World Book Trivia Quiz For Kids--10/22-language

1. Children start to learn a language by imitation.

True

False

Children learn spoken languages by hearing and repeating sounds. Babies like to make all kinds of sounds. They hear the people around them speak. They imitate the sounds they hear from the people around them and begin to say words.

Explanation

Children learn spoken languages by hearing and repeating sounds. Babies like to make all kinds of sounds. They hear the people around them speak. They imitate the sounds they hear from the people around them and begin to say words.

2. What was the first stage in the history of writing?

Creating an alphabet

Drawing pictures

Using hand signals

The first stage in writing was the drawing of pictures. The pictures allowed people who did not speak the same language to share ideas. Then people learned to use signs to stand for words.

Explanation

The first stage in writing was the drawing of pictures. The pictures allowed people who did not speak the same language to share ideas. Then people learned to use signs to stand for words.

3. What language is spoken in the most countries?

English

Chinese

Spanish

The English language is spoken in more countries than any language in the world. English has spread around the world since the 1500's, when people who lived in what is now the United Kingdom were the only ones who spoke English.

Explanation

The English language is spoken in more countries than any language in the world. English has spread around the world since the 1500's, when people who lived in what is now the United Kingdom were the only ones who spoke English.

4. Nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs are examples of what?

Parts of speech

Prepositions

Punctuation

Parts of speech are the word categories of languages. Nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs are examples of parts of speech.

Explanation

Parts of speech are the word categories of languages. Nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs are examples of parts of speech.

5. Different forms of a spoken language are called what?

Slang

Dialects

Translations

Different forms of a spoken language are called dialects. The most common dialect in China is Northern Chinese or Mandarin.

Explanation

Different forms of a spoken language are called dialects. The most common dialect in China is Northern Chinese or Mandarin.

6. Which of the following is NOT a part of spoken language?

Sounds

Structure

Hand signals

Spoken languages use sounds to communicate. All spoken languages have words. Words stand for objects, actions, or ideas. Sign language is a system of communication that uses the hands, body, and face to produce messages that can be seen. In this way, sign languages differ from spoken languages. Like spoken languages, sign languages have a vocabulary and grammar and syntax—rules for making words into sentences.

Explanation

Spoken languages use sounds to communicate. All spoken languages have words. Words stand for objects, actions, or ideas. Sign language is a system of communication that uses the hands, body, and face to produce messages that can be seen. In this way, sign languages differ from spoken languages. Like spoken languages, sign languages have a vocabulary and grammar and syntax—rules for making words into sentences.

7. How did language begin?

With sign language

No one really knows

With spoken words

Nobody really knows how language began. It is a mystery. Language probably began very slowly and very early in human history. First, people might have made sounds such as barks, grunts, and hoots. In time, the sounds might have become more exact. Then the sounds came to mean certain things. However, there is no record of early spoken languages. We can only guess about how language began.

Explanation

Nobody really knows how language began. It is a mystery. Language probably began very slowly and very early in human history. First, people might have made sounds such as barks, grunts, and hoots. In time, the sounds might have become more exact. Then the sounds came to mean certain things. However, there is no record of early spoken languages. We can only guess about how language began.

8. Writing is a part of all languages.

True

False

Writing is a part of some languages, but not of all languages. No language began with writing. Writing always comes after speaking.

Explanation

Writing is a part of some languages, but not of all languages. No language began with writing. Writing always comes after speaking.

9. What language has the greatest number native speakers?

English

Chinese

Spanish

Around 7,000 languages are spoken in the world today. The Chinese language has the greatest number of native speakers.

Explanation

Around 7,000 languages are spoken in the world today. The Chinese language has the greatest number of native speakers.

10. Hebrew belongs to which language group?

Romance

Germanic

Afro-Asian

Italian, French, and Spanish all come from the same parent language. They belong to the Romance group. Hebrew and Arabic belong to the Afro-Asian family.

Explanation

Italian, French, and Spanish all come from the same parent language. They belong to the Romance group. Hebrew and Arabic belong to the Afro-Asian family.