MCQs
On Origins of Language
- According to Darwin, which
skill may have evolved before spoken language?
- a) Writing
- b) Counting
- c) Music ✅
- d) Dancing
Explanation: Darwin suggested that music might have preceded spoken language in early human social evolution. - Darwin’s view on the origin of
language suggests that early humans used which form for social bonding?
a)
Written texts
b)
Musical sounds ✅
c)
Symbolic gestures
d)
Physical expressions
Explanation: Darwin believed that early humans bonded through musical
sounds.
- Darwin’s theory of language is:
a)
Conclusively proven
b)
Speculative ✅
c)
Based on fossils
d)
Physically evident
Explanation: Darwin's theory is hypothetical and speculative rather than
proven.
- Which of these species share
basic vocal abilities with humans?
- a) Frogs
- b) Mammals
- c) Birds
- d) All of the above ✅
Explanation: Various animals, including birds and mammals, share foundational vocal abilities with humans. - Human language is distinct from
simple sounds due to:
- a) Complexity in grammar and
syntax ✅
- b) Simplified structure
- c) Exclusivity to animals
- d) Lack of symbolism
Explanation: Language differs from other sounds due to complex grammar and syntax. - Researchers estimate early
spoken language developed approximately:
- a) 10,000 years ago
- b) 100,000 to 50,000 years ago
✅
- c) 5,000 years ago
- d) 200,000 to 150,000 years
ago
- Written language emerged much
later than spoken language due to:
- a) Need for physical tools
- b) Complexity in expression
- c) Both a and b ✅
- d) None of the above
- Which of the following is
lacking in proving early language development?
- a) Tools
- b) Bones
- c) Fossils
- d) Tangible evidence ✅
- Divine origin theories of
language are rooted in:
- a) Scientific discoveries
- b) Religious and cultural
traditions ✅
- c) Fossil evidence
- d) Evolutionary studies
- In the Bible, which figure is
credited with giving language to humanity?
- a) Moses
- b) Noah
- c) God ✅
- d) Jesus
- According to Hindu tradition,
language originated from:
- a) Sarasvati
- b) Shiva
- c) Brahma
- d) Vishnu
- Pharaoh Psammetichus’
experiment attempted to find the:
- a) Source of life
- b) Origin of language ✅
- c) Evolution of animals
- d) Creation of music
- In Psammetichus’ experiment,
the children allegedly said:
- a) A Phrygian word ✅
- b) An Egyptian chant
- c) Greek letters
- d) Animal sounds
- King James IV believed isolated
children would naturally speak:
- a) Phrygian
- b) Latin
- c) Hebrew ✅
- d) Greek
- The Natural Sound Source Theory
suggests early humans imitated:
- a) Musical notes
- b) Natural sounds ✅
- c) Written symbols
- d) Sign language
- Humans develop auditory
sensitivity at:
- a) 3 months of age
- b) 1 month after birth
- c) 7 months of gestation ✅
- d) 10 years old
- The “Bow-Wow” Theory proposes
language developed through:
- a) Genetic mutation
- b) Sound imitation ✅
- c) Writing symbols
- d) Hand gestures
- Onomatopoeic words are examples
of:
- a) Musical mimicry
- b) Nature-related sounds
- c) Real-world sound imitation ✅
- d) All of the above
- Which of these is an example of
an onomatopoeic word?
- a) Splash ✅
- b) Tree
- c) Freedom
- d) Love
- One limitation of the “Bow-Wow”
Theory is the inability to explain:
- a) Sound-based words
- b) Writing systems
- c) Abstract concepts ✅
- d) Basic vocabulary
- The “Pooh-Pooh” Theory suggests
language originated from:
- a) Rational thinking
- b) Physical gestures
- c) Emotional expressions ✅
- d) Basic sounds
- According to the “Pooh-Pooh”
Theory, which of these words reflects emotional expression?
- a) Ah! ✅
- b) Run
- c) Mountain
- d) Tree
- Interjections like “Ouch!” are
examples of:
- a) Sound-based words
- b) Reflexive noises ✅
- c) Language syntax
- d) Nature sounds
- Emotion-driven sounds in the
“Pooh-Pooh” Theory are often created during:
- a) Eating
- b) Inhalation
- c) Relaxation
- d) Breathing normally ✅
- Early human communication of
“thunder” using rumbling sounds is an example of:
- a) Bow-Wow Theory ✅
- b) Divine Theory
- c) Written language
- d) Genetic memory
- Which of the following sounds
would fit the “Pooh-Pooh” Theory?
