View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What else is difficult to determine about the English language?
(a) How slang develops
(b) What is determined to be proper
(c) How each word is altered by region
(d) How many words the average person knows

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

3. From what industries do new words in American and Britain come?
(a) Entertainment and technology
(b) Entertainment and academia
(c) Sociology and technology
(d) Entertainment and finance

4. 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

5. What language is used to communicate across borders?
(a) Japanese
(b) Italian
(c) English
(d) French

Short Answer Questions

1. What word game does the author note first in Chapter 15?

2. English is a language of constant ___________________.

3. English is the language of _____________________.

4. Many modern swear words come from _________________________.

5. Why can translations between countries be considered difficult?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What is the origin of the crossword puzzle?

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

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

5. What English language issue does the author consider to be ironic?

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

7. How does the author explain the development of British and American surnames?

8. Why are English speakers becoming a minority of single-language users globally?

9. What is the source of many swear words throughout history?

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

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 887 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample