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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following languages has not been proposed as an international language?
(a) Esperanto
(b) Volapuk
(c) Chinese
(d) Seaspeak

2. Why do other languages borrow English words and expressions?
(a) To illustrate the conditions of modern life
(b) To become more international
(c) To become more popular
(d) To become trendier

3. Which two languages have found some purpose in international communications?
(a) Seaspeak and Esperanto
(b) Seaspeak and English
(c) Esperanto and Volapuk
(d) Seaspeak and Chinese

4. The tendency to change names and pronunciations occurs _____________________.
(a) Italy
(b) China
(c) In Britain and America
(d) Germany

5. In what year is the dictionary mentioned in #113 printed?
(a) 1492
(b) 1755
(c) 1776
(d) 1563

6. American names adapt and change to suit _______________________ pronunciation and spelling patterns.
(a) Spanish
(b) British
(c) Celtic
(d) American

7. How many words were contained in the dictionary mentioned in #113?
(a) 4,300
(b) 25,000
(c) 430,000
(d) 43,000

8. It is difficult to determine the _______________________ in the English language.
(a) number of dialects
(b) quality of words
(c) number of words
(d) number of dictionaries

9. A trend seen on both sides of the Atlantic is that of _________________________.
(a) whispering swear words in public
(b) punishing for swear words said in public
(c) fining for swear words written in public
(d) restricting swear words in public

10. What is one of the organizations that has failed as a grammar regulatory force?
(a) Oxford University
(b) Harvard University
(c) Academie Francaise
(d) United Nations

11. Why are the speakers in #140 becoming a minority?
(a) Because of the interest in studying English around the world
(b) Because of the limited applications for the language
(c) Because of the financial investment necessary to study
(d) Because of the difficulty in learning the language

12. What element guides generational language?
(a) Colloquialisms
(b) Superiority
(c) Regionalism
(d) Pop culture

13. How many words did Noah Webster's dictionary contain to surpass the one mentioned in #113?
(a) 37,000
(b) 5,500
(c) 70,000
(d) 520,000

14. Who wrote the longest-standing example of an English dictionary?
(a) G. & C. Merriam Co.
(b) Noah Webster
(c) Samuel Johnson
(d) Ben Franklin

15. What is another characteristic of spoken swear words?
(a) They are inflammatory
(b) They are difficult to trace
(c) They are humorous
(d) They are insulting

Short Answer Questions

1. What shows up in versions of early dictionaries?

2. English is a language of constant ___________________.

3. English cannot be confined to arbitrary rules or ____________________.

4. How do the British typically view American pronunciation and vocabulary?

5. From what context do many swear words come?

(see the answer keys)

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