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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. What word game does the author note first in Chapter 15?
(a) Hangman
(b) Crossword puzzle
(c) Spelling bee
(d) Jumbles

3. What has prompted the English-only movement in the U.S.?
(a) English is easier to speak than other languages
(b) The growing Hispanic population of the U.S.
(c) The prevalence of the U.S. in world business
(d) English is easier to learn than other languages

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

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

6. Original names from _______________ or Native American times have slowly shifted in spelling and pronunciation.
(a) Spanish
(b) Latin
(c) British
(d) Celtic

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

8. What has been added to the British vocabulary in spite of academic protests?
(a) American words
(b) Colloquialisms
(c) Abbreviations
(d) Slang terms

9. Like other words, swear words ____________________________.
(a) are not appropriate for all ages
(b) have adapted over time
(c) have different meanings to different people
(d) are not appropriate for all regions

10. What country attempts to control language by its academic system instead of following social forces?
(a) England
(b) United States
(c) France
(d) Italy

11. English is changed through _____________________.
(a) academic experts
(b) university committees
(c) global technology
(d) social channels

12. Why does the author feel it is difficult to trace the history of swearing?
(a) People are reluctant to talk about their swear words
(b) Swear words are primarily spoken, not written down
(c) Countries do not want to be known for swearing
(d) People don't want their children exposed to it

13. What marketing challenge must companies address when considering working abroad?
(a) Tag lines
(b) Web site click thrus
(c) Direct mail
(d) Branding

14. What does the author feel there is a lack of among English native speakers?
(a) To learn new words each year
(b) To read documents in Old English
(c) To teach English to foreigners
(d) To learn other languages

15. What is another area of concern regarding the state of the English language?
(a) The fragmenting of different forms of English
(b) The decline of proper English
(c) The lack of education resources
(d) The lack of adoption globally

Short Answer Questions

1. Why are the speakers in #140 becoming a minority?

2. The tendency to change names and pronunciations occurs _____________________.

3. Who invented the crossword puzzle?

4. In addition to people names, what else has had a similar naming process in both England and America?

5. Many words that were once considered taboo are now considered to be ______________________.

(see the answer keys)

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