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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. The author states that there are characteristics in the English language that ______________________________.

2. According to the author, varieties of English are heavily influenced by what?

3. The pronunciations of many words in America reflect what speakers think British speakers say and _______________________.

4. Which country has been successful in protecting its language?

5. What can be spelled in a variety of ways?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Explain what the author means by the creation of language areas.

3. Explain the theories that languages are based in sound.

4. What was the Great Vowel Shift?

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

6. What is the result of attempting to draw demarcations of accents throughout the U.S.?

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

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

9. What event prompted the usage of standardized spelling in England?

10. How does the English language compare with the development and growth of other global languages?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain noted linguist Noam Chomsky's argument that children have inherent "ground rules" that help them learn their language. What other theories exist to explain how children learn to speak?

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 challenges of publishing a dictionary. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages to hard copy and digital versions. Can you offer any alternative solutions?

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