- a) Phew! ✅
- b) Tree
- c) Cloud
- d) Mountain
- According to Darwin, language
and music may have both functioned in:
- a) Storytelling
- b) Social bonding ✅
- c) Toolmaking
- d) Agriculture
- The idea that language is a
divine gift is rooted in:
- a) Evolutionary theories
- b) Religious beliefs ✅
- c) Animal studies
- d) Scientific proof
- Phrygian was concluded to be
the original language by:
- a) King James IV
- b) Herodotus
- c) Psammetichus ✅
- d) Charles Darwin
- Hindu teachings link language
closely with:
- a) Agriculture
- b) Wisdom and creation ✅
- c) Trade
- d) Dance
- A drawback of “Pooh-Pooh”
Theory is that interjections:
- a) Are only written
- b) Are inhaled, unlike regular
speech ✅
- c) Are specific to animals
- d) Lack meaning
- Abstract terms like “freedom”
are challenging to explain in:
- a) Bow-Wow Theory
- b) Divine Theory
- c) Writing systems
- d) Science ✅
- The auditory system in humans
begins to function during:
- a) Infancy
- b) Adolescence
- c) Gestation ✅
- d) Adulthood
- Darwin’s ideas on language
evolution challenge the view that early humans were:
- a) Socially advanced
- b) Basic and undeveloped ✅
- c) Technologically skilled
- d) Non-communicative
- Which theory emphasizes
imitation of sounds like animal calls?
- a) Divine Theory
- b) Pooh-Pooh Theory
- c) Bow-Wow Theory ✅
- d) Scientific Theory
- Emotionally charged sounds like
“Ouch!” align with:
- a) Bow-Wow Theory
- b) Darwinian Theory
- c) Divine Source
- d) Pooh-Pooh Theory ✅
- The Bible’s account of language
origin involves:
- a) Natural sounds
- b) Divine bestowment ✅
- c) Imitation
- d) Animal sounds
- What does the term
“speculative” mean in the context of Darwin’s theory?
- a) Well-proven
- b) Based on evidence
- c) Hypothetical ✅
- d) Conclusive
- King James IV’s experiment
focused on children speaking:
- a) Greek
- b) Hebrew ✅
- c) Egyptian
- d) French
- Which physical change in early
humans contributed significantly to the development of speech?
- A) Development of opposable
thumbs
- B) Transition to upright
posture
- C) Increased body size
- D) Shortened limbs
- Answer: B
Explanation: Transitioning to an upright posture impacted the physical structure needed for speech, affecting elements like the larynx position. - How do human teeth differ from
ape teeth to aid speech?
A)
Larger in size
B)
More pointed
C)
Generally uniform in height and upright
D)
Less dense
- Answer: C
Explanation: Human teeth are more uniform and upright, allowing for precise articulation of sounds like "f" and "v." - Why are flexible lip muscles
important in speech development?
A)
They help produce sounds like "p," "b," and "m."
B)
They are used for chewing and biting.
C)
They make sounds like "s" and "z" clearer.
D)
They improve the strength of the jaw
- Answer: A
Explanation: Flexible lips enable sounds such as "p," "b," and "m," which are among the first sounds infants produce. - The human mouth has a unique
shape that aids in producing diverse sounds. What shape does it take?
A)
Circular
B)
Rectangular
C)
L-shaped
D)
U-shaped
- Answer: C
Explanation: The "L" shape of the human vocal tract allows for greater diversity in sound production. - The lowered position of the
human larynx provides what evolutionary advantage?
A)
Greater control of chewing
B)
Enhanced vocal range and sound resonance
C)
Higher tolerance to food intake
D)
Reduced risk of choking
- Answer: B
Explanation: The lowered larynx allows a longer pharynx, which enhances sound resonance and vocal quality. - According to the "physical
adaptation" theory, what aspect of human evolution may have laid the
foundation for language?
- A) Development of upright
walking
- B) Evolution of opposable
thumbs
- C) Hand gestures and
expressive movements
- D) Increased body strength
- Answer: C
Explanation: Hand movements used in tool-making and gestures are thought to have laid the groundwork for expressive language. - Which brain hemisphere is
associated with both speech and object manipulation?
- A) Right hemisphere
- B) Frontal lobe
- C) Parietal lobe
- D) Left hemisphere
- Answer: D
Explanation: The left hemisphere controls motor activities such as speech production and object manipulation. - What gene is associated with
human language development and is often called the "language
gene"?
- A) FOXP2 gene
- B) BRCA gene
- C) TP53 gene
- D) GJB2 gene
- Answer: A
Explanation: The FOXP2 gene is linked to language production and understanding, and mutations in this gene can lead to severe language issues. - The innateness hypothesis
suggests that humans:
- A) Learn language purely
through exposure
- B) Have a genetic
predisposition for language
- C) Develop language due to
environmental factors only
- D) Acquire language through
physical training
- Answer: B
Explanation: The innateness hypothesis proposes that humans have an inborn capability for language, suggesting it's genetically embedded. - Which of the following is an
example of language structuring similar to tool-making processes?
- A) The shaping of a rock for
survival
- B) Combining words to form
meaningful sentences
- C) Using gestures for
communication
- D) Naming objects with single
sounds
- Answer: B
Explanation: Early humans combined sounds to form structured phrases, similar to how they structured tools by combining materials for function.
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