Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate themcorrect answer to each of the questions from 38 to 42.
LEVELS OF VOCABULARY
Most languages have several levels of vocabulary that may be used by the same speakers. In English, at least three have been identified and described.
Standard usage includes those words and expressions understood, used, and accepted by a majority of the speakers of a language in any situation regardless of the level of formality. As such, these words and expressions are well defined and listed in standard dictionaries. Colloquialisms, on the other hand, are familiar words and idioms that are understood by almost all speakers of a language and used in informal speech or writing, but not considered acceptable for more formal situations. Almost all idiomatic expressions are colloquial language. Slang, refers to words and expressions understood by a large number of speakers but not accepted as appropriate formal usage by the majority.
Colloquial expressions and even slang may be found in standard dictionaries but will be so identified. Both colloquial usage and slang are more common in speech than writing. Colloquial speech often passes into standard speech. Some slang also passes into standard speech, but other slang expressions enjoy momentary popularity followed by obscurity. In some cases, the majority never accepts certain slang phrases but nevertheless retains them in their collective memories. Every generation seems to require its own set of words to describe familiar objects and events.
It has been pointed out by a number of linguists that three cultural conditions are necessary for the creation of a large body of slang expressions. First, the introduction and acceptance of new objects and situations in the society; second, a diverse population with a large number of subgroups; third, association among the subgroups and the majority population.
Finally, it is worth noting that the terms “standard”, “colloquial”, and “slang” exist only as abstract labels for scholars who study language. Only a tiny number of the speakers of any language will be aware that they are using colloquial or slang expressions. Most speakers of English will, during appropriate situations, select and use three types of expressions.
What does the author mean by the statement in paragraph 2: “Colloquialisms, on the other hand, are familiar words and idioms that are understood by almost all speakers of a language and used in informal speech or writing, but not considered acceptable for more formal situations.”?
A. Familiar words and phrases are found in both speech and writing in formal settings.
B. Familiar situations that are experienced by most people are called colloquialisms.
C. Informal language contains colloquialisms, which are not found in more formal language.
D. Most of the speakers of a language can used both formal and informal speech in their appropriate situations.
Đáp án C
Informal language contains colloquialisms, which are not found in more formal language.
Thông tin nằm ở đoạn 2: “Colloquialisms, on the other hand, are familiar words and idioms that are understood by almost all speakers of a language and used in informal speech or writing, but not considered acceptable for more formal situations.” – Mặt khác, lối nói thân mật là những từ quen thuộc và những thành ngữ mà được hiểu bởi tất cả những người nói ngôn ngữ đó và sử dụng trong văn viết cũng như các bài phát biểu thân mật, nhưng không được chấp nhận ở các tình huống trang trọng.
Thông qua câu này, ý của tác giả là: Informal language contains colloquialisms, which are not found in more formal language. – Ngôn ngữ thân mật bao gồm các lối nói thân mật, các ngôn ngữ này thì không
The man who lives opposite us sometimes comes _____ for a cup of coffee.
My brother had his camera _____ from his car in the office car-park.
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word(s) in each of the following questions.
At school, people always used to take the mickey out of him for having red hair.
A : Do you mind if we schedule the meeting for 11 o’clock?
B : Well, actually, I _____ earlier.
I had a_____, which I couldn’t explain, that something terrible was going to happen.
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word(s) in each of the following questions.
The girl has a bazillion clothes already, she does not need to buy any more.
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word(s) in each of the following questions.
We decided to pay for the furniture on the installment plan.
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that best combines each pair of sentences in the following questions.
I didn’t know that you were at home. I didn’t drop in.
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that is closest in meaning to each of the following questions.
For a cold, doctors often recommend that you rest and drink lots of fluids.
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that is closest in meaning to each of the following questions.
“You shouldn’t sit up until you feel better.” the doctor said to me.
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the underlined part that needs correction in each of the following questions.
Neither (A) the director nor any (B) members of the staff is (C) working overtime (D) today.