Question

The proliferation of colloquialisms is degrading the English Language. A phrase such as she was like, "no
way!” you know? - a meaningless collection of English words just a few decades ago - is commonly
understood by most today to mean she was doubtful. No language can admit imprecise word usage on a
large scale without a corresponding decrease in quality.

The argument relies on which of the following assumptions?

• A. Colloquialisms always evolve out of a meaningless collection of words.
• B. Many colloquialisms that appeared in earlier forms of the English language disappeared over time as the people who used those particular phrasing were assimilated into larger groups with different language patterns.
• C. Dissemination of a new word or phrase by the mass media is an important factor in whether or not the new word or phrase will become a colloquialism.
• D. Colloquialisms are more likely to be coined by the youth in a culture than by any other segment of the population.

Answer 1

The correct option is B

Many colloquialisms that appeared in earlier forms of the English language disappeared over time as the people who used those particular phrasing were assimilated into larger groups with different language patterns.

How's that for eloquence? The strange part is that most of us really have no problem understanding the meaning of this phrase. Which is, in fact, the author's belied in the stimulus. He gets right to the point: the conclusion that the increase in colloquialisms degrades the English language.