English Around the World Quiz

Question 1

Approximately how many people speak English as a first, second, or foreign language worldwide?

Accepted Answer

Around 1.5 billion

Answer

Around 500 million

Answer

Around 750 million

Answer

Around 3 billion

Question 2

What is 'Singlish'?

Accepted Answer

A creole English spoken in Singapore

Answer

A simplified English used in international business

Answer

The English accent of South India

Answer

A form of English used in Sri Lanka

Question 3

What term describes the variety of English spoken in India, with its own vocabulary, grammar patterns, and pronunciations?

Accepted Answer

Indian English

Answer

Hindi English

Answer

South Asian English

Answer

Anglo-Indian

Question 4

What is 'Pidgin English' or 'Pidgin'?

Accepted Answer

A simplified form of English that develops between groups with no common language

Answer

A type of slang used by teenagers

Answer

A formal variety of English used in legal contexts

Answer

The English spoken by immigrants in the first generation

Question 5

The term 'World Englishes' was popularised by which linguist?

Accepted Answer

Braj Kachru

Answer

Noam Chomsky

Answer

David Crystal

Answer

Randolph Quirk

Question 6

What unique feature is associated with Australian English?

Accepted Answer

Intonation rising at the end of statements (High Rising Terminal)

Answer

Dropping all final consonants

Answer

Inserting 'eh' at the end of sentences

Answer

Replacing all short vowels with long vowels

Question 7

Which African country has the largest number of English speakers and is a major hub for African English varieties?

Accepted Answer

Nigeria

Answer

South Africa

Answer

Kenya

Answer

Ghana

Question 8

What is 'RP' in British English?

Accepted Answer

Received Pronunciation — the prestige accent associated with educated Southern British speech

Answer

Regional Pronunciation — any non-standard accent

Answer

Rural Pronunciation — English spoken in countryside areas

Answer

Reformed Pronunciation — modern standard British English

Question 9

What is 'General American'?

Accepted Answer

A broadly standard, accent-neutral form of American English

Answer

The oldest form of American English

Answer

The accent used only in Washington D.C.

Answer

The official language of American broadcasting

Question 10

What distinguishes 'code-switching' in multilingual English speakers?

Accepted Answer

Alternating between two or more languages or varieties within a conversation

Answer

Using formal English in all situations

Answer

Translating directly from one language to another

Answer

Avoiding English when speaking with family

Question 11

Which English variety introduced words like 'bungalow', 'jungle', 'pyjamas', and 'shampoo' into global English?

Accepted Answer

Indian English

Answer

Australian English

Answer

Canadian English

Answer

Caribbean English

Question 12

What is 'Tok Pisin'?

Accepted Answer

An English-based creole language of Papua New Guinea

Answer

An English variety in the Philippines

Answer

The official language of Fiji

Answer

A simplified English used in East Africa

Question 13

In New Zealand English, what feature distinguishes the vowel sound in words like 'fish and chips'?

Accepted Answer

Short 'i' vowels are often centralised, sounding closer to 'fush and chups'

Answer

The vowels are identical to Australian English

Answer

All short vowels are lengthened

Answer

The accent drops all 'h' sounds

Question 14

What does 'ELF' stand for in linguistics, and why is it significant?

Accepted Answer

English as a Lingua Franca

Answer

Early Language Formation

Answer

European Linguistic Features

Answer

Extended Language Fluency

Question 15

What is the 'Southern American English' feature called 'the pin-pen merger'?

Accepted Answer

Pronouncing 'i' and 'e' vowels identically before nasal sounds (pin and pen sound the same)

Answer

Dropping all final consonants

Answer

Replacing 'th' with 'd' or 'f'

Answer

Lengthening all vowels before voiced consonants

Question 16

Which Caribbean English variety is most widely associated internationally, partly due to reggae music and cultural influence?

Accepted Answer

Jamaican Patois (Creole)

Answer

Trinidadian English

Answer

Barbadian English

Answer

Guyanese Creole

Question 17

What is 'Hinglish'?

Accepted Answer

A blend of Hindi and English used in urban India

Answer

A formal variety of Hindi used in government

Answer

The English accent of Hindus

Answer

An early colonial variety of English in India

Question 18

What does it mean for a language variety to be 'standardised'?

Accepted Answer

It has a codified grammar, spelling, and usage norms recognised officially

Answer

All speakers use it identically

Answer

It is used only by educated speakers

Answer

It has no regional variation

Question 19

What South African English word, now known internationally, means an outdoor barbecue?

Accepted Answer

Braai

Answer

Lekker

Answer

Biltong

Answer

Ubuntu

Question 20

What is 'language prestige' and how does it affect English varieties globally?

Accepted Answer

The social status and value attached to a particular language variety

Answer

The number of speakers a language has

Answer

Whether a language has a written form

Answer

The age and historical origin of a language