systems, the parts of speech – and this is not true of some other languages
同义替换：「language speakers are equal」↔「This does not mean that language speakers are not equal」，「complicated grammar」↔「remarkably complex in terms of their form and framework」，「others do not」↔「and this is not true of some other languages」
答案：evolving needs
原文定位：Languages have developed over time to meet the requirements of their own cultural situation
同义替换：「evolving needs」↔「requirements」，「of the people who use it」↔「their own cultural situation」
答案：useful descriptions
原文定位：Much of the heated opinion in the debate about relative language complexity is actually irrelevant, for the simple reason that we do not have enough practical information about the languages in use today. And in order to gather such details, it is necessary for researchers to do fieldwork
同义替换：「useful descriptions」↔「practical information」
答案：mathematical analysis
原文定位：Increasingly, the evidence points away from the idea that languages can be understood by sitting at a desk studying formulas and equations
同义替换：「requires」↔「necessary for」，「mathematical analysis」↔「studying formulas and equations」