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.   ... the items and operations of the grammar and forms of the language
    3.   ... getting the language right in the right style
    4.   ... communicating accurately
  2. Functional language analysis lies at the heart of ...
    1.   ... listen-and-repeat approaches to teaching
    2.   ... linguistic competence
    3.   ... a communicative approach to teaching language
    4.   ... getting learners to form correct sentences
  3. The quotation from Widdowson was intended to emphasise that ...
    1.   ... communicative success should be the only criterion to judge successful learning
    2.   ... grammar is more important than communicative success
    3.   ... grammar is less important than communication
    4.   ... both formal linguistic and communicative competence is needed
  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.   ... that's where it is.
    2.   ... help yourself to a beer.
    3.   ... please put away the cheese.
    4.   ... I'm not waiting on you - get it yourself.
  6. Knowing who the participants in a conversation are can help learners ...
    1.   ... decide how much information to give.
    2.   ... pronounce things better.
    3.   ... get the grammar right.
    4.   ... choose an appropriate style.
  7. Which of the following are examples of adjacency pairs?
    Select multiple answers.
    1. greeting and saying goodbye
    2. asking permission and giving permission
    3. complaining and explaining
    4. asking for clarification and explaining
    5. making and giving excuses
    6. offering and accepting
    7. forbidding and allowing
    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.   ... medium
    2.   ... participants
    3.   ... setting
    4.   ... roles
  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.