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Communication is sending the messages from one living thing to another. It is part of the process of staying alive and surviving. In the animal kingdom, most communication is connected with survival. Animals use scents, sounds and actions to show their kids how to behave or protect themselves against predators. Like animals, human beings also use non-verbal methods of communication. Sometimes we do this more than we realize. When your parents read your school report your look at their faces which immediately tell you if they are delighted, surprised, disappointed or angry. In fact expressions and gestures have always been a powerful way of communicating and many expressions have the same meaning all over the world. For example, people smile when they are happy or the are frown when they are sad. Equally, showing your open hands is widely recognized as a sign of peace, while raising a clenched fist can be a sign of anger or aggression. However, some gestures may have different meanings in different places. A friendly sign in one culture might be impolite in another - so take care! Another way of showing your feelings is through touch or sounds. Signs and groans can show that you are bored, depressed or frustrated; laugh usually tells people that you are amused or delighted; and screams indicate that you are frightened. Handshakes, kisses and hugs are different ways of greeting people. Hugs and kisses can also be signs of affection and love. Many animals have specially adapted body parts which help to communicate visually. A stag, for example, has dangerous antlers to warn off predators. In contrast, human bodies are not specially developed in this way. However, what we wear can say a lot about us. Business people and politicians usually wear expensive suits in order to appear serious, people in the entertainment industry wear glamorous outfits, and teenagers might wear designer jeans and pierce their noses. So, when you meet someone for the first time remember, it's not just what you say that makes an impression, but also what you wear and what you do!
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