Sign Language is Handy Trivia Quiz

Answer: Coffee

The picture shows the BSL sign for 'coffee'. The sign for 'tea' uses both hands, with one held out like a saucer while the other tips towards your face as though you are sipping from a teacup. The sign for 'smoothie' involves moving your hands as though you are blending the fruit. If you want to say 'water', put your thumb and finger together, then point to your mouth repeatedly.

Answer: Cat

The British Sign Language action for 'cat' is like drawing whiskers across your face. For 'dog', you use two fingers on each hand to point downwards, and for 'rabbit' you put them on top of your head like bunny ears. To say 'reindeer', the fingers on both hands are widespread and move outwards from your head like antlers.

Answer: Scissors

To say 'scissors', you use two fingers to mime cutting. The sign for 'pencil' involves putting your thumb and forefinger together and moving your hand as though you are writing. For 'ruler', you use your thumbs and forefingers to draw a line in front of your body. If you ball your hands into fists and tap your knuckles together, then you are saying 'paper'.

Answer: Geography

The BSL sign for 'geography' is like making a globe with your hands. To say 'science', cup your hands and alternately move them as though you are pouring liquids into containers. For 'English', extend your index fingers and rub one on top of the other. To sign 'history', use both hands and move them as though you are pushing something over your shoulder.

Answer: Bed

To sign 'bed' in BSL, make a 'C' shape with one hand and put it against your ear. The sign for 'computer' involves miming typing on a keyboard and the action for 'book' starts with your palms together, and then opening them out like the cover of a book. If you want to say 'chair', make two fists and push them downwards.

Answer: Hungry

To say 'hungry' in British Sign Language, use your hand to rub your stomach. To say that you are 'excited', use your fingertips to scratch up and down your body. If you are 'tired', use either one or both hands to push down as though you are deflating something. If you're 'happy', then smile (facial expressions are important, too!) and slide one palms over the other, almost as though you're clapping.

Answer: Present

If you put your palms face up and push them forwards, you're doing the BSL sign for 'present'. There are two ways of saying 'Santa' or 'Father Christmas'. For one, use your thumb and forefinger to draw a long bushy beard down from your chin; for the other, use both hands to pretend to hold a sack over one shoulder. 'Stocking' uses your thumb and finger to draw a big sock in front of your body.

The sign for 'snow' involves fluttering your fingers like falling snow.

Answer: Golf

If you put your fists together and swing them from one side of your body to the other, you're signing 'golf' - the action is like swinging a golf club. 'Tennis' is similar, but your hand swings forward as though you are hitting a ball with a tennis racket.

The BSL sign for 'swimming' uses both hands to draw circles as though you are doing breast stroke. To say 'rugby', mime holding a rugby ball and passing it to another player by pushing both hands across your body.

Answer: Gloves

In British Sign Language, you mime putting gloves on to say the word 'gloves'. To sign 'coat', you put your fists by your shoulders and pull forwards. If you make a 'C' shape and move it up by your neck, then you're signing 'tie', and if you make a pulling motion up from the top of your legs, then you are saying 'trousers'.

Answer: Foggy

You can tell someone that it's 'foggy' outside by putting your palms out and moving them from side to side in front of you. If it's 'sunny', put a closed fist beside your head and then open your fingers out. For 'windy', open your hands so that your palms are facing you and then move them towards your face.

The sign for 'rainy' involves opening your hands out so that your palms are facing downwards, then moving your hands down like falling rain.