A Closer Examination of a Study on Verbal and Non-Verbal Message Reading Answers

Mar 4, 2025

A Closer Examination of a Study on Verbal and Non-Verbal Message Reading Answers is an academic topic for IELTS Reading Answers. A Closer Examination of a Study on Verbal and Non-Verbal Message Reading Answers, consisting of 14 IELTS questions. From Questions No. 27-30, you have to pick the correct word from the list of given words from the given passage. After that, from Questions No. 31-35, you have to give the answers in TRUE/ FALSE/ NOT GIVEN options. And, finally, for the remaining set of questions (Questions No. 36-40), you have to choose the correct option from the list of given options.

The IELTS Reading Section demands keen attention to detail, familiarity with question types, and strong time management. Regular practice increases speed and accuracy in matching the answers to the passage. Practicing IELTS Reading Practice Questions helps candidates develop comprehension, expand vocabulary, and refine time management, ultimately improving their performance in the IELTS exam.

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Section 1 A Closer Examination of a Study on Verbal and Non-Verbal Message Reading Answers

A study of non-verbal communication carried out in 1967 continues to be widely quoted today. David Lapakko looks at the limitations of the original study.

Description of the Study: The findings of a study on verbal and non-verbal messages in communication by Albert Mehrabian and his colleagues at UCLA in 1967 have been quoted so frequently that they are now often regarded as a self-evident truth. In the first experiment, subjects were asked to listen to a recording of a female saying the word 'maybe' in three tones of voice to convey liking, neutrality, and disliking. The subjects were then shown photos of female faces expressing the same three emotions and were asked to guess the emotions in the recorded voice and the photos. It was found that the photos got more accurate responses than the voices. In the second experiment, subjects listened to nine recorded words spoken in different tones of voice. Three words had positive meanings (e.g., honey), three were neutral (e.g., oh) and three were negative (e.g., terrible). Again, the subjects had to guess the speaker's emotions. It was found that the tone of voice carried more meaning than the individual words. From these experiments, the researchers concluded that 7% of our feelings towards a speaker are based on the actual words they use, 38% on their tone of voice, and 55% on their body language (e.g., facial expression).

Methodological Issues: However, a closer look at the study reveals several limitations. The first is that the entire study involved only 62 subjects, Of these, 25 were used to select the word for the first experiment, while the key issue comparing verbal and non-verbal communication — was determined by only the 37 remaining subjects. All were female undergraduates who participated as part of their introductory psychology A course, and their ages and academic qualifications seem remarkably uniform. Thus, the findings may simply be a product of the nature of the sample. Critics have also pointed out that the 7-38-55 formula is flawed since it was pieced together from two different experiments, neither of which involved all three channels (verbal, vocal, and facial). In addition, in the first experiment, a single word may be used throughout, so the effects of changes in verbal input couldn't be assessed. The researchers intentionally used a 'neutral' word, so naturally, the subjects found little meaning there. Such a methodology lacks validity. In the real world, people communicate in a particular context and speak in phrases and full-blown sentences, making extensive use of the multi-faceted vehicle of language. My concern is that interpretations of this study have gained such prominence in our pedagogical literature. This 7-38-55 formula appears in many basic texts, used for training in public speaking, interpersonal communication, and organizational communication.

Lessons to consider: Clearly, one appealing aspect of the Mehrabian study is its numerical precision. Communication is a complex phenomenon, but it seems less so when we can rely on these three magical numbers. In contrast to the ambiguities of language, numbers seem to possess exactness. And the popular appeal of the study has given the 7-38-55 formula enormous credibility. There is a certain mystique about non-verbal communication, and the continued references to this research sustain it, encouraging people to believe in the overwhelming importance of the non-verbal message compared with the verbal one. Yet we know that even one ill-chosen word to a colleague or friend can make or break a communicative effort. Words do matter. Bradley (1991), one of the few textbook writers to criticize the Mehrabian study, makes the same point when he observes, 'If we could communicate 93% of information and attitudes with vocal and facial cues, it would be wasteful to spend time learning a language. Mehrabian himself believes his research should not be interpreted to devalue the role of language in communication, saying: Please remember that all my findings... dealt with communications of feelings and attitudes... it is absurd to imply or suggest that the verbal portion of all communication constitutes only 7% of the message... anytime we communicate abstract relationships (e.g., x=y — square of z) 100% of the entire communication is verbal. (Mehrabian, 1995). To be fair, many textbook writers attempt to be faithful to the context of Mehrabian's research. For example, Stewart and D'Angelo (1988) write: “Mehrabian argues that when we're uncertain about what someone's feeling, or about how much we like him or her, we rely...only 7% on the words that are spoken'. Others try to play down the specific percentages, saying that an understanding of the general importance of non-verbal cues is more important. Nonetheless, other textbook authors simply use the numbers without placing any limits on their meaning.

