Question 1

Which of the following claims about phrase-structure rules is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Phrase-structure rules do not determine the truth or falsehood of a sentence. They only govern the arrangement of words within a sentence to create grammatical structures. The other three options are true statements about phrase-structure rules.

Question 2

The fact that languages across the world show the same pattern of regularities leads researchers to believe that

Accepted Answer

The fact that languages across the world show the same pattern of regularities suggests that there is an innate biological heritage stipulating the structure of human language. This idea is supported by Chomsky's theory of Universal Grammar, which suggests that humans are born with an innate ability to acquire language and that there are universal principles underlying all languages.

Question 3

A friend of yours is thinking of enrolling his four-year-old in a bilingual preschool, wherein the children are taught in English and in Mandarin. Would you support this move, and why? Make sure you include empirical evidence in your answer.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A friend of yours is thinking of...

Question 4

Rules that describe the proper way to speak, or the way language is supposed to be, are called

Accepted Answer

Prescriptive rules are rules that prescribe how language should be used or spoken, based on formal or traditional rules. They often focus on grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation, and are considered more formal or conservative than descriptive rules, which describe how language is actually used in practice. Examples of prescriptive rules include not splitting infinitives, not ending a sentence with a preposition, and using "whom" instead of "who" in certain contexts.

Question 5

The phrase-structure rule summarizes the fact that

Accepted Answer

A phrase-structure rule is a way of describing the structure of a sentence, and it states that a sentence consists of a noun phrase followed by a verb phrase. Therefore, the correct choice is D.

Question 6

There is some evidence that being bilingual has other cognitive advantages. Which of the following is NOT one of those advantages?

Accepted Answer

Improved long-term memory for everyday events is not typically cited as one of the cognitive advantages of being bilingual, while improved executive control, better ability to avoid distractions, and improved ability to switch between tasks are commonly cited advantages.

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a principle that guides sentence parsing?

Accepted Answer

Sentence parsing often involves making decisions about the parsing of individual words before the entire sentence has been heard, contrary to the statement in option A. This is because listeners use various cues, including syntax and semantics, to anticipate and interpret the structure of a sentence as they hear it.

Question 8

A phrase-structure rule is a rule governing

Accepted Answer

A phrase-structure rule dictates the allowable constituents (words, phrases) and their arrangement into larger syntactic units (phrases, clauses) for a particular type of sentence. It does not concern itself with the truth value of the proposition or the semantic content expressed by the sentence, nor does it govern whether the sentence is a question or a declarative statement.

Question 9

For fluent speakers of a language, rules of the language such as how to create new words are often

Accepted Answer

Fluent speakers of a language often follow the rules of the language unconsciously, without actively thinking about them. This allows them to reliably create and understand new words and sentences. While imitation and deliberate study may play a role in language learning, it is the unconscious mastery of language rules that allows fluent speakers to communicate effectively.

Question 10

To parse a sentence, one needs to

Accepted Answer

To parse a sentence means to analyze its structure and determine the syntactic role of each word in the sentence. It does not necessarily involve determining the sentence's meaning, truth value, or implications.

Question 11

The number of phonemes used by the English language is approximately

Accepted Answer

The English language has approximately 40 phonemes, which are the unit sounds that make up words. These phonemes can be combined to create different words and meanings. While there may be variations in accents and dialects, the number of phonemes in English remains around 40.

Question 12

Which of the following is FALSE about the pattern of linguistic performance?

Accepted Answer

Performance does not provide a direct assessment of one's linguistic knowledge, as errors in performance can be due to factors such as stress, fatigue, or lack of attention, rather than a lack of knowledge or understanding of the language. Performance is, however, influenced by slips, may contain errors that the speaker knows how to correct, and may omit language patterns that the speaker is capable of using but chooses not to use.

Question 13

The rules governing the sequence of words in forming phrases and sentences are rules of

Accepted Answer

The rules governing the sequence of words in forming phrases and sentences are rules of syntax. Syntax is the branch of linguistics that deals with the rules governing the structure of sentences and phrases, including word order, agreement, and tense. Semantics is the study of meaning, phonology is the study of the sound system of languages, and pragmatics is the study of how context affects the interpretation of language.

Question 14

Descriptive rules

Accepted Answer

Descriptive rules describe how English is structured, rather than prescribing how it should be used.

Question 15

You take a trip to Mexico with your friend for spring break. You do not speak any Spanish, but your friend has taken one semester. While out one night, you comment that everyone in Mexico speaks so quickly, but your friend disagrees. Considering the fact that you both hear the same individuals talking, why do you perceive the speech so differently? What factors contribute to your friend's perception and to your perception?

Accepted Answer

The answer of You take a trip to Mexico with...

Question 16

The claim that "language is generative" is the claim that

Accepted Answer

The claim that "language is generative" means that the units of language, such as words and grammatical structures, can be combined and recombined to create an infinite number of new linguistic entities, such as sentences and phrases, allowing for endless possibilities in communication. It does not necessarily refer to the ability to create new sounds or words, nor does it imply language's role in generating new knowledge or discoveries.

Question 17

Sentences such as "Colorless green ideas sleep furiously" indicate that

Accepted Answer

The sentence "Colorless green ideas sleep furiously" is grammatically correct but semantically meaningless, which means that a sentence can be grammatical even if it is meaningless.

Question 18

Bob does very well on all of his English papers and is praised for his skilled writing. However, when he is around his friends he says things like "ain't" and "like" often, though his sentences are still grammatical. When writing he is following ________, while when speaking he is following ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Bob does very well on all of...

Question 19

Which of the following provides an example of phrase-structure ambiguity?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following provides an example...

Question 20

Which of the following would be considered a garden-path sentence?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following would be considered...

Quiz 10: Language