LING 115 MIDTERM 2 COMPREHENSIVE EXAM: 2026/2027
UPDATE COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
1. In the context of bilingualism, what does the term "code-switching"
specifically refer to?
A. The ability to translate a text from one language to another instantly.
B. The use of more than one language or language variety within a
single conversation or interaction.
C. The gradual loss of a speaker's first language due to immersion in a
second language.
D. The process of learning a third language through the medium of a
second language.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Code-switching is defined as the alternating use of two or
more languages or varieties within the same conversation or
utterance.
2. A speaker says, "I need to go to the tienda to buy some milk."
(English/Spanish). Which type of code-switching does this represent?
A. Inter-sentential switching
B. Intra-sentential switching
C. Alternation
D. Diglossia
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: This is intra-sentential switching (or insertion) because the
switch occurs within the boundaries of a single sentence or clause.
3. Which type of code-switching involves a switch that occurs between
sentences or clauses, often at a turn-taking point in conversation?
A. Insertion
B. Intra-sentential
C. Inter-sentential
D. Lexical borrowing
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Inter-sentential switching occurs outside the sentence or
clause boundary, meaning one sentence is in one language and the
next is in another.
4. According to the material provided, which type of code-switching
uses vocabulary AND syntax from both languages?
A. Insertion
B. Alternation
C. Intra-sentential
D. Monolingualism
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Alternation (often categorized as inter-sentential) involves
switching between languages where both the vocabulary and the
grammatical structure (syntax) of the respective languages are utilized
in distinct segments.
5. The scenario where a speech community uses one language for
home and religious services (often viewed as a patois) and another
language for government and official business is an example of:
A. Code-switching
,B. Diglossia
C. Bilingualism
D. Registers
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Diglossia describes a situation where two distinct varieties
of the same language (or two languages) are used in a community,
with one having high prestige (government) and the other low
prestige (home).
6. The use of Colloquial Lebanese Arabic versus Modern Standard
Arabic is a primary example of:
A. Code-switching
B. Diglossia
C. Monolingualism
D. Pidginization
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: As noted in the provided homework, the functional
separation of these two varieties of Arabic fits the definition of
diglossia.
7. Based on the homework questions, the most code-switching occurs
when:
A. The speaker knows two languages but is far more proficient in one
than the other.
B. The speaker knows two languages and is equally proficient in both of
them.
C. The speaker knows only one language but knows some words of
another.
D. The speaker is actively trying to forget one of their languages.
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: The correct answer highlighted in the source material states
that code-switching is most frequent when the speaker is equally
proficient in both languages.
8. What is the term for a simplified language that develops as a means
of communication between two or more groups that do not have a
language in common?
A. Creole
B. Pidgin
C. Dialect
D. Register
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A pidgin is a simplified language used for communication
between groups not sharing a common language; it is not a native
language of any community.
9. When a pidgin becomes the native language of a new generation of
speakers, it is called a:
A. Creole
B. Patois
C. Lingua franca
D. Dialect
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A creole is formed when a pidgin acquires native speakers
and develops a full complex grammar and vocabulary.
10. In the Soapese/Shampooese example from the text, Shampooese
is used in government business, while Soapese is used at home. This
situation is best described as:
A. A dialect continuum
UPDATE COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
1. In the context of bilingualism, what does the term "code-switching"
specifically refer to?
A. The ability to translate a text from one language to another instantly.
B. The use of more than one language or language variety within a
single conversation or interaction.
C. The gradual loss of a speaker's first language due to immersion in a
second language.
D. The process of learning a third language through the medium of a
second language.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Code-switching is defined as the alternating use of two or
more languages or varieties within the same conversation or
utterance.
2. A speaker says, "I need to go to the tienda to buy some milk."
(English/Spanish). Which type of code-switching does this represent?
A. Inter-sentential switching
B. Intra-sentential switching
C. Alternation
D. Diglossia
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: This is intra-sentential switching (or insertion) because the
switch occurs within the boundaries of a single sentence or clause.
3. Which type of code-switching involves a switch that occurs between
sentences or clauses, often at a turn-taking point in conversation?
A. Insertion
B. Intra-sentential
C. Inter-sentential
D. Lexical borrowing
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Inter-sentential switching occurs outside the sentence or
clause boundary, meaning one sentence is in one language and the
next is in another.
4. According to the material provided, which type of code-switching
uses vocabulary AND syntax from both languages?
A. Insertion
B. Alternation
C. Intra-sentential
D. Monolingualism
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Alternation (often categorized as inter-sentential) involves
switching between languages where both the vocabulary and the
grammatical structure (syntax) of the respective languages are utilized
in distinct segments.
5. The scenario where a speech community uses one language for
home and religious services (often viewed as a patois) and another
language for government and official business is an example of:
A. Code-switching
,B. Diglossia
C. Bilingualism
D. Registers
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Diglossia describes a situation where two distinct varieties
of the same language (or two languages) are used in a community,
with one having high prestige (government) and the other low
prestige (home).
6. The use of Colloquial Lebanese Arabic versus Modern Standard
Arabic is a primary example of:
A. Code-switching
B. Diglossia
C. Monolingualism
D. Pidginization
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: As noted in the provided homework, the functional
separation of these two varieties of Arabic fits the definition of
diglossia.
7. Based on the homework questions, the most code-switching occurs
when:
A. The speaker knows two languages but is far more proficient in one
than the other.
B. The speaker knows two languages and is equally proficient in both of
them.
C. The speaker knows only one language but knows some words of
another.
D. The speaker is actively trying to forget one of their languages.
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: The correct answer highlighted in the source material states
that code-switching is most frequent when the speaker is equally
proficient in both languages.
8. What is the term for a simplified language that develops as a means
of communication between two or more groups that do not have a
language in common?
A. Creole
B. Pidgin
C. Dialect
D. Register
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A pidgin is a simplified language used for communication
between groups not sharing a common language; it is not a native
language of any community.
9. When a pidgin becomes the native language of a new generation of
speakers, it is called a:
A. Creole
B. Patois
C. Lingua franca
D. Dialect
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A creole is formed when a pidgin acquires native speakers
and develops a full complex grammar and vocabulary.
10. In the Soapese/Shampooese example from the text, Shampooese
is used in government business, while Soapese is used at home. This
situation is best described as:
A. A dialect continuum
