The Forgotten Language of Whistles Reading Answers

Sep 26, 2025

The Forgotten Language of Whistles Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. The Forgotten Language of Whistles Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total. In the question set given, you have to choose the paragraph that contains the following information. Write the correct letter, A-G. NB: You may use any letter more than once. In the next set, you have to fill in the blank with the correct answer, only with one word.

The IELTS Reading section is an essential part of the test that evaluates a candidate's comprehension and analysis of various passage types. You will work through a number of IELTS reading practice problems in this section that resemble actual test situations. These questions are designed to help you improve your ability to recognise essential concepts, extract particular facts, and make inferences. Practising these IELTS reading problems can help you get comfortable with the structure and increase your confidence for the exam, regardless of whether you are studying for the Academic or General Training module.

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Section 1

THE FORGOTTEN LANGUAGE OF WHISTLES

A. In some of the world's most remote regions, where mountains rise steeply or dense forests stretch for miles, people have developed a unique form of communication: whistled languages. These are not simple signals but fully functional languages in which entire sentences can be expressed using modulated whistling. One of the most well-documented of these is Silbo Gomero, used on the island of La Gomera in the Canary Islands. Whistled languages allow communication over distances where shouting or normal speech would be ineffective.

B. Whistled speech is not a separate language but a transformation of an existing spoken language. For example, Silbo Gomero is a whistled version of Spanish. Speakers learn to emulate the intonation and rhythm of spoken words using varying pitches and lengths of whistles. This form of communication is especially effective in environments where echoes carry sound over long distances, such as valleys and cliffs.

C. Historically, whistled languages developed in geographically challenging regions where communities were isolated. Farmers, shepherds, and even postal workers used whistles to send messages across great distances. In the Turkish village of Kusköy, for instance, residents have long used whistles to carry on conversations across hillsides. However, as modern technology, such as mobile phones, has spread, the practical need for such communication methods has declined.

D. Linguists are fascinated by whistled languages because they demonstrate the flexibility and adaptability of human speech. Studies have shown that people who understand the spoken form of a language can often learn to comprehend its whistled counterpart with surprising speed. This is due to the way the human brain processes familiar patterns of sound. In fact, neuroscience research has revealed that whistled speech activates the same auditory areas of the brain as spoken language does.

E. Preservation efforts are underway to ensure that whistled languages do not vanish entirely. On La Gomera, Silbo Gomero is now taught in schools, and cultural events help to keep the tradition alive. In Kusköy, annual festivals include whistling competitions. These efforts aim not only to protect the languages themselves but also to reinforce the cultural identities of the communities that use them.

F. However, not all efforts to preserve whistled languages have been successful. In some areas, younger generations view the practice as outdated or unnecessary. The influence of mass media and urban migration has led many young people to adopt more globally dominant languages and communication methods. Without active cultural transmission, these whistled forms may vanish within a generation.

G. The study of whistled languages offers insights beyond anthropology or linguistics. Engineers and computer scientists are exploring how these acoustic strategies might inform data transmission in difficult environments. Since whistled speech is remarkably resistant to interference and can travel far, some researchers are investigating how similar principles might improve communication in disaster zones or outer space.

Questions 27-33

Which paragraph contains the following information? Write the correct letter, A-G.

NB: You may use any letter more than once.

27. The process by which whistle sounds imitate spoken language

Answer: B

Supporting statement: For example, Silbo Gomero is a whistled version of Spanish. Speakers learn to emulate the intonation and rhythm of spoken words using varying pitches and lengths of whistles.

Keywords: emulate, intonation, rhythm, pitches, lengths of whistles

Keyword Location: Para B, Line 3

Explanation: This paragraph describes whistled speech as a modification of an existing language and describes how speakers use whistles of different durations and pitches to mimic the rhythm and intonation of spoken words.

28. An example of a whistled language used on a European island

Answer: A

Supporting statement: One of the most well-documented of these is Silbo Gomero, used on the island of La Gomera in the Canary Islands.

Keywords: Silbo Gomero, island of La Gomera, Canary Islands

Keyword Location: Para A, Lines 4-5

Explanation: As an example of a whistled language, the paragraph cites Silbo Gomero, which is spoken on the European island of La Gomera in the Canary Islands.

29. Whistled communication as a tradition under threat

Answer: F

Supporting statement: However, not all efforts to preserve whistled languages have been successful. In some areas, younger generations view the practice as outdated or unnecessary.

Keywords: preserve, not successful, younger generations, outdated

Keyword Location: Para F, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The difficulties in maintaining whistled languages are discussed in this paragraph, with particular attention paid to how newer generations view the practice as unnecessary or outdated.

