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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. The differences between languages bring up questions about what?

2. What is often cited as an equalizing force in English?

3. What language and culture does the answer to #44 bring to England?

4. Who is the Venerable Bede?

5. According to the author, some words are formed out of __________________.

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain the theories that languages are based in sound.

2. What event prompted the usage of standardized spelling in England?

3. Explain how the language of one people can can change over time.

4. What does the author say is the reason some English words are created?

5. How did the English language evolve in the British Isles or what is now known as the United Kingdom?

6. Explain what the author means by the creation of language areas.

7. What is so interesting about the way human speech has spread around the world?

8. What is the result of attempting to draw demarcations of accents throughout the U.S.?

9. Explain the impact of the invasion of the Normans in England.

10. Finally, what is the fourth method of explaining where words come from?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Who was Venerable Bede? What notable book did he write? What is the impact of his work on the English language?

Essay Topic 2

Explain at least three of the ways that new words are created in the English language. Be sure to take into account historic creations as well as modern methods.

Essay Topic 3

Who was Samuel Johnson? What was his role in the development of the English language? What impact did his work have? Is his work still relevant today?

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