The Origins of the English Language can be Traced Back to the Saxon GMAT Reading Comprehension

Reading Passage Question
The origins of the English language can be traced back to the Saxon and other Germanic settlers in Britain beginning in the 5th century CE. Its unusual nature can be attributed to the diverse linguistic origins of the groups that contributed to its development and its role in English society. Although English belongs to the Germanic language family, and its grammatical and syntactical rules reflect this, English vocabulary can be seen to be from multiple origins. In fact, a large part of the vocabulary was not derived from the Germanic languages but rather of Latin origin. This can be explained by the influence on Old English of Old French and Latin during the Norman Invasion in the 11th century. By the time of the Norman Invasion, Old English was already a language, with both its grammar and vocabulary based in the Germanic language family. However, the establishment of a ruling class who spoke a Romance language caused significant changes in the indigenous tongue. It is also interesting to note the correlation between the length of a word and its origin—most of the shorter words in the English language are derived from the Germanic languages, whereas the longer words are from a Latin background. One theory to explain this is that the more elaborate and complex words were primarily used by the elite after the Norman Invasion—who would have favored a Latin-based (or Romance) vocabulary—whereas words with the same meaning in Old English were used primarily by the lower classes and thus fell into disuse. Modern English words, then, concerning more complex and theoretical, rather than utilitarian, ideas (astronomy, poetry, and epistemology) can generally be found to be of Romance origin, whereas more mundane words, such as pronouns and auxiliary verbs, can be traced to back to a Germanic origin. there is a distinct.

“The origins of the English language can be traced back to the Saxon”- is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates need a strong knowledge of English GMAT reading comprehension.

This GMAT Reading Comprehension consists of 4 comprehension questions. The GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are designed for the purpose of testing candidates’ abilities in understanding, analyzing, and applying information or concepts. Candidates can actively prepare with the help of GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.

Solution and Explanation

1. Which of the following best describes the relationship between the highlighted phrases?

1. The argument and its counterargument
2. Two examples of the scope of the passage
3. The topic and scope of the passage
4. The scope of the passage and an example
5. The topic of the passage and an example

2. Based on the passage, of what origin would we expect the word “they” to be?

1. Germanic
2. Romance
3. Norse

1. I only
2. I and III only
3. II and III only
4. I, II, III
5. I and II only

3. Based on the passage, what is a likely reason why English has not been reclassified as a Romance language?

1. It developed as a Germanic language in its first incarnation, Old English.
2. The core of the language, its grammar and syntax, is still Germanic.
3. A larger portion of the English vocabulary is Germanic rather than Romance.
4. The Normans felt an affinity for the local tongue, which was Germanic.
5. Neither linguistic heritage has a claim to pre-eminence.

4. Which of the following can we infer from the passage?

1. Searching for meaning based on the Latin root of a word is less likely to be useful in shorter words.
2. The language spoken by the Saxon and Germanic settlers entirely supplanted the indigenous tongue of 5th-century Britain.
3. The discussion of complex ideas during the Norman era in England was primarily the domain of the ruling class.

1. I and II only
2. II and III only
3. I only
4. I and III only
5. III only

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