Passage Three

The large part which war played in English affairs in the Middle-Ages, the fact that the control of the army and navy was in the hands of those that spoke French, and the circumstances that much of English fighting was done in France all resulted in the introduction into English of a number of French military terms. The art of war has undergone such changes since the battles of Hastings, Lewes, and Agincourt that many words once common are now only in historical use. Their places have been taken by later borrowings, often like wise from French, many of them being words acquired by the French in the course of their wars in Italy during the sixteenth century. Yet we still use French words of the Middle Ages when we speak of the army and the navy, of peace, enemy, battle, soldier, guard and spy, and we have kept the names of officers such as captain and sergeant. Some of the French terms were introduced into English because they were needed to express a new object or a new idea. In other cases a French and a native English word for the same thing existed side by side. Sometimes one or the other has since been lost from the language; but sometimes both the borrowed and the native word have been still in common use.

71. The main idea of this passage is that ______.

most of today’s common English military terms dated from the sixteenth century or later

a study of the English vocabulary shows the important part which war has played in the history of England

many French words borrowed into English during the Middle Ages have since disappeared from the language

many military terms used in English were originally borrowed from French, some as early as the Middle Ages

72. All of the following have something to do with the introduction into English of many French military terms except that _______.

war played an important part in English affairs in the Middle Ages

the English army and navy were controlled by those who spoke French in the war between England and France

France invaded England in the Middle Ages and many battles were fought in England

much of English fighting was done in France in the war between England and France

73. The art of war has undergone such changes that _______.

we no longer use any French words of the Middle Ages

many words once common are not used any longer and they are replaced by Italian words

French military terms have disappeared from the English language

many words once common are now only in historical use and their places have been taken by the newly-borrowed words

74. Which of the following is not the French word borrowed into English during the Middle Ages?

A. sergeant B. battle C. spy D. fight

75. The writer takes the words “battle” and “fight” as an example to show______.

French words are needed to express something new

a French and a native word for the same thing have been still in common use side by side French word or the other has been lost from the English language

“battle” is the borrowed word and “fight” is the native one