First language, also known as mother tongue, is generally the language a person learns
first. However, one can have two or more native languages thus being a native bilingual or
indeed multilingual. The order in which these languages are learned is not necessarily the
order of proficiency. Lacking in first language skills often make learning other languages
difficult. Often a child learns the basics of his or her first language or languages from his or
her family. The term mother tongue, however, should not be interpreted to mean that it is the language of one’s mother. For instance, in some paternal societies, the wife moves in with the husband and thus may have a different first language or dialect than the local language of the husband. Yet their children usually only speak their local language.
1. What does first language mean?
a. The languages of one’s mother.
b. The language a person learns first.
c. The language child learns from the school.
d. The native language.
2. According to the passage, the first language skills __________
a. take a very long time to develop.
b. play an important role in learning a new language.
c. are not transferable to the second language
d. make negative effects in foreign language learning.
3. The word ‘proficiency’ means__________
a. ability to speak well
b. a high degree of skill
c. ability to acquire a language
d. difficulty in learning
4. Which of the following statements is not correct?
a. Child learns the basics of his first language from his family.
b. One can have two or more native languages.
c. One’s mother tongue might not be the language of parents.
d. The learning of first language is the most difficult skill
5. What is the antonym of the word ‘difficult’?
a. complex
b. easy
c. undifficult
d. simple
6. Meadow is a green carpet. The figure of speech used here is :
a. Alliteration
b. Metaphor
c. Simile
d. Imagery
7. The snake glided ___ towards the gate and paused __ a moment?
a. along, for
b. by, for
c. along, with
d. across, with
8. “ The sun does descent And our sports have an end” These lines are written by
a. Edward Lear
b. R K.Narayan
c. William Blake
d. Ruskin Bond.
9. You should ___________ the work, before the weekend
a. get away
b. get off
c. get across
d. get through
10. Don’t take chance of losing some thing you have, in search of something better.
Which is the proverb related?
a. Bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
b. A stitch in time saves nine
c. The proof of the pudding is in the eating
d. Too many cooks spoil the broth
11. Find out the odd one.
a. Bear-cub
b. Frog-tadpole
c. Sheep-lamb
d. Cow-kitten
12. Lakshadweep is a ___ of islands.
a. group
b. pack
c. clump
d. pack
13. Combine the sentences with ‘not only but also’
Birds drink honey. Butterflies also drink honey.
a. Birds not only drink honey but also butterflies.
b. Not only birds, but also butterflies drink honey
c. Not only birds drink honey but also butterflies drink honey.
d. Birds not only but also butterflies drink honey.
14. I wish _____________
a. I were a peacock
b. I was a peacock
c. I am a peacock
d. I will be a peacock
15. They have been living in Mumbai ___________ 2010.
a. since
b. on
c. by
d. for
