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.   ... getting the language right in the right style
    4.   ... the items and operations of the grammar and forms of the language
  2. Functional language analysis lies at the heart of ...
    1.   ... linguistic competence
    2.   ... getting learners to form correct sentences
    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.   ... grammar is more important than communicative success
    3.   ... communicative success should be the only criterion to judge successful learning
    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.   ... understanding it in context
    3.   ... guessing from clues around us
    4.   ... asking the speaker what he/she meant
  5. If I say The fridge is over there. I could mean ...
    1.   ... please put away the cheese.
    2.   ... help yourself to a beer.
    3.   ... that's where it is.
    4.   ... I'm not waiting on you - get it yourself.
  6. Knowing who the participants in a conversation are can help learners ...
    1.   ... choose an appropriate style.
    2.   ... pronounce things better.
    3.   ... decide how much information to give.
    4.   ... get the grammar right.
  7. Which of the following are examples of adjacency pairs?
    Select multiple answers.
    1. complaining and explaining
    2. asking for clarification and explaining
    3. offering and declining
    4. making and giving excuses
    5. offering and accepting
    6. forbidding and allowing
    7. greeting and saying goodbye
    8. asking permission and giving permission
  8. The meaning of The bank's at the end of the road can be made clear by reference to ...
    1.   ... medium
    2.   ... participants
    3.   ... setting
    4.   ... roles
  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.   ... expressing surprise.
    2.   ... explaining
    3.   ... asking for explanation.
    4.   ... expressing doubt.