Language Diversity Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test with Answers

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Updated on Apr 07, 2025, 07:27

In the IELTS Reading section, you will read three passages and answer 40 questions in 60 minutes. You must locate specific information, understand the writer’s opinion, and identify the main ideas. This section tests your reading skills through various question types such as multiple choice questions, sentence completion, and yes/no/not given.
 

Language Diversity Reading passage explores the rich variety of languages spoken across the globe and how cultural, social, and political factors influence language use and preservation. You’ll learn how language diversity plays a key role in shaping identity and communication in different communities.


Let’s look at the Language Diversity reading answer passage, questions, and answers with explanations.

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1. Language Diversity Reading Answer Passage

You should spend approximately 20 minutes answering Questions 1 – 14 based on the Language Diversity Reading Answer Passage below.

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2. Language Diversity Reading Answers with Sample Questions

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Language Diversity.

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3. Check Out Top 60+ IELTS Reading Practice Test Questions with Answers

Below are some top free IELTS Reading Practice test online questions with detailed answers to enhance your IELTS preparation online. 

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1.

Language Diversity Reading Answer Passage

General Information

  • Read Instructions: Understand each question before answering.
  • Manage Time: Spend about 20 minutes per passage.
  • Skim and Scan: Quickly get the main idea and find specific information.
  • Highlight Key Info: Underline essential words or phrases.
  • Answer All Questions: Attempt every question; no penalty for wrong answers.
  • Stay Focused: Avoid distractions and keep your attention on the task.
  • Check Spelling: Ensure correct spelling and grammar.
  • Transfer Answers Clearly: Write answers neatly on the answer sheet.
  • Don’t Dwell: Move on if stuck and return later.
  • Review: If time allows, review your answers.

 

 

Language Diversity Reading Answer Passage

 

Paragraph A. The concept of universal grammar is one of the most influential in the study of languages. (UG). It is widely interpreted as meaning that all languages are fundamentally the same and that the human brain is born language-ready, with an in-built program capable of interpreting the common rules underlying any mother tongue. It was proposed by Noam Chomsky in the 1960s. This notion persisted for five decades, influencing work in linguistics, psychology, and cognitive science. It implied that in order to understand language, you must ignore the vast diversity of languages and focus on their common human core.

 

Paragraph B. Linguists have discovered numerous universal language rules since the UG theory was proposed. There are, however, almost always exceptions. It was once thought that if a language had syllables that started with a vowel and ended with a consonant (VC), it would also have syllables that started with a consonant and ended with a vowel. (CV). This universal lasted until 1999 when linguists discovered that Arrernte, a language spoken by Indigenous Australians in the Northern Territory around Alice Springs, has VC syllables but no CV syllables.

 

Paragraph C. Other non-universal universals describe the fundamental rules of word formation. Consider the rule that every language has four fundamental word classes: nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. Several languages lack an open adverb class, which means that new adverbs cannot be easily formed, unlike in English, where you can turn any adjective into an adverb, for example, 'soft' into 'softly'. Others, like Lao, which is spoken in Laos, have no adjectives at all. More controversially, some linguists argue that a few languages, such as Straits Salish, spoken by indigenous peoples in North America's northwestern regions, lack distinct nouns and verbs. Instead, they have a single-word class that includes events, objects, and qualities.

 

Paragraph D. Even seemingly indisputable universals have been discovered to be deficient. This includes recursion, or the ability to infinitely place one grammatical unit inside a similar unit, such as 'Jack thinks that Mary thinks that ... the bus will be on time'. It is widely regarded as the most important feature of human language, distinguishing it from the communications of all other animals. However, Dan Everett of Illinois State University recently published controversial research demonstrating that Amazonian Piraha lacks this quality.

 

Paragraph E. But what if language diversity is the key to understanding human communication? Linguists Nicholas Evans of the Australian National University in Canberra and Stephen Levinson of the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, believe that languages do not follow the same set of rules. Instead, they argue that the sheer variety of human communication is a distinguishing feature not found in other animals. While there is no doubt that human thinking influences the shape of language, Evans and Levinson argue that language shapes our brains. This suggests that humans are more diverse than we previously thought, with differences in our brains depending on the language environment in which we grew up. And this leads to a disturbing conclusion: when a language dies, humanity loses an important piece of its diversity.

 

Paragraph F. How are languages created if they do not follow a single set of shared rules? 'Instead of universals, you get standard engineering solutions that languages adopt repeatedly, and then you get outliers,' Evans says. He and Levinson contend that this is due to the fact that any given language is a complex system shaped by a variety of factors such as culture, genetics, and history. They claim that there are no absolutely universal language traits, only tendencies. And the 'bio-cultural' mix that we call language is characterised by a mix of strong and weak tendencies.

