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Practice Reading: Multiple Choice, Single Answer ID: #40257 Language 2
Instructions ›
Read the text from an educational newsletter about the history of the English language. Read the text and answer the multiple-choice question by selecting the correct response. Only one response is correct.
The English language has evolved significantly since its early origins. It began as Old English, spoken by the Anglo-Saxons who arrived in Britain around the 5th century. This form of English was heavily influenced by Norse languages, due to Viking invasions. The Norman Conquest of 1066 introduced a substantial amount of French into English, marking the beginning of the Middle English period. This era saw English absorbing vocabulary from Norman French, significantly diversifying its lexicon. By the late 15th century, the advent of the printing press helped standardise English, ushering in the Modern English period. Today, English is a global lingua franca, reflecting centuries of evolution and influence from various cultures.

What event marked the beginning of the Middle English period?

* Click on the correct answer

Result:

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Option 3: "The Norman Conquest of 1066"

Explanation: This option is correct as the text explicitly states that the Norman Conquest of 1066 introduced a substantial amount of French into English, marking the beginning of the Middle English period. This event is directly linked to the evolution of the language as described in the text.

Option 1: "The arrival of the Anglo-Saxons in Britain"

Explanation: This option refers to the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons, which is mentioned in the text as the beginning of Old English, not Middle English. The text clearly states that the Middle English period began with the Norman Conquest of 1066, making this option incorrect.

Option 2: "The Viking invasions"

Explanation: While the Viking invasions did influence Old English, they occurred before the Middle English period began. The text specifies that the Middle English period started with the Norman Conquest, thus this option does not align with the correct timeline.

Option 4: "The advent of the printing press"

Explanation: The advent of the printing press is mentioned in the text as a factor that helped standardise English, but it occurred after the Middle English period had already begun. Therefore, this option does not accurately represent the event that marked the beginning of the Middle English period.

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