Form, function and meaning

Multiple-choice test

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