TOEFL iBT Test 3 Reading Q1~10

​Dialects

Multiple Choice

Why did Noah Webster feel it was necessary to write the American dictionary of the English language?

• British dictionaries did not contain American vocabulary

• He saw that American English was becoming a new language

• He saw enough differences between the two dialects to make a dictionary useful

• He wanted to include many new words used from  contact with Native Americans

Multiple Choice

Why does the author mention Shakespeare in paragraph 3?

• he is interested in Shakespearean English

• he wants to show the similarities between American and Shakespearean English

• he wants to show that British and American English are quite similar

• he wants to show how languages change over time

Multiple Choice

According to paragraph 3, why do the British not use the word trash?

• It's an American word

• It's an old word

• It's sounds too formal

• It was used by Shakespeare

Multiple Choice

Why does the author mention the Northern  and Southern dialects?

• to describe the two dialects of the US

• to show how widespread they are

• to contrast them with British English

• to contrast them with British English

Multiple Choice

The word 'confined' in the passage is the closest in meaning to

• limited

• found

• spoken

• alive

Multiple Choice

According to paragraph 4,why is the northern dialect so widespread?

• because it extends from New England to California

•  because New England is settled in much of the West

• because the southern dialect was spoken only in the southern US

• because of contact with French and Spanish languages 

Multiple Choice

According to paragraph 5, why could the number of dialects be decreasing?

• dialects are influenced by the standard language used in media

• British and American English are becoming more similar

• speaking of dialect can lead to a stigma

• speakers use words from many dialects 

Multiple Choice

According to the passage,what is true of dialects?

• they eventually become separate languages

• several dialects could be spoken in the same area

• They will soon disappear

• they may differ mainly in vocabulary

Multiple Choice

Look at the 4 $$\Longrightarrow$$ that indicate where the following sentnce could be added to the passage.
There were several types of variations that he deemed important

• A

• B

• C

• D

Multiple Select

There are several reasons for the development and evolution of dialects. 

(Choose 3 answers)

• Dialects have developed in the U.S. the under pressure from media may begin to disappear

• The main differences between British and American English are in vocabulary and spelling 

• One of the main reasons for the development of dialect is geographic isolation from the basic language

• The differences between American and British dialects became apparent in the early 1800s

• Native American, French and Spanish languages have all influenced the development of American dialects 

Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. complete the summary by selecting the three answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or our minor ideas in the passage.

This question is worth two points.