One Reason we are Able to Recognize Speech, Despite all the Acoustic Variation in the Signal

Reading Passage Question

One reason we are able to recognize speech, despite all the acoustic variation in the signal, and even in very difficult listening conditions, is that the speech situation contains a great deal of redundancy—more information than is strictly necessary to decode the message. There is, firstly, our general ability to make predictions about the nature of speech, based on our previous linguistic experience—our knowledge of the speakers, subject matter, language, and so on. But in addition, the wide range of frequencies found in every signal presents us with far more information than we need in order to recognize what is being said. As a result, we are able to focus our auditory attention on just the relevant distinguishing features of the signal—features that have come to be known as acoustic cues.

What are these cues, and how can we prove their role in the perception of speech? It is not possible to obtain this information simply by carrying out an acoustic analysis of natural speech: this would tell us what acoustic information is present but not what features of the signal are actually used by listeners in order to identify speech sounds. The best an acoustic description can do is give us a rough idea as to what a cue might be. But to learn about listeners' perception, we need a different approach.

“One reason we are able to recognize speech, despite all the acoustic variation in the signal”- is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates need a strong knowledge of English GMAT reading comprehension.

This GMAT Reading Comprehension consists of 3 comprehension questions. The GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are designed for the purpose of testing candidates’ abilities in understanding, analyzing, and applying information or concepts. Candidates can actively prepare with the help of GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.

Solution and Explanation

1. The first paragraph of the passage implies which of the following concerning sound and communication?

1. A lack of redundancy in certain signals does not preclude communication.
2. The excess of sound encoded in speech serves as an encumbrance to the exchange of information.
3. Many features of a sound can be lost without necessarily compromising communication between two speakers.
4. The human processing of acoustic sound does not depend on contextual factors.
5. Some languages depend on social cues in order for speakers to be mutually intelligible.

2. The primary purpose of the passage is to

1. recommend a particular means of learning about a complex phenomenon
2. point out the shortcomings in a line of research
3. explain a process and discuss why one approach will not yield desirable results
4. prescribe an approach to understand with greater specificity a physiological process
5. warn researchers against relying on a specific methodology

3. The main reason that the author of the passage discounts using a purely acoustic analysis to understand the way in which humans are able to recognize sounds is that

1. the physical properties of speech and the perception of those physical properties are qualitatively different
2. redundancy, or the excess of information, typically ensures that a signal is faithfully transmitted between two speakers
3. no two people process the same cue in exactly the same way
4. the relevant distinguishing features of a sound tend to merge different cues into a generalized sound so as to render any analysis ineffectual
5. humans ignore certain features of the acoustic sound that may figure prominently into the perception of sound

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