 The Language Dinosaur
& Vocabulary Development Exercise: top Instructions: Complete the following vocabulary chart. The first one has been completed as an example.
$ Reading & Writing Exercise: top Instructions: Read the following passage and answer the comprehension questions. The possession of language is what distinguishes humans from other animals. Many myths and religions express that language is the source of human life and power. In many African countries, a newborn child is called a kuntu, which means “a thing”. When a child learns his/her language he/she is then called a muntu, which means “a person”. Therefore, if language is so important to us, why are we allowing so many of our languages to become extinct? Many respected linguists predict that 80-90 % of the world’s 6,000 languages will die off within the next 200 years.
Why are our languages in such danger? As technology develops, borders disappear and cultures merge. Globalization is bringing the English language into every country, city and village throughout the world. English is becoming the dominant and indispensable language of business and communication. Why is English the chosen language? The answer is simply related to money; a disproportionate number of the rich and powerful people in the world speak English.
Many people argue that having too many languages only causes confusion. On the other hand, some experts warn that when languages become extinct, the human species is threatened. Just as biological diversity is essential to our environment, so too is intellectual and cultural diversity. When you preserve a language, you also protect historical, scientific and cultural knowledge. For example, when a particular native language is destroyed, we lose that culture’s unique knowledge of local plants and animals. When we lose our knowledge of local plants and animals, we might be destroying our only hope of developing new medicines and treatments to counteract the many diseases that threaten human existence. So what can we do to preserve our world’s languages and cultures? Just think about it, the language you speak today might be one of the language dinosaurs of tomorrow. (PART A): Instructions: Answer the following comprehension questions: 1. All of the following statements are true except: a) The majority of the world’s languages are in danger of becoming extinct. b) Knowledge of plants and animals is contained in a language. c) A “muntu” is an African language. d) Technology is bringing countries and cultures closer together. 2. The word indispensable (in the second paragraph) could be replaced by: a) useless b) essential c) additional d) worthless 3. In the following sentence: In many African countries, a newborn child is called a kuntu, which means “a thing”. , the underlined part is an example of: a) an adjective clause b) an adverb clause c) a preposition phrase d) a direct object 4. The article mentions that preserving a language can lead to finding a medical cure or treatment; what other valuable information or knowledge can we receive from a language? (Write your answer in sentence form.) 5. What is the main message of this text? In your own words, write a 3 or 4 sentence summary of the passage. 6. How does it relate to your native language? “The Second Conditional” is often called the “Hypothetical” or “Imaginary” Conditional. We use this structure to talk in the present tense about a situation that will probably not happen. It is formed by:
**** For Second Conditionals, when be is the main verb in the if clause, we use were for all subjects (I, we, you, he, she, it, they). For example: If he were available, he would help us. **** Exercise One: Instructions: Using the Second Conditional, provide the correct form of the verb in parentheses. 1. If I ______________ (have) some money, I _____________________ (lend) it to you. 2. If she _____________ (be) here, she _____________ (tell) you the truth. 3. If I _____________ (like) studying English, I _______________ (become) an English teacher. 4. If I _____________ (did [negative] ) have to study, I _______________ (go) to the movie with you. 5. If I _____________ (be) you, I _________________ (stay) home and study for your English exam. Exercise Two: Instructions: Combine the clauses on the left with the appropriate clauses on the right to make logical Second Conditionals.
Exercise Three: Instructions: Look carefully at the following sentences: (a) If I lived in Quebec, I would speak both English and French. (b) I would speak both English and French if I lived in Quebec. Why is there a comma in sentence “a” and no comma in sentence “b”? Can you explain the grammar rule? ____________________________________________________________________________ Speaking Exercise: top
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