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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 9.8 | Chapter 9.9.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What difference in pronunciation does Mencken state most sharply distinguishes the two dialects?
(a) The normative "-ary" suffix.
(b) The normative "ch."
(c) The normative "o."
(d) The normative "a."

2. Which of the following groups of immigrants does Mencken claim have a profound effect on not only the American vocabulary, but also its pronunciation and idiom?
(a) Danish.
(b) Irish.
(c) Italian.
(d) Scottish.

3. What is the physical basis to which the nasal twang of Americans is ascribed?
(a) The moist climate.
(b) Genetic diversity.
(c) Colder air.
(d) The dry climate.

4. What is frequently omitted in phrases indicated desire or intent, as indicated in Chapter 9.9?
(a) Adverbial modifiers.
(b) Adjectival modifiers.
(c) The subject noun(s).
(d) Verbs of action.

5. In what sort of languages are double negatives "perfectly allowable"?
(a) Teutonic.
(b) Asiatic.
(c) Romance.
(d) Semitic.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Mencken characterize the vulgar American habitual use of the double negative?

2. What word was "coatee" used as a diminutive for?

3. Which double negative word is primarily found in Shakespeare?

4. How do the English pronounce the first syllable in "lieutenant"?

5. Which word do Americans use for "angry" that was once an English provincialism considered base?

(see the answer key)

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