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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 10.1.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which defender of Americanisms cited by Mencken in Chapter 1.3 states that "Language is made by the people"?
(a) Richard Aldington.
(b) George Ade.
(c) William Archer.
(d) Edgar Jepson.

2. Which 1914 English dictionary made many important concessions to American spellings?
(a) The Concise Oxford Dictionary.
(b) The New English Dictionary.
(c) The Cambridge Fleet Edition.
(d) The London Pocket Dictionary.

3. Which of the following is one of the three great causes of change in language according to Sayce, as reported in Chapter 9.3?
(a) Phonetic innovations.
(b) Cultural encounters.
(c) Lexicography.
(d) Laziness.

4. According to Mencken, how do the English pronounce "been?"
(a) Bean.
(b) Bin.
(c) Bein.
(d) Bain.

5. In what parts of language does Mencken say the "chief grammatical peculiarities" of spoken English are found?
(a) Verbs and pronouns.
(b) Adverbs and adjectives.
(c) Nouns and participles.
(d) Nouns and prepositions.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the English "secondary school" correspond to in American?

2. From which of the following have the English changed their spelling?

3. What moniker of currency has persisted in America despite having no currency properly of that name?

4. What language does Mencken quote Sidney Low as saying is not taught to English youth?

5. What does Mencken list as dominant the English alternative for the word "mail"?

(see the answer key)

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