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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. For years, concern for spelling has been neglected over imposing what?
(a) Research
(b) Fines
(c) Reporting
(d) Rules

2. What combines with vowels to make pronunciation rules difficult to define?
(a) Too many consonants
(b) Punctuation
(c) Complex spelling rules
(d) Cultural dialects

3. The author decides it is ______________ to divide the U.S. into distinct accents.
(a) frustrating
(b) fun
(c) easy
(d) futile

4. On what principle are cliches based?
(a) Words changing meaning over time
(b) People becoming more clever
(c) Language becoming less formal
(d) Increased use of double entendres

5. Chapter 6 addresses the changing pronunciation of which language over time?
(a) French
(b) Celtic
(c) Italian
(d) English

6. The author tends to think that English is special because of ___________________________.
(a) its lyrical sound
(b) its inherent ease of learning
(c) its flexibility of use
(d) its verb use

7. Who establishes a large presence in Northern England in the year 850?
(a) The French
(b) The Romans
(c) The Russians
(d) The Danish Vikings

8. Language issues tend to be __________________.
(a) irreconcilable
(b) constant
(c) political
(d) universal

9. What historical occurrence is explored in Chapter 6?
(a) The Johnstown Flood
(b) The Great Vowel Shift
(c) The Great Depression
(d) The Kennedy Assassination

10. What is phonology?
(a) A phonograph history
(b) A sound system for a language
(c) Telephone operator skills
(d) A fraud detector

11. English speakers then to think their language is ___________________.
(a) dignified
(b) superior
(c) difficult to learn
(d) easy to master

12. In what time period does the event from #67 occur?
(a) 1960s
(b) 1800s
(c) 1930s
(d) 1500s

13. When comparing American and British vocabulary, some terms hold their meanings while others _______________________.
(a) die off
(b) get new spellings
(c) gain a new spin
(d) take on regional colloquialisms

14. The author finds that many languages _________________________.
(a) die out eventually
(b) have many similarities
(c) overlap geographically
(d) are difficult to learn

15. According to the author what is the most striking example of a word with multiple meanings?
(a) Fine
(b) Dance
(c) Track
(d) Snap

Short Answer Questions

1. Language has the ability to do what?

2. Who is Noam Chomsky?

3. What happens when a particular phonology is applied to adopted words?

4. The pronunciations of many words in America reflect what speakers think British speakers say and _______________________.

5. Who is the official authority over the English language?

(see the answer keys)

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