Question

What is endangered language ?

• A. The language that is spoken by many people
• B. The language that is not spoken by anyone at all
• C. A language that is most likely to die in the near future
• D. A language that is most likely to expand in the near future
• A. Spanish in Mexico
• B. Endangered languages
• C. Middle English
• D. Other languages
• A. English
• B. Greek
• C. Latin
• D. French

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

To solve this question, we need to understand the definition and nature of an endangered language, as explained in the provided passage.

1. Definition from the Passage: According to the passage, an "endangered language" is described as one that is likely to become extinct in the near future. This happens because such languages are not being spoken by new generations, and once the existing speakers die, the language might disappear.
2. Comparison with Given Options:
   • The language that is spoken by many people: This is incorrect because languages spoken by many people are usually not endangered.
   • The language that is not spoken by anyone at all: This would refer to a dead language, not an endangered language.
   • A language that is most likely to die in the near future: This directly matches the definition provided in the passage for an endangered language.
   • A language that is most likely to expand in the near future: An expanding language is the opposite of an endangered language.
3. Selecting the Correct Answer: Based on the passage and the analysis of the options, the correct answer is: "A language that is most likely to die in the near future."

Therefore, the primary characteristic of an endangered language is its declining use, leading to potential extinction when current users are no longer alive or the language is no longer taught to new speakers.

Answer 2

The given comprehension passage discusses the phenomenon of language extinction, focusing particularly on endangered languages. To understand what "these languages" in the sentence "These languages will become extinct..." refers to, we need to analyze the context:

1. The passage introduces the concept of an endangered language, which is defined as one likely to become extinct in the near future. The text then explains how many languages are being replaced by others that are more commonly used in specific regions, like English in the U.S. or Spanish in Mexico. Therefore, several languages face the risk of extinction.
2. The subsequent portion of the passage explicitly describes how endangered languages are not being learned by new generations, which inevitably leads to their extinction once the last native speaker passes away.
3. The passage specifically states, "Unless current trends are reversed, these endangered languages will become extinct within the next century." This sentence directly links "these languages" to endangered languages.

Given this context, we can conclude that the pronoun "these" in the sentence "These languages will become extinct..." clearly refers to "endangered languages." Let's now review all the provided options:

• Spanish in Mexico: This option can be ruled out because the passage mentions Spanish as an example of a language replacing others in Mexico, suggesting it is not endangered.
• Endangered languages: This is the correct option, as explained earlier and directly supported by the passage.
• Middle English: The passage refers to Middle English's evolution into Modern English rather than its extinction, which does not align with the meaning of "these languages."
• Other languages: The term is too generic and lacks specific support from the passage, unlike the direct reference to endangered languages.

Thus, the correct interpretation as per the passage clearly identifies that "these" refers to endangered languages.

Answer 3

The question asks about the origin of the Spanish language. To determine the correct answer, we must consider the historical evolution of languages as mentioned in the passage provided.

From the passage, we know that:

• Ancient Greek and Latin are considered dead languages because they are no longer spoken in their original forms.
• Latin slowly evolved into modern languages, including Italian, Spanish, French, and Romanian.

Therefore, Spanish is a Romance language that evolved from Latin.

Let's assess the given options:

• English: This is incorrect. English is a Germanic language that evolved from languages like Old English, heavily influenced by Norse and Norman speech.
• Greek: This is incorrect. Greek evolved into Modern Greek but did not contribute to the development of Spanish.
• Latin: This is correct. As noted in the passage, Spanish is one of the Romance languages that evolved from Latin.
• French: This is incorrect. While French itself is a Romance language that evolved from Latin, it is a separate development and did not evolve into Spanish.

Thus, the correct answer is Latin.