Reading comprehension: read the passage carefully and then answer the question that follows. To know language is to be able to speak it; even a child who does not yet attend school can speak his or her language. In order to speak a language it is important to listen to it and to read a few pages in it every day. A child picks up language and learns to talk just as (s)he learns to walk. Walking and talking come naturally to a child as it grows. In our country, a child may grow up speaking more than one language, if these languages are spoken in the home and in the neighbourhood. We call this multilingualism. A child speaks a language or languages much before (s)he starts going to school. To know a language then is first of all to be able to speak it as easily and naturally as a three year old child does. Later on the child will learn to read and write in that language. In order to read and write in a language, one has to speak it. But it is possible to speak a language but not be able to read or write in it. A baby does not speak until it is nine months old but it understands a few words at six months of age. It has been listening ever since it was born, and even a little before that. So the first strategy in speaking a language is to listen. Question: One of the activities of a child before it is even born is

Introduction / Context:
This reading comprehension question is based on a passage about how children acquire language. The aim is to test whether you can carefully read the passage, identify a specific detail, and choose the correct option that matches the information given by the author.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The passage discusses how children learn to speak by first listening to language.
• It explains that walking and talking come naturally as a child grows.
• It mentions multilingualism when children hear more than one language at home or in the neighbourhood.
• At the end, it states that a baby has been listening ever since it was born, and even a little before that.
• The question asks: One of the activities of a child before it is even born is what.

Concept / Approach:
Comprehension questions like this do not require outside knowledge. You only need to locate the relevant part of the passage and interpret it correctly. The key sentence is about the baby listening from birth and even before birth. From this, you infer what activity the unborn child is already doing.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Read the full passage to understand the overall theme of language learning. Step 2: Locate the lines near the end that talk about a baby before and after birth. Step 3: Identify the phrase: It has been listening ever since it was born, and even a little before that. Step 4: Conclude that the activity mentioned as happening even before birth is listening.

Verification / Alternative check:
Check each option against the passage. The text does not mention a child seeing, talking, or consciously understanding before birth. It only states that the child has been listening ever since birth and even earlier. Therefore, listening is the only option that clearly matches the passage.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• seeing: The passage never says that the child is already seeing before birth.
• understanding: The text mentions that the baby understands a few words at six months of age, not before birth.
• talking: It clearly states that the baby does not speak until nine months old.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students answer based on general knowledge about babies instead of reading the passage carefully. Others may confuse understanding at six months with activities before birth. Always base your answer only on what is explicitly given or clearly implied in the passage.

Final Answer:
Correct option: listening.