Politics and the English Language Quizzes

Politics and the English Language Quiz 1

1 When was "Politics and the English Language" written?
1946

1984

1950

1996
2 What term does Orwell use to describe language?
An instrument

A tool

A natural growth

A river
3 What analogy does Orwell use describe the cycle between poor thinking and poor speaking?
The analogy of a drunk

The analogy of a river

The analogy of a train

The analogy of an instrument
4 What are Orwell's feelings about the ultimate end of the process of poor thinking and poor speaking?
It will be our downfall

It of minor consequence

It's reversible

It's never ending
5 How do bad language habits spread, according to Orwell?
By imitation

By coercion

By decisive action

By close contact
6 If you get rid of bad language habits, what will you be able to do, according to Orwell?
Have more authority

Be more respected

Think more clearly

Be correct
7 What does clear thinking lead to?
Political regeneration

Genius

Enlightenment

Total authority
8 Orwell describes two qualities common to most poor language. What is one?
Simplistic diction

Poor grammar

Staleness of imagery

Incorrect spelling
9 What other quality is common to most poor language?
Lack of precision

Use of symbolic language

Poor rhythm

Use of colloquial dialect
10 What is one cause of poor language use that Orwell notes?
The writer uses language that is too simplistic

The writer is indifferent to whether or not their meaning is accessible

The writer is drunk

The writer is trying to express too profound an idea
11 What are two common traits of modern prose, according to Orwell?
A mixture of vagueness and incompetence

A mixture of French and English

A mixture of complex ideas and simplistic terms

A mixture of fear and regret
12 What are dying metaphors?
A beautiful metaphor

A metaphor used by a dead writer

A complex metaphor

An unoriginal or dysfunctional metaphor
13 What are verbal false limbs?
Nouns used as verbs

Prefabricated conjunctions that stand in for simple verbs

Verbs that no longer have meaning

Misused verbs
14 What is pretentious diction?
Terms used to dress up a writer's ideas

Archaic English

Language used by the royal family

Terms that don't mean what they're intended to mean
15 What are meaningless words?
Words that have never had any meaning

Inoperative verbs

Words that belong to other languages

Words that have been divorced from their meaning
16 According to Orwell, why do writers use ready-made phrases?
Because they're afraid to stand out

Because they don't know any other terms

Because they sincerely believe they're better

So they don't have to think and construct langauge for themselves
17 What is the sole aim of a metaphor, according to Orwell?
To hearken the past

To reiterate one's idea

To flex one's style

To call up a visual image
18 What is is a sign of, when images in a metaphor clash?
That it's not actually a metaphor

That the idea is wild

That the writer isn't seeing a clear a mental image of their idea

That it's a simile
19 What is the effect of a double negative?
Complexity

Onomatopoeia

Nonsense

Resonance
20 A scrupulous writer will ask themselves four questions. What is one?
Has anyone said anything like this before me?

Why am I trying to say this?

Who am I to say this?

What am I trying to say?
21 A scrupulous writer will ask themselves four questions. What is one?
What words will express what I'm trying to say?

Is this actually my idea?

What do any of these words mean?

Where did this idea originate?
22 A scrupulous writer will ask themselves four questions. What is one?
What image has never been used before in the history of literature?

What if this is a facile idea?

Will this make me sound intelligent?

What image or idiom will make my meaning clear?
23 A scrupulous writer will ask themselves four questions. What is one?
Should I use a simile instead of a metaphor?

Is this image fresh enough to have an effect?

Is this actually an image?

Does imagery belong in this piece?
24 What is a general aspiration that every writer should have in composing their prose?
Use of terms that no one else has ever used

Elaborateness

Efficiency

Use of metaphor
25 Finish the following sentence of Orwell's: "In our time it is broadly true that political writing is..."
"...bad writing."

"...complex writing."

"...emotional writing."

"...serious writing."

Politics and English language

Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
Never use a long word where a short one will do.
If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
Never use the passive where you can use the...

Asked by Venkat S #1224538

Answered by Aslan on 3/29/2022 3:03 PM