B2 First FCE listening 8

1. Listen to the recording and choose the correct answer.

How does the speaker describe language?

A) As something invented purely by modern scientists. B) As a static system that never changes. C) As a living, breathing organism that constantly evolves over time.

2. What forces languages to change naturally according to the talk?

A) Migration, cultural exchange, and technological advancements. B) Aliens bringing new words to Earth. C) Strict government laws and dictionaries.

3. What is a ’language family’?

A) A group of people who speak the same language at home. B) A book containing all the world’s languages. C) A group of related languages that descended from a common ancestral language.

4. What is the Proto-Indo-European language?

A) A theoretical ancient language that is the ancestor of many modern languages, including English and Hindi. B) A modern language spoken in Eastern Europe. C) A completely fictional language created for a movie.

5. How do linguists trace the history of languages?

A) By looking for cognates (words with similar sounds and meanings across different languages). B) By asking the oldest people on Earth. C) By inventing a time machine.

6. Why do languages sometimes borrow words from each other?

A) Due to contact between cultures through trade, conquest, or globalization. B) Because they run out of letters. C) Because dictionaries demand it.

7. What happens when a group of speakers becomes geographically isolated from the rest?

A) They immediately invent a new alphabet. B) They completely stop speaking. C) Their language eventually diverges and evolves into a distinct, separate language or dialect.

8. What role does slang play in language evolution?

A) It is destroying language and making people less intelligent. B) It is entirely ignored by linguists. C) It is a driving force of change, introducing new vocabulary and meanings from the younger generation.

9. How has the internet impacted language evolution?

A) It has stopped languages from changing entirely. B) It has forced everyone to speak only in emojis. C) It has accelerated the spread of new words, acronyms, and global linguistic trends.

10. The speaker implies that the concept of a ’pure’ language is:

A) A myth, because all languages are constantly mixing and borrowing from others. B) Only possible in isolated communities. C) An achievable goal if we strictly follow grammar rules.

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