Unit 3 Test

Question

Welcome to your first test of this year!

Please review the study guide on the Lesson Intro Notes and Message Board.
You'll also want to review Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.
First, you'll read the article excerpt below and then answer questions 1-3.

Excerpt from "Lost in Interpretation" by Ellen Rolfes
Barbie Parker is a rock star sign language interpreter. When a guitarist starts a riff, Parker plays air guitar. When the drummer starts pounding, she claps to the beat. Her body moves to the rhythm of the songs as she signs lyrics with the same attitude as the musicians, from Bob Dylan to Lady Gaga.

When Parker’s audience — those who are deaf and hard of hearing — see her interpretations for the first time, they often say “Now I understand why people like music.” As an interpreter, Parker gives the deaf community an opportunity to appreciate an experience that for so long was only accessible to those who could hear.

Quality interpreting enables a deaf audience to experience and participate in public events usually only accessible for hearing individuals. But poor interpreting can alienate viewers, and create even bigger gaps in communication.

When deaf viewers watched Nelson Mandela’s memorial last week and realized the sign language interpreter was making gestures that were little more than gibberish, they were outraged. Word of the botched event spread throughout the deaf community over social media networks. Thamsanqa Jantjie, the infamous “fake interpreter” had stolen a moment in history from those who could not hear.

“The fact that there is someone willing to pose as an interpreter is horrendous,” Melanie Metzger, an interpreter practitioner, said in a phone interview with PBS NewsHour. “The international deaf community is losing out the opportunity to participate in this historic event.”

In a joint statement released Thursday, the World Federation of the Deaf and the World Association for Sign Language Interpreters did not sugar-coat. They said that Jantjie “did not know (South African Sign Language) or any sign language at all.”

The task of interpreting the numerous speakers at Mandela’s memorial service would have been a challenge for even the most skilled sign language interpreter.

Sign languages vary from country to country, with more than 200 used worldwide. While most use the hands, face and space around the body for grammatical purposes, the vocabulary, grammar and syntax will depend upon how deaf people in a specific region have historically communicated. The historical roots for spoken languages are not necessarily the same for a country’s sign language. For example, Metzger said that American Sign Language has more in common with French Sign Language than with British Sign Language, even though British and American English, when spoken, are more or less the same.

Question 1
QUESTION ONE

Choose the piece of evidence from the excerpt that best supports the claim below:

Quality interpreting can enhance the deaf community’s experience at public events.

(1 point)
Responses

"When Parker’s audience — those who are deaf and hard of hearing — see her interpretations for the first time, they often say 'Now I understand why people like music.'”
"When Parker’s audience — those who are deaf and hard of hearing — see her interpretations for the first time, they often say 'Now I understand why people like music.'”

"In a joint statement released Thursday, the World Federation of the Deaf and the World Association for Sign Language Interpreters did not sugar-coat."
"In a joint statement released Thursday, the World Federation of the Deaf and the World Association for Sign Language Interpreters did not sugar-coat."

"The task of interpreting the numerous speakers at Mandela’s memorial service would have been a challenge for even the most skilled sign language interpreter."
"The task of interpreting the numerous speakers at Mandela’s memorial service would have been a challenge for even the most skilled sign language interpreter."

"When deaf viewers watched Nelson Mandela’s memorial last week and realized the sign language interpreter was making gestures that were little more than gibberish, they were outraged."
"When deaf viewers watched Nelson Mandela’s memorial last week and realized the sign language interpreter was making gestures that were little more than gibberish, they were outraged."
Question 2
QUESTION TWO

What is the effect of the phrase “Jantjie, the infamous ‘fake interpreter’ had stolen a moment in history”?

(1 point)
Responses

Jantjie stole a valuable item from the deaf community.
Jantjie stole a valuable item from the deaf community.

The phrase helps create sympathy for Jantjie.
The phrase helps create sympathy for Jantjie.

It uses figurative language to illustrate how Jantjie denied the deaf community a meaningul experience.
It uses figurative language to illustrate how Jantjie denied the deaf community a meaningul experience.

It highlights the importance of checking into people's backgrounds to make sure interpeters are trained.
It highlights the importance of checking into people's backgrounds to make sure interpeters are trained.
Question 3
QUESTION 3

Which of the following would be the best summary of the excerpt's central idea?
(1 point)
Responses

Sign language interpretation should be standardized across all countries.
Sign language interpretation should be standardized across all countries.

Only professional musicians should perform at public events with deaf audiences.
Only professional musicians should perform at public events with deaf audiences.

Skilled sign language interpreters are crucial for providing equal access to public events for the deaf community.
Skilled sign language interpreters are crucial for providing equal access to public events for the deaf community.

Deaf individuals can experience public events without sign language interpretation.
Deaf individuals can experience public events without sign language interpretation.

Answer 1

Here are the answers to the questions based on the excerpt from "Lost in Interpretation":

Question 1: Choose the piece of evidence from the excerpt that best supports the claim below:
Quality interpreting can enhance the deaf community’s experience at public events.

Answer: "When Parker’s audience — those who are deaf and hard of hearing — see her interpretations for the first time, they often say 'Now I understand why people like music.'”

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Question 2: What is the effect of the phrase “Jantjie, the infamous ‘fake interpreter’ had stolen a moment in history”?

Answer: It uses figurative language to illustrate how Jantjie denied the deaf community a meaningful experience.

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Question 3: Which of the following would be the best summary of the excerpt's central idea?

Answer: Skilled sign language interpreters are crucial for providing equal access to public events for the deaf community.

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Feel free to ask if you have any more questions!