Question

Task 12. Decide whether these statements are true or false: Foreign languages are absolutely unnecessary nowadays. Learning a foreign language is quick and easy. Knowledge of a foreign language makes our intellectual and cultural horizons wider. Any translation loses some bits of the original information. If you wish to communicate with an Englishman you will have to go to England. The word 'study' comes from Old Greek 'esudie' meaning 'zeal, affection, painstaking application'. Human nature is so inexplicable. In English an adjective 'earnest' and the proper name 'Ernest' are pronounced the same way. No doubt, in the days of old people took studies more seriously than their descendants do nowadays.

Answer 1

1 False

2 False

3 true

4 true

5 False

6 False

7 true

8  False

9 true

Answer 2

To evaluate the statements, I'll go through each one and determine whether they are true or false based on the general knowledge up to my cutoff date in September 2021.

1. Foreign languages are absolutely unnecessary nowadays. False. Foreign languages are still valuable in today's interconnected world. Knowing a foreign language can provide various advantages, such as improved communication with people from different cultures, enhanced career opportunities, and a broader understanding of the world.

2. Learning a foreign language is quick and easy. False. Learning a foreign language can be a challenging and time-consuming process, especially for adults. While some individuals may pick up languages more easily than others, it generally requires consistent effort, practice, and dedication to become proficient.

3. Knowledge of a foreign language makes our intellectual and cultural horizons wider. True. Learning a foreign language indeed expands our intellectual and cultural horizons. It allows us to access literature, media, and perspectives from different cultures, which enhances our understanding of the world and fosters empathy and open-mindedness.

4. Any translation loses some bits of the original information. True. It is a well-known fact that translations can never perfectly capture all the nuances and cultural context of the original text. Translators often face challenges in conveying certain elements, wordplay, or cultural references from one language to another.

5. If you wish to communicate with an Englishman, you will have to go to England. False. In the modern world, there are various means of communication that allow people to interact with each other across different countries and continents. With technology, it is not necessary to travel to a specific country to communicate with its inhabitants.

6. The word 'study' comes from Old Greek 'esudie,' meaning 'zeal, affection, painstaking application.' False. The word "study" actually comes from the Old French term "estudier" which means "to study" or "to devote oneself to learning." It does not have its origins in the Greek language.

7. Human nature is so inexplicable. True. Human nature is complex and multifaceted, making it difficult to fully understand and explain. It involves a wide range of emotions, behaviors, and motivations that can vary from person to person and across different cultures and contexts.

8. In English, an adjective 'earnest' and the proper name 'Ernest' are pronounced the same way. False. In English, the adjective "earnest" and the proper name "Ernest" are pronounced differently. "Earnest" is pronounced "UR-nist," while the name "Ernest" is pronounced "UR-nest."

9. No doubt, in the days of old, people took studies more seriously than their descendants do nowadays. False. This statement cannot be universally true. Attitudes toward education and studying have varied throughout history and across different societies. While there may be instances of individuals valuing education more in the past, it is not accurate to generalize and say that all people today take studies less seriously.

Overall, it's essential to recognize that some statements are subjective and may depend on specific contexts or individual perspectives.