Question

Why does the man, who hits his thumb-nails with a hammer, talk to himself?

Answer 1

Step 1: The man is hitting his thumb-nails with a hammer, a painful act.
Step 2: The use of language (uttering curses) serves to express his feelings of frustration and pain.
Step 3: In this context, the man does not require an audience to listen, as the language is simply a personal outlet to release emotions.
Step 4: The purpose here is emotional relief rather than communication with others.

Answer 2

Step 1: The philosopher is using language to convey complex thoughts.
Step 2: By using language, the philosopher can organize and present his abstract ideas in a clear manner.
Step 3: The main objective is not only to express thoughts but to make them understandable and communicable to others.
Step 4: The language, in this case, becomes an essential tool for philosophical discourse and clarification.

Answer 3

Step 1: The two women and two men are using language as a tool for social interaction.
Step 2: They exchange greetings as they pass, which is a common use of language in everyday life.
Step 3: The language used here is a means to establish and reinforce social connections, helping to maintain healthy relationships.
Step 4: This highlights how language fosters a sense of belonging and community among people.

Answer 4

Step 1: The paragraph provides various instances where language serves different purposes: relieving feelings, clarifying ideas, and strengthening social bonds.
Step 2: Language is used for individual emotional expression (as in the case of the man with the hammer), intellectual discourse (philosopher’s use), and social interaction (greetings between the women and men).
Step 3: These multiple uses of language demonstrate that it is indeed a versatile tool, suitable for a wide range of human activities.
Step 4: Therefore, language is a multipurpose instrument, adaptable to various functions in society.

Answer 5

'Utters': The word "utters" refers to the act of speaking, which is the key verb in this context. In the passage, when the author describes a person expressing frustration by hitting his thumb and speaking curses, the verb used is "utters." It means to say something aloud or speak. This is the word that corresponds to "speaks." Notice that "speaks" here is used in a very informal or emotional context (utterances of curses), which is why "utters" is the correct term.
'Influence': The word "influence" is used in the passage to signify the power to affect or change people's behavior. It also carries the meaning of authority or control, both of which are associated with power or success. When the author discusses how language enables humans to influence behavior, it suggests that language is a potent tool for shaping actions and outcomes—similar to being powerful or successful. Hence, the word "influence" can be interpreted as meaning "powerful" or "successful" in the passage. The term shows how language can bring about changes in society and human behavior, making it a pivotal factor in success.
'Strengthen': In this context, the opposite of the word "aggravate" is "strengthen." The word "aggravate" means to worsen or intensify a situation, making it more difficult or problematic. On the other hand, "strengthen" means to make something stronger or better. In the passage, "strengthen" is used to describe how language helps in reinforcing the bonds between members of society, making them more cohesive and unified. Therefore, "strengthen" is the opposite of "aggravate" because it denotes improvement, whereas "aggravate" suggests deterioration.