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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

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

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

4. The author discusses the process of development of the British _____________ from the Middle Ages to the present.
(a) first name
(b) nickname
(c) middle name
(d) surname

5. In what year was the crossword puzzle invented?
(a) 1889
(b) 1945
(c) 1913
(d) 1965

6. What are the risks of being unaware of international translations of company names and messages?
(a) Being negative or offensive
(b) Targeting the wrong prospects
(c) Being misunderstood
(d) Being perceived as too expensive

7. How do Americans view British pronunciation and vocabulary?
(a) They think it is too affected
(b) They want to destroy it
(c) They try to imitate it
(d) They ignore it

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

9. Translations between English and ______________ are particularly difficult.
(a) German
(b) Japanese
(c) Chinese
(d) Italian

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

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

12. What is the mission of the English-only movement in the U.S.?
(a) Make English the official language
(b) Find funding for the study of the English language
(c) Find funding to teach English in third world nations
(d) Finance its own dictionary

13. An American car license plate can be an example of what?
(a) Palindrome
(b) Rebus
(c) Vanity
(d) Metaphor

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

15. What is the second word game described by the author in Chapter 15?
(a) Scrabble
(b) Sudoku
(c) Monopoly
(d) Yahtzee

Short Answer Questions

1. From whom did North American settlers borrow words?

2. What occurs when English speaking world leaders are forced to rely on translators?

3. Which country is used as an example of the difficulties of international communication?

4. What does the author note about spoken swear words throughout English literature?

5. When did the English language go through many changes?

(see the answer keys)

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