Angela Harmon
1Many of the words found in the English language can be traced to other languages from countries throughout the world. You use many of these words each day, but you may not realize their origins. During a typical day, you encounter foods, objects, and other items that get their names from foreign languages.
2You most likely start your day in your bedroom, where you’ll find many objects whose names have foreign origins. You probably wake up each morning wearing a pair of pajamas, snuggled up under your duvet. The word duvet, which is a type of blanket, is French, and the word pajamas comes from a word in the Persian language. Next, you groggily trudge over to your armoire—a French word that describes a piece of furniture used to hold clothing—and choose an outfit for the day. From the armoire, you might pull out a bolero, which is a Spanish word for a short jacket.
3Delicious smells come from the kitchen, where your dad prepares a breakfast burrito made with eggs, cheese, peppers, and beans, wrapped in a flour tortilla. The words burrito and tortilla are of Spanish origin. Although when you think of the word tortilla, you picture a round, flat bread, people living in Spain have a different definition for the word. In Spain, a tortilla is an egg dish similar to an omelet in France or a frittata in Italy.
4You join your family to dine on the porch, which is similar to a patio in Spain. If you were in Hawaii, you would be eating on the lanai, and if you were in India, a Hindi speaking country, you would be eating on the veranda.
5After you finish your burrito, you grab your backpack off the couch or sofa—which is comes from the Italian language—and hurry to catch the bus.
6Before you know it, it’s time for lunch, and you join your clique—a French term for group—at the lunch table. The cafeteria, which would only serve coffee in Spain, is serving hot dogs—also known as frankfurters in Germany. Other items such as tofu stir-fry are on the menu. The word tofu, which describes a cake made of bean curd, comes from the Japanese language. Since you are a vegetarian, you pass on the hot dogs and roast beef, and opt for the stir-fry. Most stir-fry dishes are cooked in a wok, a word related to the Chinese word wohk.
7Finally, you sit down to enjoy your meal. Although you are only halfway through your day, you have already encountered many words from around the world.
Question
The answer choices describe four articles which have the same subject as this passage. Which one has the same PURPOSE as this passage?
Responses
A a scientific treatise detailing when, where, and how foreign words have entered into the English languagea scientific treatise detailing when, where, and how foreign words have entered into the English language
B a comic essay mocking the way English is actually a derivative and inferior language compared to other onesa comic essay mocking the way English is actually a derivative and inferior language compared to other ones
C an expository essay about how many English words we use each day actually come from other languages and culturesan expository essay about how many English words we use each day actually come from other languages and cultures
D an argumentative essay lamenting how corrupted the English language has become due to the influence of foreign language
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The passage discusses the origins of various English words that are used in daily life, highlighting their foreign language roots in an informative manner. Given the options provided, the choice that has the same purpose as the passage is:
C. an expository essay about how many English words we use each day actually come from other languages and cultures.
This choice aligns with the purpose of the passage in explaining the influence of foreign languages on everyday English vocabulary.
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