Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each the numbered blanks.

Speech is one of the most important ___(1)___ of communicating. It consists of far more than just making noises. To talk and also to be understood by ___(2)___ people, we have to speak a language. That is, we have to use combinations of sounds that everyone agrees to stand for a particular object or idea. Communication would be impossible it everyone made up their own language.

Learning a language properly is very ___(3)___. The basic vocabulary of English is not very large, and only about 2,000 words are needed to speak it quite well. ___(4)___ the more idea you can express, the more precise you can be about their exact meaning. Words are the main thing ___(5)___ we use in communicating what we want to say. The way we say the words is also very important. Our tone of voice can express many emotions and show whether we are pleased or angry, for instance.