BC Chapter 2

How many people worldwide have some knowledge of English today?

• 1 billion

• 2 billion

• 3 billion

Answer explanation

The chapter states that around two billion people, or nearly one-third of the world’s population, have some knowledge of English.

Which city in the UK is the most international and multicultural?

• Manchester

• Birmingham

• London

Answer explanation

• London has 53 main languages and 107 varieties spoken there, making it the most multicultural city in the UK.

Which foreign language is the most commonly spoken in the UK?

• Spanish

• Polish

• French

Answer explanation

• The 2011 census revealed that Polish is the most commonly spoken foreign language in the UK, with 546,000 speakers.

What approach does the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) use when defining words?

• Prescriptive

• Descriptive

• Authoritative

Answer explanation

The OED reflects how words are used rather than prescribing how they should be used, which is a descriptive approach.

Which language group had a major influence on English during the Roman occupation of Britain?

• French

• Latin

• Gaelic

Answer explanation

Latin was introduced by the Romans and influenced English for centuries, especially in fields like government and education.

What was the official language of England after the Norman conquest of 1066?

• French

• German

• Italian

Answer explanation

After the Norman conquest, Norman French became the language of government and the elite.

Which of these works is considered the earliest surviving literary work in English?

• Beowulf

• The Canterbury Tales

• Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Answer explanation

Beowulf is the oldest surviving epic poem in English, dating from around the year 1000.

In which century did English start resembling the language of today?

• 10th century

• 15th century

• 18th century

Answer explanation

By the year 1500, written English had begun to resemble modern English.

What was the primary purpose of grammar schools in Britain until the 1960s?

• To teach foreign languages

• To provide vocational training

• To teach Latin grammar

Answer explanation

Grammar schools taught Latin, which was necessary for university entrance in many fields.

What is 'Scouse'?

• A dialect spoken in London

• A dialect spoken in Liverpool

• A dialect spoken in Scotland

Answer explanation

• Scouse is a dialect of Liverpool, influenced by Irish and Welsh speech.