‘Attitudes to language’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 9
Here are explanations of the Questions of passage named, ‘Attitudes to language’ which is from the Cambridge 9 book. The Questions that have been asked are Yes/No/ Not Given, Summary Blanks and MCQs’. You will find the locations of the Reading Answers, Keywords(highlighted and underlined) and justifications.
READING PASSAGE 1: Attitudes to languages
| Question | Answer |
| 1 | YES |
| 2 | NO |
| 3 | YES |
| 4 | NOT GIVEN |
| 5 | YES |
| 6 | YES |
| 7 | NO |
| 8 | YES |
| 9 | H |
| 10 | F |
| 11 | A |
| 12 | C |
| 13 | B |
Questions 1-8
Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in the Reading Passage?
In boxes 1-8 of your answer sheet, write:
YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
1. There are understandable reasons why arguments occur about language.
Location: 1st paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the third line of the paragraph. ‘Language belongs to everyone, so most people feel they have a right to hold an opinion about it And when opinions differ, emotions can run high. Arguments can start as easily…’Here, the writer clarifies that arguments can occur because of different opinions and high emotions. Thus, the question statement is same as the passage statement.
Answer: Yes
‘Attitudes to language’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 9
2. People feel more strongly about language education than about small differences in language usage.
Location: 1st paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the last line of the paragraph. ‘Arguments can start as easily over minor points of usage as over major policies of linguistic education…’ Here, ‘minor points of usage’ refers to the small differences. In addition, ‘language education’ and ‘linguistic education’ are synonyms. The writer states that people feel as strong about language education as they feel about small differences in language usage. Thus, the question statement contradicts the passage statement.
Answer: No
3. Our assessment of a person’s intelligence is affected by the way he or she uses language.
Location: 2nd paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the second line of the paragraph. ‘linguistic factors influence how we judge personality, intelligence, social status, educational standards, job aptitude, and many other areas of identity and social survival…’ Here, ‘linguistic factors influence’ and ‘language usage is affected’ means the same. Moreover, ‘assessment of person’s intelligence’ has been written as ‘how we judge personality’ in the passage. Thus, the answer is clear.
Answer: Yes
‘Attitudes to language’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 9
4. Prescriptive grammar books cost a lot of money to buy in the 18th century.
Location: 4th paragraph
Explanation: Though the main keywords ‘18th century’ and ‘grammar’ are there in the beginning of the paragraph. ‘All the main languages have been studied prescriptively, especially in the 18th-century approach to the writing of grammars and dictionaries…’ But there is no information regarding whether grammar books cost a lot of money or not. Thus, no information available.
Answer: Not Given
5. Prescriptivism still exists today.
Location: 4th and 5th paragraph
Explanation: The writer talks about the prescriptivism in the beginning of the fourth paragraph. ‘All the main languages have been studied prescriptively, especially in the 18th-century approach to the writing of grammars and dictionaries…’ In the first line of 5th paragraph, ‘These attitudes are still with us…’ Here, the writer clearly states that these attitudes are still with us that means they still exist today.
Answer: Yes
‘Attitudes to language’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 9
6. According to the descriptivist, it is pointless to try to stop language change.
Location: 5th paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the answer is in the third line of the paragraph. ‘This approach is summarized in the statement that it is the task of the grammarian to describe, not prescribe – to record the facts of linguistic diversity, and not to attempt the impossible tasks evaluating language variation or halting language change…’ Here, ‘not to attempt impossible tasks’ and ‘pointless to try to…’ means the same. Moreover, ‘stop’ and ‘halt’ means the same. Thus, the answer is clear.
Answer: Yes
7. Descriptivism only appeared after the 18th century.
Location: 5th paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the last third line of the paragraph. ‘In the second half of the 18th century, we already find advocates of this view, such as Joseph Priestley, whose Rudiments of English Grammar (1761) insists that ‘the custom of speaking is the original…’ Here, the writer clarifies that descriptivism appeared first in 18th century. But the question statement states that it appeared after the 18th century.
Answer: No
‘Attitudes to language’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 9
8. Both descriptivist’s and prescriptivists have been misrepresented.
Location: Last paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the beginning of the paragraph. ‘In our own time, the opposition between ‘descriptivist’s’ and ‘prescriptivists’ has often become extreme. with both sides painting unreal pictures of the other…’ Here, ‘unreal pictures’ refers to ‘misrepresented’. Therefore, the answer is clear.
Answer: Yes
Questions 9-12
Complete the summary using the list of words, A-l, below.
Write the correct letter A-l, in boxes 9-12 on your answer sheet.
The language debate
According to 9 ………………….., there is only one correct form of language.
Location: 3rd paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the beginning of the paragraph. ‘ln its most general sense, prescriptivism is the view that one variety of language has an inherently higher value than others, and that this ought to be imposed on the whole of the speech community…’ Here, the writer states that prescriptivism is the view that one language has inherently higher value than other. Thus, the answer is H.
Answer: H
‘Attitudes to language’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 9
Linguists who take this approach to language place great importance on grammatical 10 …………………..
Location: 4th paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the beginning of the paragraph. ‘All the main languages have been studied prescriptively, especially in the 18th-century approach to the writing of grammars and dictionaries…The authoritarian nature of the approach is best characterized by its reliance on ‘rules’ of grammar Some usages are prescribed; …’ Here, ‘great importance on’ and ‘best characterized’ means the same. Thus, the answer is ‘Rules’.
Answer: F
‘Attitudes to language’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 9
Conversely, the view of 11 ………………….., such as Joseph Priestley, is that grammar should be based on 12 ……………………
Location: 5th paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘Joseph Priestley’ helps to locate an answer in the third and fifth line of the paragraph. ‘Nevertheless, there is an alternative point of view that is concerned less with standards than with the facts of linguistic usage. This approach is summarized in the statement that it is the task of the grammarian to describe, not prescribe – to record the facts of linguistic diversity, and not to attempt the impossible tasks evaluating language variation or halting language change…the custom of speaking is the original and only just standard of any language’.’ Here, ‘nevertheless’ and ‘conversely’ means the same. In addition ‘to describe, not prescribe’ refers to the descriptivist view. Moreover, ‘custom of speaking’ refers to ‘the popular way of speech’. Hence, the answer is clear.
Answer: (11) A
(12) C
A descriptivists
B language experts
C popular speech
D formal language
E evaluation
F rules
G modern linguists
H prescriptivists
I change
Questions 13
Choose the correct letter A, B, C or D.
Write the correct letter in box 13 on your answer sheet.
13. What is the writer’s purpose in Reading Passage?
A to argue in favour of a particular approach to writing dictionaries and grammar books
B to present a historical account of differing views of language
C to describe the differences between spoken and written language
D to show how a certain view of language has been discredited
Location: Entire passage
Explanation: This question can be answered after reading the whole passage. The writer talks about different views of language that are prescriptive and descriptive views. Also the writer states in the last paragraph, ‘the opposition between ‘descriptivists’ and ‘prescriptivists’ has often become extreme…’ Thus, the best option is B.
Answer: B
‘Attitudes to language’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 9
“A neuroscientist reveals how to think differently”- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 9