Conclusion: Since this relatively small study was first published, it has achieved an influence far beyond its intended scope. We need to put it into its proper perspective and learn some essential lessons from it regarding social science research, communication pedagogy, and the forces that have created widespread misunderstanding about communication.

Section 2 Solutions and Explanations

Questions 27-30

Complete the summary using the list of words and phrases, A-H, below.

MEHRABIAN'S 1967 STUDY

A. facial expressions

B. purposes

C. printed words

D. effects

E. words meanings

F. gender differences

G. feelings

H. characteristics

27. Albert Mehrabian and his colleagues carried out an influential study comparing the ________ of verbal, and non-verbal communication.

Answer: D (Effects)

Supporting statement: “..........It was found that the photos got more accurate responses than the voices. In the second experiment, subjects listened to nine recorded words spoken in different tones of voice.………..”

Keywords: Photos, Accurate, Responses, Voices

Keyword Location: para 2, Line 8-10

Explanation: Mehrabian's study examined the effects of verbal and non-verbal communication and analyzed how people interpret emotions through facial expressions, tone of voice, and spoken words. It evaluated which channel had the greatest impact on expressing emotions.

28. In both experiments, subjects had to identify the ________ being communicated by other people.

Answer: G (Feelings)

Supporting statement: “..........It was found that the tone of voice carried more meaning than the individual words. From these experiments, the researchers concluded that 7% of our feelings towards a speaker are based on the actual words they use, 38% on their tone of voice, and 55% on their body language (e.g., facial expression)..………..”

Keywords: Tone, Words, Meaning, Experiments

Keyword Location: para 2, Line 13-16

Explanation: In both experiments, subjects were required to determine the emotions or attitudes expressed by the speaker's tone of voice and facial expressions. The study aimed to analyze how verbal and non-verbal cues contribute to the interpretation of emotions.

29. The two main areas focused on in the first experiment were voice tones and _________ while the second focused mainly on voice tones and ___________.

Answer: A (Facial Expressions)

Supporting statement: “...........The subjects were then shown photos of female faces expressing the same three emotions and were asked to guess the emotions in the recorded voice and the photos. ………..”

Keywords: Voice, Subjects, Photos, Female

Keyword Location: para 2, Line 6-8

Explanation: The first experiment examined how subjects interpreted emotions based on tone of voice and facial expressions. Participants listened to recordings and viewed photographs to rate emotions.

30. The two main areas focused on in the first experiment were voice tones and facial expressions, while the second focused mainly on voice tones and ___________.

Answer: E (Words’ Meanings)

Supporting statement: “............In the second experiment, subjects listened to nine recorded words spoken in different tones of voice. Three words had positive meanings (e.g., honey), three were neutral (e.g., oh) and three were negative (e.g., terrible).………..”

Keywords: Subjects, Recorded, Tones, Positive

Keyword Location: para 2, Line 9-12

Explanation: The second experiment analyzed how different tones of voice affect the interpretation of spoken words with positive, neutral, and negative connotations. It highlights the role of the meaning of words in communication.

Questions 31-35

Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in Reading Passage 3? Write

YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer

NO, if the statement contradicts the views of the writer

NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

31. One limitation of the study was that there were too few subjects involved

Answer: YES

Supporting statement: “............The first is that the entire study involved only 62 subjects, Of these, 25 were used to select the word for the first experiment, while the key issue comparing verbal and non-verbal communication — was determined by only the 37 remaining subjects..………..”

Keywords: Study, Word, Select, Verbal

Keyword Location: para 3, Line 2-5

Explanation: The study had only 62 participants, of whom only 37 contributed to the major findings. This small, homogeneous sample limits the validity and generalizability of the results.

32. The fact that the subjects in the study came from a similar background was an advantage.

Answer: NO

Supporting statement: “............Thus, the findings may simply be a product of the nature of the sample. Critics have also pointed out that the 7-38-55 formula is flawed since it was pieced together from two different experiments, neither of which involved all three channels (verbal, vocal, and facial)..………..”

Keywords: Findings, Product, Nature, Sample

Keyword Location: para 3, Line 7-10

Explanation: The author highlights that the study subjects were all female graduates of similar age and educational qualifications, which limits the applicability of the findings rather than being a benefit.

33. The two experiments should have been carried out in a different order.

Answer: NOT GIVEN

Explanation: The passage does not mention or suggest that the order of the two experiments should have been different. It criticizes the methodology and sample size, but not the sequence of experiments.

