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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 11.1.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who proposed a generally accepted nomenclature for currency in 1785?
(a) Noah Webster.
(b) Richard Grant White.
(c) Thomas Jefferson.
(d) Gouverneur Morris.

2. What purpose does Miss Wittmann say is served by the shortening of word forms?
(a) Creativity.
(b) Color.
(c) Convenience.
(d) None.

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

4. What language does Mencken quote Sidney Low as saying is not taught to English youth?
(a) Greek.
(b) Latin.
(c) American.
(d) Russian.

5. What "great humorist" does Mencken cite in Chapter 1.3 as "celebrating 'the vigorous new vernacular of the occidental plains and mountains'"?
(a) William Dean Howells.
(b) Mark Twain.
(c) John Fiske.
(d) Samuel Elridge.

Short Answer Questions

1. What purpose does the double negative primarily serve?

2. What does Mencken say newspaper reporters no longer "slobber" over?

3. According to the report of Beverley, what did a group of soldiers turn into after eating some Jimson Weed?

4. Which is the second factor that Mencken identifies as an impediment to the growth of the American language in Chapter 3.1?

5. Who does Mencken state are the true makers of grammar in Chapter 9.1?

(see the answer key)

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