CS163 CSET Mandarin Subtest I Practice
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Question 1
Which three of the following are universal properties of all human languages? (Select 3)
A) Fixed word order
B) Productivity (ability to generate infinite novel sentences)
C) Use of sound symbols
D) Grammatical gender marking
E) Discreteness (language built from discrete units like phonemes)
Correct Answer: B, C, E
Explanation: Productivity, sound symbolism, and discreteness are design features found
in all human languages. Fixed word order (A) varies across languages (e.g., English is
SVO, Japanese is SOV), and grammatical gender (D) is absent in many languages such as
Mandarin and Turkish .
Question 2
,The Critical Period Hypothesis in first-language acquisition suggests that:
A) Language learning is equally easy at any age
B) Native-like proficiency is most attainable before puberty
C) Adults acquire grammar faster than children
D) Intelligence is the sole predictor of language success
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The Critical Period Hypothesis proposes a biological window (before
puberty) during which the brain is optimally receptive to language input for attaining
native-like proficiency. After this period, full native acquisition becomes significantly
more difficult .
Question 3
Which three concepts are core components of pragmatics? (Select 3)
A) Speech act theory
B) Phoneme inventory
C) Context-dependent meaning
D) Cooperative principle (Grice's maxims)
E) Morphological typology
Correct Answer: A, C, D
Explanation: Pragmatics studies language use in context, including speech acts
(requesting, apologizing, etc.), how meaning depends on context, and conversational
principles like Grice's maxims. Phoneme inventory (B) belongs to phonology;
morphological typology (E) studies word structure .
,Question 4
A child says "goed" instead of "went." This linguistic phenomenon is called:
A) Under-extension
B) Over-regularization
C) Telegraphic speech
D) Holophrastic speech
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Over-regularization occurs when a child applies a regular grammatical rule
(e.g., adding "-ed" for past tense) to an irregular form. This demonstrates the child has
internalized the rule but not yet learned exceptions. It is a normal stage of language
development .
Question 5
Which branch of linguistics studies the physical properties of speech sounds?
A) Phonology
B) Phonetics
C) Morphology
D) Syntax
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Phonetics is the study of the physical properties of speech sounds—how
they are produced (articulatory phonetics), transmitted as sound waves (acoustic
, phonetics), and perceived (auditory phonetics). Phonology studies how sounds function
abstractly within a language system .
Domain 2: Linguistics of the Target Language - Mandarin
(15 multiple-choice questions)
Question 6
What is the primary function of tones in Mandarin?
A) To indicate grammatical tense
B) To distinguish meaning between words with the same phonetic segments
C) To mark sentence boundaries
D) To show politeness level
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Tones in Mandarin are phonemic, meaning they distinguish lexical
meaning. For example, mā (mother), má (hemp), mǎ (horse), and mà (scold) have
identical phonetic segments but different tones and completely different meanings .
Question 7
Which three of the following are retroflex initials in Standard Mandarin? (Select 3)
A) zh
B) ch
C) sh
Exam Questions And Correct Answers (Verified
Answers) Plus Explanation 2026 Q&A | Instant
Download Pdf
Question 1
Which three of the following are universal properties of all human languages? (Select 3)
A) Fixed word order
B) Productivity (ability to generate infinite novel sentences)
C) Use of sound symbols
D) Grammatical gender marking
E) Discreteness (language built from discrete units like phonemes)
Correct Answer: B, C, E
Explanation: Productivity, sound symbolism, and discreteness are design features found
in all human languages. Fixed word order (A) varies across languages (e.g., English is
SVO, Japanese is SOV), and grammatical gender (D) is absent in many languages such as
Mandarin and Turkish .
Question 2
,The Critical Period Hypothesis in first-language acquisition suggests that:
A) Language learning is equally easy at any age
B) Native-like proficiency is most attainable before puberty
C) Adults acquire grammar faster than children
D) Intelligence is the sole predictor of language success
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The Critical Period Hypothesis proposes a biological window (before
puberty) during which the brain is optimally receptive to language input for attaining
native-like proficiency. After this period, full native acquisition becomes significantly
more difficult .
Question 3
Which three concepts are core components of pragmatics? (Select 3)
A) Speech act theory
B) Phoneme inventory
C) Context-dependent meaning
D) Cooperative principle (Grice's maxims)
E) Morphological typology
Correct Answer: A, C, D
Explanation: Pragmatics studies language use in context, including speech acts
(requesting, apologizing, etc.), how meaning depends on context, and conversational
principles like Grice's maxims. Phoneme inventory (B) belongs to phonology;
morphological typology (E) studies word structure .
,Question 4
A child says "goed" instead of "went." This linguistic phenomenon is called:
A) Under-extension
B) Over-regularization
C) Telegraphic speech
D) Holophrastic speech
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Over-regularization occurs when a child applies a regular grammatical rule
(e.g., adding "-ed" for past tense) to an irregular form. This demonstrates the child has
internalized the rule but not yet learned exceptions. It is a normal stage of language
development .
Question 5
Which branch of linguistics studies the physical properties of speech sounds?
A) Phonology
B) Phonetics
C) Morphology
D) Syntax
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Phonetics is the study of the physical properties of speech sounds—how
they are produced (articulatory phonetics), transmitted as sound waves (acoustic
, phonetics), and perceived (auditory phonetics). Phonology studies how sounds function
abstractly within a language system .
Domain 2: Linguistics of the Target Language - Mandarin
(15 multiple-choice questions)
Question 6
What is the primary function of tones in Mandarin?
A) To indicate grammatical tense
B) To distinguish meaning between words with the same phonetic segments
C) To mark sentence boundaries
D) To show politeness level
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Tones in Mandarin are phonemic, meaning they distinguish lexical
meaning. For example, mā (mother), má (hemp), mǎ (horse), and mà (scold) have
identical phonetic segments but different tones and completely different meanings .
Question 7
Which three of the following are retroflex initials in Standard Mandarin? (Select 3)
A) zh
B) ch
C) sh
