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World Englishes - Test
Contributed by: Wilkins
  • 1. World Englishes refer to the various forms and varieties of the English language that have developed and are spoken around the world. These different varieties of English have emerged due to historical, sociocultural, and linguistic factors, resulting in distinct accents, vocabulary, grammar, and usage patterns. World Englishes reflect the diversity and dynamic nature of the English language as it has spread globally and adapted to local contexts. They highlight the complex interplay between language, culture, and identity, showcasing the ongoing evolution and creativity within the English-speaking world.

    Which term refers to the varieties of the English language spoken and written in diverse regions across the world?
A) Standard English
B) Old English
C) American English
D) World Englishes
  • 2. Which country was once a British colony and has developed its own distinct variety of English known as 'Singlish'?
A) Canada
B) Australia
C) Singapore
D) India
  • 3. Pidgin English typically arises from interactions between speakers of different ________.
A) Religions
B) Languages
C) Cultures
D) Dialects
  • 4. In a postcolonial setting, what language is often used as a marker of social status and education?
A) English
B) French
C) Spanish
D) Chinese
  • 5. Which country has contributed new English words related to cuisine and culture, such as 'sushi' and 'karaoke'?
A) Brazil
B) Japan
C) Italy
D) India
  • 6. Which continent has the highest number of English speakers and varieties of English?
A) North America
B) Europe
C) Asia
D) Africa
  • 7. English-based Creole languages often originate in ________ contexts.
A) Colonial
B) Urban
C) Modern
D) Rural
  • 8. A 'lingua franca' is a language used for communication between speakers of different ________ languages.
A) Similar
B) Official
C) Native
D) Dialectal
  • 9. When was the issue of World Englishes first raised?
A) 1978
B) 1992
C) 1988
D) 2000
  • 10. What event marked the formation of the International Committee of the Study of World Englishes (ICWE)?
A) The first publication of English World-Wide.
B) A TESOL conference in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1988.
C) The establishment of World Englishes journal.
D) The launch of the International Association for World Englishes.
  • 11. How many academic journals are devoted to the study of World Englishes?
A) Three
B) One
C) Two
D) Four
  • 12. Which language family did Old English originate from?
A) Celtic
B) Romance
C) Slavic
D) West Germanic
  • 13. What influenced Old English after the initial Anglo-Frisian dialects?
A) Viking settlements.
B) Roman conquest.
C) Scandinavian and Norman invasions.
D) Greek colonization.
  • 14. Which period saw French become the language of everyday life among England's upper classes?
A) The Old English period.
B) The Renaissance.
C) The Middle English period.
D) Two centuries after the Norman Conquest in the 11th century.
  • 15. What were the three main forces driving the direction of the English language by the 18th century?
A) Expanding vocabulary through borrowing from other languages.
B) Promoting regional dialects.
C) Simplifying grammar rules.
D) Reducing the language to rule, refining it by removing defects, and fixing it permanently in a desired form.
  • 16. What contributed to the spread of English around the world by the 19th century?
A) The invention of the printing press.
B) The isolationist policies of England.
C) The decline of other European languages.
D) The expansion of the British Empire and global trade.
  • 17. Why did local populations in some regions believe their English varieties should be granted equal standing?
A) To align with French linguistic policies.
B) Because they were mandated by British law.
C) Due to the rising importance and development of these regions, such as the United States.
D) As a result of Scandinavian influence.
  • 18. Which regions were involved in the first dispersal of English?
A) North America, Caribbean, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand
B) South America and Antarctica
C) Europe and Russia
D) Asia and Africa
  • 19. Which countries in East Africa had extensive British settlements?
A) India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
B) Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong
C) Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe
D) Gambia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon
  • 20. Which country became a U.S. territory and saw the spread of English through educational reforms?
A) Taiwan
B) Korea
C) Japan
D) Philippines
  • 21. Which linguist argued for the 'Philippine Englishes' paradigm?
A) Steven Pinker
B) William Labov
C) Wilkinson Daniel Wong Gonzales
D) Noam Chomsky
  • 22. Which circle is described as 'norm-providing'?
A) Outer Circle
B) Expanding Circle
C) New Commonwealth countries
D) Inner Circle
  • 23. Which circle includes countries where English is used for higher education and national commerce?
A) Outer Circle
B) Expanding Circle
C) New Commonwealth countries
D) Inner Circle
  • 24. Which circle is 'norm-dependent'?
A) Inner Circle
B) Expanding Circle
C) Outer Circle
D) New Commonwealth countries
  • 25. Who developed the dynamic model of postcolonial Englishes?
A) Noam Chomsky
B) Edgar Werner Schneider
C) William Labov
D) Braj Kachru
  • 26. What is the relationship between political history and linguistic developments in Schneider's model?
A) A unilateral implicational relationship among four components
B) A parallel development
C) An independent relationship
D) A bidirectional causal relationship
  • 27. Which stage involves the initial introduction of English to a new territory?
A) Phase 4 – Endonormative stabilization
B) Phase 3 – Nativization
C) Phase 5 – Differentiation
D) Phase 1 – Foundation
  • 28. Who created the oldest map of the spread of English?
A) Strevens
B) Kachru
C) Görlach
D) McArthur
  • 29. How are pidgins and creoles categorized in Görlach's model?
A) Central varieties
B) Excluded entirely
C) Having partial membership
D) Fully belonging to one family
  • 30. In Modiano's model, what is the second circle composed of?
A) Core features comprehensible to most speakers
B) Features that may become internationally common or fall into obscurity
C) Features particular to American English
D) Local varieties
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