 

Paragraph G. The strong tendencies, according to the two linguists, explain why many languages exhibit common patterns. A variety of factors, such as brain structure, speech biology, and communication efficiencies, tend to push language in a similar direction. Widely shared linguistic elements may also be based on a uniquely human type of reasoning. For example, most languages use these grammatical categories because we perceive the world before we learn to speak as a place full of things causing actions (agents) and things having actions done to them (patients).

 

Paragraph H. Weak tendencies, on the other hand, are explained by language idiosyncrasies. Evans and Levinson argue that many aspects of a population's natural history can influence its language. For example, Andy Butcher of Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia, has discovered that indigenous Australian children have by far the highest incidence of chronic middle-ear infection of any population on the planet and that most indigenous Australian languages lack many sounds that are common in other languages but are difficult to hear when one has a middle-ear infection. According to Evans, it is unknown whether this condition shaped the sound systems of these languages, but it is important to consider the idea.

 

Paragraph I. Levinson and Evans are not the first to question the theory of universal grammar, but no one has summarised and spread these ideas as effectively. As a result, their arguments have sparked widespread interest, particularly among linguists tired of trying to fit their findings into the straitjacket of "absolute universals." According to some, this is the final nail in UG's coffin. Michael Tomasello, co-director of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, has long argued that all languages follow the same set of rules. 'Universal grammar is extinct,' he claims.

 

Let’s explore the questions and answers of the Language Diversity reading answer passage.

2.

Language Diversity Reading Answers with Sample Questions

Have you read the passage? Now, take the test and find the Language Diversity Reading answers! Try to answer these questions by yourself before you sneak a peek at the answers given below.

Questions and Answers 1-6
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Language Diversity Reading Answers Passage?
In boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet, write
  • YES if the statement agrees with the information.
  • NO if the statement contradicts the information.
  • NOT GIVEN if there is no information about this.

 

1. The search for brand-new, universal language norms is essentially over.

2. The human race may be affected if one or more languages disappear.

3. If Evans and Levinson are correct, then language does not affect how a person develops.

4. In the latter half of the 20th century, a single theory of language acquisition predominated.

5. Linguists disagree on a particular point of Straits Salish grammar.

6. Most of the UG guidelines put forth by linguists do hold true for all human languages.

 

Language Diversity  Reading Answers with Explanations (1-6)

 

Type of question: Yes/No/Not Given(True/False/Not Given)

 

In this question type, you are required to determine whether the statements provided agree with, contradict, or are not mentioned in the reading passage. 

 

How to best answer: 
 

  • Understand what information is being presented and what is being asked.
  • Find relevant information in the reading passage that relates to the statement.
  • Determine if the statement agrees with, contradicts, or is not mentioned in the passage.
  • If the information is not explicitly provided in the passage, select 'Not Given' rather than making assumptions.
  • Base your answers solely on the information presented in the passage, avoiding personal opinions or outside knowledge.

 

1. Not Given

 

Reference: N/A

 

Explanation: The passage does not mention whether the search for new universal language rules has come to an end. There is no clear indication that this search is over or even slowing down. Therefore, it is impossible to determine the writer’s view on this point.

 

2. Yes

 

Reference: From Paragraph E: “And this leads to a disturbing conclusion: when a language dies, humanity loses an important piece of its diversity.”

 

Explanation: This line shows that the writer believes language loss affects humanity. The use of the word “disturbing” highlights the serious consequences of losing languages, supporting the idea that the human race may be negatively impacted.

 

3. No

 

Reference: From Paragraph E: “While there is no doubt that human thinking influences the shape of language, Evans and Levinson argue that language shapes our brains. This suggests that humans are more diverse than we previously thought, with differences in our brains depending on the language environment in which we grew up.”

 

Explanation: This line clearly indicates that language does influence the way people develop, particularly their brains. It directly contradicts the statement that language does not affect development, making “No” the correct answer.

 

4. Yes

 

Reference: From Paragraph A: “It is widely interpreted as meaning that all languages are fundamentally the same and that the human brain is born language-ready, with an in-built program capable of interpreting the common rules underlying any mother tongue. It was proposed by Noam Chomsky in the 1960s.”

 

Explanation: This line confirms that Chomsky’s theory of universal grammar remained dominant for about 50 years. This supports the statement that one major theory led the way in language acquisition during the latter half of the 20th century.

 

5. Yes

 

Reference: From Paragraph C: “More controversially, some linguists argue that a few languages, such as Straits Salish, spoken by indigenous peoples in North America's northwestern regions, lack distinct nouns and verbs. Instead, they have a single-word class that includes events, objects, and qualities.”

 

Explanation: The phrase “more controversially” shows that not all linguists agree about the grammar of Straits Salish. This disagreement over its word classes supports the idea that linguists hold different views on this specific grammar rule.

