Evolution of the English Language Quiz

Can you tell me which language family Old English belongs to?

• Germanic languages

• Celtic languages

• Indo-European languages

• Romance languages

Answer explanation

Old English belongs to the Germanic language family, which also includes languages like German, Dutch, and Swedish.

Which historical event introduced a plethora of French and Latin vocabulary into the English language?

• The Norman invasion of England in 1066

• The Anglo-Saxon migration

• The Viking invasion

• The arrival of the Jutes

Answer explanation

The major event that brought a massive amount of French and Latin vocabulary into the English language was the Norman invasion of England in 1066.

Hey there! Can you guess which language is considered the reconstructed ancestor of the Indo-European family?

• Proto-Indo-European

• Old Norse

• Latin

• Proto-Germanic

Answer explanation

Proto-Indo-European is considered the reconstructed ancestor of the Indo-European family, making it the correct choice among the options provided.

What fun change happened to German words after the 6th century?

• From 't' to 'd'

• From 'sk' to 'sh'

• From 'f' to 'p'

• From 'p' to 'pf'

Answer explanation

The sound shift that occurred in German words after the 6th century was from 'p' to 'pf'.

Hey there! Can you guess which language family includes almost all languages historically spoken in Europe?

• Romance languages

• Germanic languages

• Indo-European languages

• Celtic languages

Answer explanation

The correct choice is Indo-European languages as this language family includes nearly all languages historically spoken in Europe.

Can you guess what kind of languages were spoken in Europe before Indo-European languages arrived?

• Romance

• Germanic

• Celtic

• Unknown

Answer explanation

The correct answer is 'Unknown' because the languages spoken in Europe prior to the arrival of Indo-European are not well-documented or understood.

Who is the language superhero that unites English, Swedish, German, and many other languages?

• Proto-Indo-European

• Latin

• Proto-Germanic

• Old Norse

Answer explanation

The common ancestor of English, Swedish, German, and many other languages is Proto-Germanic, making it the correct choice among the options provided.

Can you guess which language family Hindi and Persian belong to?

• Indo-European languages

• Romance languages

• Germanic languages

• Celtic languages

Answer explanation

Hindi and Persian belong to the Indo-European language family, making 'Indo-European languages' the correct choice.

Can you guess where Proto-Indo-European was spoken around 6000 years ago?

• Modern day Ukraine and Russia

• Modern day France

• Modern day Italy

• Modern day Spain

Answer explanation

Proto-Indo-European was spoken in modern day Ukraine and Russia about 6000 years ago, making it the correct choice.

How many people around the world are joining the global conversation shaped by 6000 years of history?

• 4 billion

• 1 billion

• 2 billion

• 3 billion

Answer explanation

The correct answer is 3 billion because approximately 3 billion people around the world speak the same words shaped by 6000 years of history.