Form, function and meaning

Multiple-choice test

Choose the best answer
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  1. Formal theory focuses on ...
    1.   ... only on the grammar of the language
    2.   ... communicating accurately
    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.   ... getting learners to form correct sentences
    2.   ... listen-and-repeat approaches to teaching
    3.   ... a communicative approach to teaching language
    4.   ... linguistic competence
  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 less important than communication
    4.   ... grammar is more important than communicative success
  4. We can only decide what He may come means by ...
    1.   ... guessing from clues around us
    2.   ... understanding it in context
    3.   ... asking the speaker what he/she meant
    4.   ... being aware that it means possibility or permission
  5. If I say The fridge is over there. I could mean ...
    1.   ... I'm not waiting on you - get it yourself.
    2.   ... help yourself to a beer.
    3.   ... that's where it is.
    4.   ... please put away the cheese.
  6. Knowing who the participants in a conversation are can help learners ...
    1.   ... pronounce things better.
    2.   ... choose an appropriate style.
    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. making and giving excuses
    4. greeting and saying goodbye
    5. forbidding and allowing
    6. offering and accepting
    7. asking permission and giving permission
    8. offering and declining
  8. The meaning of The bank's at the end of the road can be made clear by reference to ...
    1.   ... participants
    2.   ... setting
    3.   ... medium
    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.