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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. There is debate about the simplicity of English spelling and _________________________.
(a) tense
(b) meaning
(c) pronunciation
(d) vowel sounds

2. What is onomatopoeia?
(a) A culinary trend
(b) A new insect genus
(c) A word which represents the sound of something
(d) The predecessor of Cro-Magnon man

3. What about the English language gives users greater range of expression?
(a) More vowel sounds
(b) Active and passive voices
(c) Past and future tenses
(d) More letters of the alphabet

4. How many new words did Shakespeare invent?
(a) Over one thousand
(b) Over two thousand
(c) Over two hundred
(d) Over five hundred

5. The Celts are strongly influenced by which culture?
(a) Germanic
(b) Roman
(c) Norwegian
(d) French

Short Answer Questions

1. Chapter 7 addresses the _________________ examples of ways English is spoken throughout the world.

2. In whose work can inconsistent spelling be found due to the event of #67?

3. What does Chomsky think are innate in children?

4. What helps a listener and speaker to use the correct word when in doubt?

5. Why could the Neanderthals not keep up with the Cro-Magnons?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Explain the impact that slurring of speech has on English pronunciation?

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

4. What is the dynamic of countries with more than one language?

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

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

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

8. Explain the impact of the Viking invasion of England?

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

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

(see the answer keys)

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