 

6. No

 

Reference: From Paragraph B: “Linguists have discovered numerous universal language rules since the UG theory was proposed. There are, however, almost always exceptions.”

 

Explanation: This sentence explains that while many universal rules have been proposed, they often have exceptions. This proves that UG guidelines do not hold true for all languages, which contradicts the original statement.

 

Also Read: 350+ English Vocabulary Words for IELTS

Questions and Answers 7-11
  • Choose the correct letter: A, B, C, or D.

 

7. What is the author's opinion of Evans and Levinson's theory of language acquisition?

A. Other linguists have largely rejected it.
B. It is not backed up by facts.
C. It had not been thought of before.
D. It is presented in an effective manner.
 

8. What purpose does the mention of a middle ear infection serve in the eighth paragraph?

A. the potential origin of something.
B. the most likely outcome of something.
C. an explanation of something.
D. an opposition to something.
 

9. Evans and Levinson suggest that apparent similarities between languages could be caused by

A. similar ways of perceiving.
B. narrow systems of description.
C. close interpersonal ties.
D. error in analysis.
 

10. Which of the following language-related beliefs do Evans and Levinson share?

A. There are only a few universal aspects of language.
B. The traits of other languages have an impact on each language.
C. The development of every language occurs independently.
D. Languages differ from one another more often than they are similar.
 

11. Which of the following best sums up the author's motivation?

A. to determine the shared features of specific languages.
B. to describe different points of view on language's nature.
C. to outline the development of cognitive science.
D. to support a long-held theory about language acquisition.
 

Language Diversity  Reading Answers With Explanations (7-11)

 

Type of question: Multiple choice questions

 

In this question type, you are asked to answer the question followed by several options, typically lettered A, B, C, or D. The task is to select the correct answer from the given choices based on the information provided in the reading passage.

 

How to best answer: 
 

  • Read the question carefully and understand what it asks.
  • Pay attention to the keywords in the question.
  • Skim the passage quickly to locate relevant information.
  • Eliminate the clearly incorrect options.
  • Select the answer that best fits the information in the passage.

 

7. D - It is presented in an effective manner

 

Reference: From Paragraph I: “Levinson and Evans are not the first to question the theory of universal grammar, but no one has summarised and spread these ideas as effectively. As a result, their arguments have sparked widespread interest, particularly among linguists tired of trying to fit their findings into the straitjacket of "absolute universals."”

 

Explanation: This line suggests that although others have questioned UG before, Evans and Levinson have been the most effective in presenting and spreading their ideas. This makes "It is presented in an effective manner" the correct answer.

 

8. A - the potential origin of something

 

Reference: From Paragraph H: “For example, Andy Butcher of Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia, has discovered that indigenous Australian children have by far the highest incidence of chronic middle-ear infection of any population on the planet and that most indigenous Australian languages lack many sounds that are common in other languages but are difficult to hear when one has a middle-ear infection.”

 

Explanation: This line indicates a possible link between middle-ear infections and the absence of certain sounds in Australian languages. It implies the condition may be a contributing factor, making "the potential origin of something" the correct answer.

 

9. A - similar ways of perceiving

 

Reference: From Paragraph F: “He and Levinson contend that this is due to the fact that any given language is a complex system shaped by a variety of factors such as culture, genetics, and history. They claim that there are no absolutely universal language traits, only tendencies.”

 

Explanation: This line shows that common patterns in languages may result from shared ways of perceiving and processing the world. It supports the idea that apparent similarities between languages could stem from “similar ways of perceiving”.

 

10. C - The development of every language occurs independently

 

Reference: From Paragraph E: “Linguists Nicholas Evans of the Australian National University in Canberra and Stephen Levinson of the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, believe that languages do not follow the same set of rules. Instead, they argue that the sheer variety of human communication is a distinguishing feature not found in other animals. While there is no doubt that human thinking influences the shape of language, Evans and Levinson argue that language shapes our brains.”

 

Explanation: This line implies that languages develop uniquely based on different human experiences and environments. It supports the idea that the development of every language occurs independently, making “The development of every language occurs independently” the correct answer.

 

11. B - to describe different points of view on language's nature

 

Reference: From Paragraph I: “Levinson and Evans are not the first to question the theory of universal grammar, but no one has summarised and spread these ideas as effectively. As a result, their arguments have sparked widespread interest, particularly among linguists tired of trying to fit their findings into the straitjacket of "absolute universals." According to some, this is the final nail in UG's coffin.”

 

Explanation: This line suggests that the author aims to highlight differing perspectives on language, particularly the shift away from universal grammar. It makes "to describe different points of view on language's nature" the best summary of the author's intention.

 

To build a strong word bank that can help you approach the Reading section with clarity and confidence, go through the IELTS Academic Reading 2025!

Questions and Answers 12-14
  • Complete each sentence with the correct ending.
  • Write the correct letter, A-E, below.

