Final answer:
In ASL, signing the word 'bear' involves mimicking claws with your hands, which is an action that resembles a defining characteristic of the animal.
Step-by-step explanation:
When signing the word "bear" in American Sign Language (ASL), you might imagine that you are mimicking claws with your hands. This action reflects one of the key characteristics of a bear, as it uses its claws for different activities such as catching fish or marking territory. Signs in ASL often mimic physical attributes or actions associated with what they represent to make the language visually descriptive.