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The Journey of English: From Old to Modern
Have you ever wondered how our language, English, came to be? Let's travel back in time to explore its fascinating journey. Our story starts with Old English, spoken from the 5th to the 12th century. Words like 'they', 'their', and 'them' are remnants from this era. Then comes Middle English, used from the 12th to the 15th century, which brought us words like 'happiness' and 'lonely'. This was also the period of Geoffrey Chaucer, the famous writer known for 'The Canterbury Tales'. Finally, we reach Modern English, from the late 15th century to the present. This period has witnessed the most significant transformation and growth of the language. The works of Shakespeare belong to the early part of this era. Fun fact: Did you know that the Oxford English Dictionary lists over 170,000 words in current use, and about 47,000 obsolete words? English is a living language, always evolving and adapting. So, the next time you use a word, remember its long journey through time.
Question 1
Which era did the words 'they', 'their', and 'them' originate from?
Old English
Middle English
Modern English
Latin
Greek
Question 2
Who is the author known for 'The Canterbury Tales'?
William Shakespeare
George Orwell
J.K. Rowling
Geoffrey Chaucer
Mark Twain
Question 3
Which period does the work of Shakespeare belong to?
Old English
Middle English
Modern English
Renaissance
Medieval
Question 4
What is a characteristic of English as a language?
Static and unchanging
Only spoken in England
Living and evolving
Only has a few words
Derived solely from Latin
Question 5
What does the term 'obsolete words' mean?
Newly invented words
Words in current use
Words from Old English
Words not used anymore
Words from Middle English
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