 

12. Recently, it has been asserted that Amazonia Piraha lacks - ________

13. There are deficiencies in the Lao language - ________

14. The Arrernte language deviates from a "rule" regarding - ________

 

A. The most fundamental feature is language.

B. sentences that go beyond the limit.

C. words that can be used in multiple contexts.

D. words that fit a specific grammar pattern.

E. a series of noises that UG predicted.


Language Diversity Reading Answers With Explanations (12-14)
 

Type of question: Sentence Completion

 

In this question type, you are required to fill in the blanks in a given sentence with words or phrases taken directly from the passage. These questions test your ability to understand specific details and information presented in the text.

 

How to best answer: 

 

  • Read the sentence carefully to understand the context.
  • Identify keywords or clues that can help you find the answer in the passage.
  • Scan the passage for relevant information, focusing on the area around the blank.
  • Choose the answer that fits grammatically and contextually.
  • Verify your answers and finalise them.

 

12. A - the most fundamental feature is language

 

Reference: From Paragraph D: “It is widely regarded as the most important feature of human language, distinguishing it from the communications of all other animals. However, Dan Everett of Illinois State University recently published controversial research demonstrating that Amazonian Piraha lacks this quality.”

 

Explanation: This line indicates that the Piraha language does not exhibit recursion, which is described just before as the most important and fundamental feature of human language. This makes "the most fundamental feature is language" the correct answer.

 

13. D - words that fit a specific grammar pattern

 

Reference: From Paragraph C: “Others, like Lao, which is spoken in Laos, have no adjectives at all.”

 

Explanation: This line shows that Lao lacks adjectives, which are an essential part of word classes that follow specific grammar patterns in most languages. Therefore, “words that fit a specific grammar pattern” is the right choice.

 

14. E - a series of noises that UG predicted

 

Reference: From Paragraph B: “This universal lasted until 1999 when linguists discovered that Arrernte, a language spoken by Indigenous Australians in the Northern Territory around Alice Springs, has VC syllables but no CV syllables.”

 

Explanation: This line explains that the Arrernte language does not follow a common sound pattern predicted by UG, where CV syllables are expected. Hence, the correct answer is “a series of noises that UG predicted".
3.

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Below are some top 60+ free IELTS Reading Practice test online questions with detailed answers to enhance your IELTS preparation online. We have provided sample passages for each test type for your reference.
 

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FAQs

Q. What are common keywords in the Language Diversity reading passage?

Ans. Common keywords include terms like “bilingualism,” “multilingual,” “dialects,” “language shift,” “linguistic diversity,” “mother tongue,” and “language preservation.” These words often relate to how languages change, spread, or decline across societies.

Q. How to answer matching headings questions in the Language Diversity reading passage?

Ans. First, skim each paragraph to understand its main idea. Then, match it with the most relevant heading, focusing on overall themes rather than specific details. Watch for similar words and paraphrasing between the headings and the text.

Q. What is a challenging aspect of the Language Diversity reading passage?

Ans. The biggest challenge is understanding complex terminology and academic language. Also, the passage may present contrasting viewpoints, making it tricky to match information or identify the writer’s opinions.

Q. Are Language Diversity passages part of the IELTS Academic or General Reading?

Ans. Language Diversity passages are typically found in the IELTS Academic Reading test. These texts are often more analytical and suited for academic or educational contexts.

Q. Are spelling and grammar important in the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. Yes, spelling is important because incorrect spelling can result in a wrong answer, even if the idea is right. Grammar isn’t marked directly, but your answers must match the question's format, especially in sentence completion tasks.

Q. What types of texts can I expect in the Academic Reading test?

Ans. You’ll encounter texts from books, journals, newspapers, and magazines. Topics are usually academic or factual and can include subjects like science, history, sociology, or the environment.

Q. How can I improve my reading speed for the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. Practise skimming and scanning techniques daily. Read academic texts regularly and time yourself. Focus on identifying keywords quickly and try to summarise each paragraph mentally in a few seconds.

Q. Can I use a dictionary during the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. No, you’re not allowed to use a dictionary during the test. You must rely on context clues and your vocabulary knowledge to understand unfamiliar words.

Q. What strategies can help me answer True/False/Not Given questions?

Ans. Read the statements carefully and locate the relevant section in the text. Compare ideas closely—True means it matches, False means it contradicts, and Not Given means the information isn’t there at all.

Q. How can I handle unknown words in the reading passages?

Ans. Don’t panic. Try to guess the meaning from the context. Look at the surrounding words, sentence structure, and overall tone. Focus on the parts of the sentence you do understand.

Q. Is it necessary to answer the questions in order?

Ans. No, it’s not necessary. You can skip tough questions and come back later. However, questions often follow the order of the text, so answering in order might help you locate information more easily.