Syntax

1. A grammar achieves descriptive adequacy if __________

It correctly predicts which sentences are grammatical and which are ungrammatical.

It tells us the style of speaking that is accepted as the social norm.

It explains how language acquisition is possible despite the poverty of stimulus.

2. In which of the following sentences has the PS rule V’ à V CP been used twice?

John is hoping that Mary will not be late for her appointment.

John said that Mary is hoping that Peter will not be late for his appointment.

Mary will be late for his appointment.

3. In the phrase a movie about war, which of the following words form a constituent?

About war

Movie about

A movie

4. How many specifier positions are used in the tree diagram for the following sentence? The child ate apples in class. [HINT: Draw the tree.]

1

2

3

5. Which of the following is correct?

In English a complement follows the head, but in Japanese it comes before the head.

In English a specifier comes before X’, but in Japanese it follows X’.

In English a specifier comes before a complement, but in Japanese it follows the complement.

6. The sentence I like this movie about love can be restated as I like this one. What node has been replaced? [HINT: Draw the tree.]

NP

N'

N

7. What is the root node for Colors of the foliage during the fall impress tourists?

NP

VP

IP

8. In a “head-initial” language like English, the PS rule that correctly describes the distribution of heads and complements is _________ .

X’ --> (X) complement

X’ --> (X) (complement)

X’ --> X (complement)

9. Which of the following is a parameter of X-bar Theory?

Whether X is to the left or the right of its complement

Whether X’ is the mother or the daughter of X

Whether X’ is above or below its specifier

10. Which of the following statements best characterizes the goal of Generative Grammar?

A system that generates an infinite number of rules.

An infinite set of rules that generate a finite number of sentences.

A finite set of recursive rules that generates an infinite number of sentences.

11. If we add the rule V’à NP V to our grammar for English, we will generate the sentence *The boys can the test do, which is ungrammatical. The resulting inadequacy is called:

Undergeneration

Overgeneralization

Overgeneration

12. Consider the following tree diagram: A / \
B C g D Which of the following is FALSE about the structure?

C is the mother of D.

B and C are sisters.

D is daughter of B.