Like many 13-month olds, Byron knows a few simple words: mama, dada, and multipurpose sound ba for ball, baby, and bottle. But how can he tell his mother about the lions at the zoo or the piano at Grandma's house? Fortunately for Byron his mom has helped him find a way to describe these interesting objects. The (36) __ is what we have come to call baby signs. Similar to the sign language used by the deaf each baby sign is a simple gesture that (37) ____ for an important object event or need in a toddler's world. Just as children learn to (38) ____ “bye-bye” long before they can say it Byron has learned to open his mouth wide for “lions ” and move his fingers up and down on imaginary keys for “piano." With these and 20 other signs at his 40 ____, Byron is able to be an active partner in conversation with the important people in his life. Baby signs make life with a toddler easier and more fun : Children are less 41 ____ to become frustrated for example because they can tell you what they want by using signs for “bottle” and “wet diaper,”and“cold." One toddler invented a sign for “afraid”-patting(轻拍) on his chest repeatedly – and if a dog frightened him, he would add the panting (喘气)gesture he had learned for “dog” to make the 16 ____ even clearer. and easier to understand. As a result, his family could 18 immediately provide exactly the reassurance (安心) he needed: “It's okay Zack. The doggy is behind the fence.” Baby signs make life sweeter in many ways. Among the (45) ____ benefits : higher self-esteem (自尊), an increased attention span, greater interest in reading, and closer relationships with older siblings — who seem to find signs enormously entertaining. A. luckily B. solution C. stands D. wave E. message F. additional G. likely H. communication I. imaginary J. reassurance K. disposal L. gestures M. interesting N. discovered O. invented