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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. When was Jonathan Swift born?

2. What Latin-speaking philosopher and theologian was a major figure in the development of Western Christianity?

3. For what newspaper is Robert McCrum listed as Literary Editor in the Introduction?

4. What language did the Celts speak?

5. What is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island?

Short Essay Questions

1. Which group of Scots first spoke English? Where did it arrive from?

2. When did James I come to the British throne? What major impact did he have on the English language?

3. What do the authors write of the New World and its influence on English in Chapter 2, The Mother Tongue?

4. What do the authors assert is the common ancestry of all languages? What happened to most of them?

5. Samuel Johnson's dictionary had what impact on the Scottish dialect? What were Johnson's experiences in Scotland?

6. What is notable about the standardization of English throughout history? What examples do the authors give in Chapter 1, An English-Speaking World?

7. When did Julius Caesar invade the Celts? What was the result?

8. Who spread the English language to the west initially? Who are their descendants?

9. What impact did the invasion of the Anglo-Saxons have on the Celtic language? Why?

10. Who was William Shakespeare and what impact did he have on the English language?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the success of the English language in spreading throughout the world. What examples do the authors give in Chapter 1, An English-Speaking World for the history of success of the English language?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the differences between Jamaica and other islands and lands which were conquered or colonized by Great Britain. What were the effects of colonization in the different regions? Why?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the plight of the Scottish people throughout the Dark Ages. What were the effects of the invasions upon Scotland's people, culture, and language?

(see the answer keys)

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