Because writing has become so important in our culture, we sometimes think of it as more real than speech. A little thought, however, will show why speech is primary and writing secondary to language. Human beings have been writing (as far as we can tell from surviving evidence) for at least 5000 years; but they have been talking for much longer, doubtless ever since there have been human beings.

When writing did develop, it was derived from and represented speech, although imperfectly. Even today there are spoken languages that have no written form. Furthermore, we all learn to talk well before we learn to write; any human child who is not severely handicapped physically or mentally will learn to talk: a normal human being cannot be prevented from doing so. On the other hand, it takes a special effort to learn to write. In the past many intelligent and useful members of society did not acquire the skill, and even today many who speak languages with writing systems never learn to read or write, while some who learn the rudiments of those skills do so only imperfectly.

To affirm the primacy of speech over writing is not, however, to disparage the latter. One advantage writing has over speech is that it is more permanent and makes possible the records that any civilization must have. Thus, if speaking makes us human, writing makes us civilized

The word “advantage” in the last paragraph most closely means .................

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• In the paragraph following the passage most probably discusses  ..............

• The word “it” in paragraph 1 refers to ..............

• How many Americans are involved in telecommuting?

ZUNIA12

• The adaptation process described in the article was completed……

• The word acknowledged in paragraph 2 could best be replaced by ..............

• Based on the information in paragraph 3, which of the following best describes the main difference between parks and rooftop gardens?

• Why does the couple exchange garlands?

• According to the passage, Pilgrims are ______.

• The word “laundry” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ..........

• The expression catch a whiff is closest in meaning to .........

• According to the passage, when will information stay in your short-term memory?

• Why are there white rings on each end of the football?

• It can be inferred from the passage that it is legal if __________

• Normal human beings .................

• According to the passage, what can be learnt about passive students?

• In order to show that learning to write requires effort, the author gives the example of ....................

• The word “those” in paragraph 2 refers to __________.

• If you are in a foreign country, the best way the writer suggests to you is to wear .........

• From what we read we know that now Cambridge is _______.

• Which of the following could be considered a cause of the distress signals of trees?