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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why does the author think it is difficult to trace the history of language using only written records?
(a) Historians are prone to making errors
(b) Meanings can be lost in translation
(c) Documents can be lost or altered
(d) Much is not accounted for if spoken language is not accounted for

2. According to the author what will happen when English comes into its own as a modern language of international importance?
(a) There will be fewer rules imposed
(b) Regionalism will take over
(c) Communication will break down
(d) The language will run amuck

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

4. English grammar rules are based on what?
(a) Latin
(b) Oxford University guidelines
(c) Old English
(d) Celtic

5. What occurs when English speaking world leaders are forced to rely on translators?
(a) Decisions are postponed
(b) Gross misunderstandings
(c) Errors in translation
(d) Lag in translation

Short Answer Questions

1. Words that enter American and British vocabularies generally come from what country?

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

3. Which of the following languages has not been proposed as an international language?

4. Why is it nearly impossible for a dictionary to keep pace with the English language?

5. Translations between English and ______________ are particularly difficult.

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the author's opinion on who actually controls the English language?

2. What is the author's final position on the future of the English language?

3. What is the correlation between tracing swear words and tracing the history of language overall?

4. Explain the almost futile attempts to produce current English language dictionaries.

5. Why are translations between English and Japanese especially difficult?

6. In addition to English, what other languages have been proposed as international languages?

7. Explain the role of immigrants to North America on the evolution of the English language.

8. What is the basis for the argument of making English an international language?

9. Explain any efforts to regulate the English language.

10. How is the pronunciation of place names indicative of how English speakers have changed over time?

(see the answer keys)

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