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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the difference between Cro-Magnon man and Neanderthal man?

2. From what do most languages derive?

3. Chapter 6 addresses the changing pronunciation of which language over time?

4. From which tribe does England get its name?

5. Many English speakers promote the particular variety of English that they speak while ____________________ the dialects of speakers from other regions.

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is learning the English language considered a large industry in the world?

2. What does the author say is the reason some English words are created?

3. How was the Cro-Magnon man able to supersede the Neanderthal man in human development?

4. What seems to be a long-term benefit of a phonetic system as opposed to a pictograph system?

5. What was the Great Vowel Shift?

6. What is so interesting about the way human speech has spread around the world?

7. What are the merits of using the English language?

8. What is Noam Chomsky's position on how children learn language?

9. How does the author account for the changing pronunciation of English over time?

10. How can spelling in English be perceived as both simple and difficult?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the series of attacks by other nations on Great Britain. Which groups attacked and what influences did they have on England, and ultimately, the English language?

Essay Topic 2

In many cases, languages go beyond national borders. Explain some of the situations where languages overlap geographically and can cause social and political divisions.

Essay Topic 3

Explain the differences between pictographic languages and phonetic languages and give examples of each.

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