34. The researchers' choice of a neutral word was helpful in the context of the study.

Answer: NO

Supporting statement: “............The researchers intentionally used a 'neutral' word, so naturally, the subjects found little meaning there. Such a methodology lacks validity..………..”

Keywords: Researchers, Neutral, Meaning, Validity

Keyword Location: para 3, Line 12-14

Explanation: The author proposes that the choice of a neutral word was not helpful because it had little meaning, thereby reducing the validity of the study.

35. The study would have been more valid if included a range of languages.

Answer: NOT GIVEN

Explanation: This paragraph does not discuss the inclusion of different languages in the study or its potential impact on validity. Therefore, it is impossible to determine the author's opinion on this matter.

Questions 36-40

Choose the correct letter.

36. What does the writer say about the 'numerical precision of Mehrabian's study?

A. It makes the claims more attractive.

B. It is the strongest point of the study.

C. It will appeal to superstitious people.

D. It allows comparison between languages.

Answer: A (It makes the claims more attractive)

Supporting statement: “............One appealing aspect of the Mehrabian study is its numerical precision. Communication is a complex phenomenon, but it seems less so when we can rely on these three magical numbers...………..”

Keywords: Numerical, Precision, Mehrabian, Study

Keyword Location: para 4, Line 1-3

Explanation: The author says that “numerical precision” makes the study's claims less complex, and the numbers appear more precise than the ambiguities of the language.

37. What does the writer say about the popularity of the 7-38-55 formula?

A. It is unlikely to maintain its present status.

B. It is leading to an undervaluing of language.

C. It should be applied in a more practical way

D. It may help in the understanding of non-verbal messages.

Answer: B (It is leading to an undervaluing of language.)

Supporting statement: “............Yet we know that even one ill-chosen word to a colleague or friend can make or break a communicative effort. Words do matter...………..”

Keywords: Word, Colleague, Communicative, Effort

Keyword Location: para 4, Line 9-10

Explanation: The author emphasizes that this formula has led people to overestimate the importance of nonverbal cues when embedding language in communication.

38. What point is Bradley making about language learning?

A. Language could be learned more efficiently than it is.

B. More research is needed into attitudes to communication.

C. More time should be spent looking at tone and body language.

D. Language must be important since we make an effort to acquire it

Answer: D (Language must be important since we make an effort to acquire it)

Supporting statement: “............Bradley (1991), one of the few textbook writers to criticize the Mehrabian study, makes the same point when he observes, 'If we could communicate 93% of information and attitudes with vocal and facial cues, it would be wasteful to spend time learning a language...………..”

Keywords: Bradley, Language, Textbook, Writers

Keyword Location: para 4, Line 10-13

Explanation: Bradley argues that learning a language would be useless if 93% of communication was expressed through tone of voice and body language.

39. What does Mehrabian himself say about his findings?

A. They are relevant to only one area of communication.

B. It is only in math that 100% of communication is

C. Feelings are more difficult to communicate than numerical facts.

D. Non-verbal communication is the main part of the message.

Answer: A (They are relevant to only one area of communication.)

Supporting statement: “............Please remember that all my findings... dealt with communications of feelings and attitudes... it is absurd to imply or suggest that the verbal portion of all communication constitutes only 7% of the message... anytime we communicate abstract relationships (e.g., x=y — square of z) 100% of the entire communication is verbal. (Mehrabian, 1995) ...………..”

Keywords: Communication, Remember, Feelings, Attitudes

Keyword Location: para 4, Line 15-19

Explanation: Mehrabian clarified that his findings apply only to the communication of emotions and attitudes, not all communication. He emphasizes that abstract concepts require purely verbal communication.

40. What is the writer's purpose in the paragraph beginning ‘To be fair...'?

A. to justify the strong points of Mehrabian's study

B. to outline other research on non-verbal behavior

C. to present varying interpretations of Mehrabian's study

D. to show that textbooks tend to ignore non-verbal behavior

Answer: C (to present varying interpretations of Mehrabian's study)

Supporting statement: “............To be fair, many textbook writers attempt to be faithful to the context of Mehrabian's research. For example, Stewart and D'Angelo (1988) write: “Mehrabian argues that when we're uncertain about what someone's feeling, or about how much we like him or her, we rely...only 7% on the words that are spoken'...………..”

Keywords: Writers, Textbook, Context, Research

Keyword Location: para 4, Line 20-23

Explanation: The paragraph discusses how various textbook authors interpret Mehrabian's research, some remaining true to its context, others downplaying the numbers, and some misrepresenting them.

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