30. Reference to modern uses of whistling beyond traditional language

Answer: G

Supporting statement: Engineers and computer scientists are exploring how these acoustic strategies might inform data transmission in difficult environments. Since whistled speech is remarkably resistant to interference and can travel far, some researchers are investigating how similar principles might improve communication in disaster zones or outer space.

Keywords: Engineers, computer scientists, data transmission

Keyword Location: Para G, Lines 1-3

Explanation: This paragraph goes beyond the traditional use of whistled languages and discusses their modern applications in fields like engineering and computer science for data transmission and communication in challenging environments.

31. How cultural identity is preserved through teaching and events

Answer: E

Supporting statement: On La Gomera, Silbo Gomero is now taught in schools, and cultural events help to keep the tradition alive. In Kusköy, annual festivals include whistling competitions. These efforts aim not only to protect the languages themselves but also to reinforce the cultural identities of the communities that use them.

Keywords: taught in schools, cultural events, festivals

Keyword Location: Para E, Lines 2-3

Explanation: The precise steps taken to conserve whistled languages, such as teaching them in schools and hosting festivals and cultural events, are described in this paragraph. It is made clear that these initiatives support the communities' cultural identities.

32. The scientific explanation for how people understand whistled speech

Answer: D

Supporting statement: In fact, neuroscience research has revealed that whistled speech activates the same auditory areas of the brain as spoken language does.

Keywords: neuroscience research, auditory areas of the brain

Keyword Location: Para D, Lines 5-6

Explanation: The paragraph offers a scientific justification for how the brain interprets whistled speech similarly to spoken language, based on neuroscience studies.

33. Reasons why whistled speech was originally invented

Answer: C

Supporting statement: Historically, whistled languages developed in geographically challenging regions where communities were isolated. Farmers, shepherds, and even postal workers used whistles to send messages across great distances.

Keywords: Historically, geographically challenging regions, isolated

Keyword Location: Para C, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The historical background and justifications for the evolution of whistled languages are given in the paragraph, which explains that these languages were created in geographically difficult areas to transmit messages over long distances.

Questions 34-40

Use ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.

34. Silbo Gomero allows people to communicate across large__________.

Answer: DISTANCES

Supporting statement: Whistled languages allow communication over distances where shouting or normal speech would be ineffective.

Keywords: communication, over distances

Keyword Location: Para A, Lines 5-6

Explanation: According to the passage, distances is the right response since whistled languages, like Silbo Gomero, enable communication over long distances.

35. Whistled languages originally developed in_________ areas where communities were isolated.

Answer: REMOTE

Supporting statement: In some of the world's most remote regions, where mountains rise steeply or dense forests stretch for miles, people have developed a unique form of communication: whistled languages.

Keywords: remote regions, unique form

Keyword Location: Para A, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The passage states that whistled languages are found in remote regions and gives examples of such places, such as steep mountains and dense forests.

36. The spread of___________ has reduced the everyday use of whistled languages.

Answer: TECHNOLOGY

Supporting statement: However, as modern technology, such as mobile phones, has spread, the practical need for such communication methods has declined.

Keywords: modern technology, declined

Keyword Location: Para C, Lines 4-6

Explanation: The paragraph makes it clear that whistled languages have declined as a result of the spread of technological devices, including mobile phones.

37. Some schools and festivals are working to preserve cultural____________

Answer: IDENTITY

Supporting statement: These efforts aim not only to protect the languages themselves but also to reinforce the cultural identities of the communities that use them.

Keywords: reinforce, cultural identities

Keyword Location: Para E, Line 4

Explanation: According to the text, the goal of preservation efforts like educating in schools and hosting festivals is to strengthen cultural identities.

38. Youth migration to cities has disrupted traditional ____________of whistled speech.

Answer: TRANSMISSION

Supporting statement: Without active cultural transmission, these whistled forms may vanish within a generation.

Keywords: cultural transmission, vanish

Keyword Location: Para F, Lines 4-5

Explanation: The passage points out that a lack of active cultural transmission brought about by urban migration poses a threat to the languages' continued existence.

39. Engineers are studying whistled speech to improve_________ methods.

Answer: COMMUNICATION

Supporting statement: some researchers are investigating how similar principles might improve communication in disaster zones or outer space.

Keywords: researchers, improve communication

Keyword Location: Para G, Lines 4-5

Explanation: According to the paragraph, scientists are looking into how whistled speech principles might enhance communication in difficult situations.

40. Some researchers believe whistled languages could help in__________ situations.

Answer: DISASTER

Supporting statement: Since whistled speech is remarkably resistant to interference and can travel far, some researchers are investigating how similar principles might improve communication in disaster zones or outer space.

Keywords: improve communication, disaster zones

Keyword Location: Para G, Line 5

Explanation: In order to enhance communication, the paragraph cites disaster areas as a possible application of whistled speech principles.

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