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Social Studies WSC - Renovating the Dictionary

Total questions: 11

Worksheet time: 6mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What term refers to the change in language and its meaning over time?

a)

Etymology

b)

Semantic Drift

c)

Metonymy

d)

The Great Vowel Shift

2.

What was the original definition of 'nonplussed'?

a)

unfazed / indifferent

b)

perplexed / disconcerted

c)

not adding up

d)

community / togetherness

3.

What is the modern definition of 'nonplussed'?

a)

unfazed / indifferent

b)

perplexed / disconcerted

c)

not adding up

d)

logical / sensical

4.

Etymology is ....

a)

the study of Etty

b)

the study of translation

c)

the study of word origins and history

d)

the study of evolution

5.

Saying 'suit' for 'business executive', and 'the track' when talking about horse racing is an example of ...

a)

synonymy

b)

eytmology

c)

hyperbole

d)

metonymy

6.

If enough people in a community start misusing (or repurposing) a word in the same way, eventually the dictionary catches up: the word develops a new accepted meaning. This is known as ...

a)

semantic drift

b)

definition drift

c)

fluid Definity

d)

word repurposing

7.

The original definition of 'aggravated' is ...

a)

being related to agriculture

b)

to make a bad thing worse

c)

to weigh down / make burdensome

d)

to annoy

8.

The modern definition of 'aggravated' is ...

a)

to make a bad thing worse

b)

to make burdensome

c)

to infuriate

d)

relating to agriculture

9.

Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

a)

Hyperbole

b)

Metaphor

c)

Analogy

d)

Similie

10.

the once positive meaning of a word changes into a more negative one

a)

Amelioration

b)

word reappropriation

c)

pejoration

d)

Semantics

11.

a process in which a word that used to have a more negative meaning develops a more positive one over time

a)

Amelioration

b)

Pejoration

c)

Semantic Drift

d)

Metaphor