Form, function and meaning

Multiple-choice test

Choose the best answer
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  1. Formal theory focuses on ...
    1.   ... the items and operations of the grammar and forms of the language
    2.   ... getting the language right in the right style
    3.   ... only on the grammar of the language
    4.   ... communicating accurately
  2. Functional language analysis lies at the heart of ...
    1.   ... listen-and-repeat approaches to teaching
    2.   ... a communicative approach to teaching language
    3.   ... linguistic competence
    4.   ... getting learners to form correct sentences
  3. The quotation from Widdowson was intended to emphasise that ...
    1.   ... both formal linguistic and communicative competence is needed
    2.   ... grammar is more important than communicative success
    3.   ... grammar is less important than communication
    4.   ... communicative success should be the only criterion to judge successful learning
  4. We can only decide what He may come means by ...
    1.   ... being aware that it means possibility or permission
    2.   ... asking the speaker what he/she meant
    3.   ... guessing from clues around us
    4.   ... understanding it in context
  5. If I say The fridge is over there. I could mean ...
    1.   ... please put away the cheese.
    2.   ... that's where it is.
    3.   ... I'm not waiting on you - get it yourself.
    4.   ... help yourself to a beer.
  6. Knowing who the participants in a conversation are can help learners ...
    1.   ... decide how much information to give.
    2.   ... get the grammar right.
    3.   ... choose an appropriate style.
    4.   ... pronounce things better.
  7. Which of the following are examples of adjacency pairs?
    Select multiple answers.
    1. complaining and explaining
    2. greeting and saying goodbye
    3. asking for clarification and explaining
    4. offering and accepting
    5. asking permission and giving permission
    6. forbidding and allowing
    7. offering and declining
    8. making and giving excuses
  8. The meaning of The bank's at the end of the road can be made clear by reference to ...
    1.   ... roles
    2.   ... setting
    3.   ... medium
    4.   ... participants
  9. Intonation can affect the function of what we say.
    1.   False
    2.   True
  10. If we stress should in I don't know where he is, he should be here by now. We are changing the function from making a deduction to ...
    1.   ... expressing surprise.
    2.   ... expressing doubt.
    3.   ... explaining
    4.   ... asking for explanation.