NEW TOEFL Reading Practice Test #7

Explanation:

The passage states: "Linguists estimate that there are approximately 7,000 languages currently spoken worldwide, though this number is difficult to determine precisely due to debates about what constitutes a distinct language versus a dialect." This explicitly identifies the language-versus-dialect distinction as the source of difficulty, making option B correct. Option A might seem plausible but is not mentioned in the passage as a reason for the difficulty. Option C is not stated or implied. Option D is also not mentioned; the passage actually discusses language extinction rather than creation. The passage points to a definitional problem rather than a practical problem of documentation or counting.

Explanation:

The passage introduces "existential threat" and immediately follows with: "Researchers predict that between fifty and ninety percent of currently spoken languages will become extinct by the end of this century." The connection between "existential threat" and potential extinction makes clear that existential means relating to existence or survival. An existential threat is one that threatens the very existence of something. Options A (minor) and B (temporary) are contradicted by the severity described. Option D (political) doesn't capture the meaning; while politics may contribute to the threat, existential specifically refers to the threat to the languages' continued existence. The discussion of extinction and death throughout the paragraph reinforces that this is a threat to survival.

Explanation:

The passage explains: "This shift often happens because speakers perceive economic, educational, or social advantages in abandoning minority languages." This indicates that the perception of advantages in dominant languages drives the shift, making option A correct. Option B is not mentioned as a reason. Option C is not discussed in the passage. Option D is also not stated as the primary reason. The passage emphasizes that the shift is driven by perceived benefits of dominant languages rather than by inherent problems with minority languages. The word "perceive" is important because it indicates that speakers believe there are advantages, whether or not those advantages actually materialize.

Explanation:

The passage states: "When a language dies, unique knowledge about local ecology, traditional medicine, oral history, and cultural practices often dies with it, as this knowledge is deeply embedded in linguistic structures and may not translate fully into other languages." This emphasizes that cultural knowledge embedded in language is lost, supporting option B. Option A is explicitly contradicted by the passage, which says "The loss of a language represents more than just the disappearance of words and grammar rules." Option C is not discussed; the passage focuses on traditional and cultural knowledge, not modern technology. Option D is illogical; speakers of extinct languages typically shift to other languages, so they don't lose the ability to communicate entirely.

Explanation:

The final sentence states: "While language change and evolution are natural processes, the current rate of language extinction is unprecedented and primarily driven by political and economic pressures rather than natural linguistic evolution." This directly characterizes the current rate as unprecedented and politically/economically driven, making option B correct. Option A is contradicted by the passage, which distinguishes between natural evolution and the current situation. Option C is not stated or implied; the passage focuses on what is lost, not benefits. Option D is contradicted by the passage, which presents the predictions of language extinction as serious scholarly findings, not exaggerations. The passage's use of "unprecedented" emphasizes that this is an unusual and concerning rate of change.