From a (17) .......... perspective, the archive is a rich source of evidence. Even (18) .......... terms can reveal gaps in speakers’ (19) .......... of local vocabulary when they appear in personal letters or local notices. The material also shows the extraordinary (20) .......... of language: a phrase may remain (21) .......... while acquiring a new social meaning.
Misquotation can lead to (22) .........., which is why careful (23) .......... is essential. The result is not simply a list of old terms, but a (24) .......... record of the communities that used them. Editors compare entries with spoken recordings whenever possible, since a written form can conceal pronunciation, hesitation and the subtle social signals that make a word meaningful to those who use it.
Each entry is discussed by editors with different areas of knowledge, since a term can appear transparent while carrying an older or more local sense. The archive also records uncertainty when evidence is incomplete, allowing later contributors to challenge an interpretation without erasing the earlier reasoning. This approach makes the dictionary useful as a history of investigation as well as a reference work for readers.
From a (17) .......... perspective, the archive is a rich source of evidence. Even (18) .......... terms can reveal gaps in speakers’ (19) .......... of local vocabulary when they appear in personal letters or local notices. The material also shows the extraordinary (20) .......... of language: a phrase may remain (21) .......... while acquiring a new social meaning.
Misquotation can lead to (22) .........., which is why careful (23) .......... is essential. The result is not simply a list of old terms, but a (24) .......... record of the communities that used them. Editors compare entries with spoken recordings whenever possible, since a written form can conceal pronunciation, hesitation and the subtle social signals that make a word meaningful to those who use it.
Each entry is discussed by editors with different areas of knowledge, since a term can appear transparent while carrying an older or more local sense. The archive also records uncertainty when evidence is incomplete, allowing later contributors to challenge an interpretation without erasing the earlier reasoning. This approach makes the dictionary useful as a history of investigation as well as a reference work for readers.
Question 17
LINGUIST
Exam guide & reading text▾
The work behind a dictionary — Part 3: Word Formation
"The work behind a dictionary" focuses on Word Formation (Part 3), where a base word in capitals must be transformed to fit a gap in the text. Cambridge tests prefixation, suffixation, internal changes and negative forms. Before writing, identify the word class required (noun, adjective, adverb or verb) and whether the sentence needs a negative or comparative form. Spelling accuracy matters — an otherwise correct stem with a typo scores zero.
From a (17) .......... perspective, the archive is a rich source of evidence. Even (18) .......... terms can reveal gaps in speakers’ (19) .......... of local vocabulary when they appear in personal letters or local notices. The material also shows the extraordinary (20) .......... of language: a phrase may remain (21) .......... while acquiring a new social meaning.
Misquotation can lead to (22) .........., which is why careful (23) .......... is essential. The result is not simply a list of old terms, but a (24) .......... record of the communities that used them. Editors compare entries with spoken recordings whenever possible, since a written form can conceal pronunciation, hesitation and the subtle social signals that make a word meaningful to those who use it.
Each entry is discussed by editors with different areas of knowledge, since a term can appear transparent while carrying an older or more local sense. The archive also records uncertainty when evidence is incomplete, allowing later contributors to challenge an interpretation without erasing the earlier reasoning. This approach makes the dictionary useful as a history of investigation as well as a reference work for readers.