Critical Analysis & Reasoning Skills Practice Questions: 17 | Critical Analysis & Reasoning Skills for MCAT PDF Download

If the use of nouns as verbs makes your toes curl, you're not alone in your preference for traditional language usage. However, it's important to note that even the great English writer William Shakespeare was known for creating words in this manner. He skillfully transformed nouns into verbs and verbs into adjectives, and many of his word conversions remain in our language today.

Shakespeare's famous clichés, phrases that have become proverbial expressions, are familiar to many of us. These expressions such as "break the ice," "give the devil his due," "heart of gold," "dead as a doornail," and "come full circle" are thanks to Shakespeare's linguistic contributions.

Determining which words were truly coined by Shakespeare and which were simply first recorded in his works is challenging. Many of his word creations appear to have roots in existing words but are used in a new grammatical form.

Some of the new words Shakespeare introduced were nouns derived from verbs. For instance, in Richard II, he used "accused" to refer to a person accused of a crime, a noun usage that hadn't appeared before. "Scuffle" in Antony and Cleopatra denotes a fight, derived from an existing verb. Shakespeare also formed new nouns by adding the noun-forming suffix "-ment" to familiar verbs, such as "amazement" and "excitement" found in several of his plays.

Changing nouns into verbs was more common for Shakespeare. He used "to blanket" in King Lear and "to champion" in Macbeth. "To petition" appears in Antony and Cleopatra, and "to humor" is found in Love's Labour's Lost. Other new verbs derived from existing nouns include "to lapse" (meaning "to fail"), "to cake" (meaning "to encrust"), and "to rival" (meaning "to compete with"). We can only speculate whether these word creations elicited the same discomfort that contemporary grammarians experience when encountering words like "to parent."

Some of Shakespeare's most successful coinages were descriptive in nature. He invented "raw-boned" in Henry VI (Part 1), a word that still effectively describes a certain type of man. Other hyphenated words he coined include "bold-faced" (from the same play), "cold-blooded" (from King John), "hot-blooded" (from The Merry Wives of Windsor), and "well-bred" (from Henry IV, Part 2).

Occasionally, Shakespeare borrowed words from other languages. For example, "alligator" from Spanish appears in Romeo and Juliet, "bandit" from Italian is found in Henry IV (Part 2), and "to negotiate" and "to denote" come from Latin.

However, not all of Shakespeare's coined words have stood the test of time. We no longer use "to friend" as a verb or refer to friends as "co-mates." The term "virgined" is no longer used to describe something that is secured, and a messy room is not called "indigest." Nonetheless, studying Shakespeare demonstrates how quickly a language can evolve and grow, highlighting the evolving nature of English from its inception.
Q.1. What is the main purpose of the passage?
(a) To argue against the use of nouns as verbs in the English language.
(b) To highlight William Shakespeare's influence on the evolution of the English language.
(c) To provide examples of clichés derived from Shakespeare's works.
(d) To discuss the controversy surrounding Shakespeare's word creations.

Correct Answer is Option (b)
The main purpose of the passage is to highlight William Shakespeare's impact on the evolution of the English language. It discusses his ability to coin words, transform nouns into verbs, and create new linguistic expressions. Therefore, choice B is the correct answer.

Q.2. According to the passage, why do some people dislike nouns being used as verbs?
(a) They believe it contradicts traditional grammar rules.
(b) They consider it a form of linguistic snobbery.
(c) They find it difficult to understand the intended meaning.
(d) They think it is a recent phenomenon with no historical precedent.

Correct Answer is Option (a)
The passage mentions that some people dislike nouns being used as verbs because it contradicts traditional grammar rules. These individuals may prefer the strict separation of word categories and find such linguistic adaptations as unconventional. Therefore, choice A is the correct answer.

Q.3. How does the passage describe Shakespeare's word creations?
(a) They are mostly original and have no previous examples.
(b) They are predominantly derived from words with familiar roots.
(c) They are entirely borrowed from other languages.
(d) They are primarily adjectives formed from nouns.

Correct Answer is Option (a)
The passage describes Shakespeare's word creations as mostly derived from words with familiar roots. While it is challenging to determine which words are truly original to Shakespeare, many of his coinages appear to have familiar origins but are used in new grammatical forms. Therefore, choice B is the correct answer.

Q.4. Which of the following is an example of Shakespeare borrowing a word from another language?
(a) "Scuffle" in Antony and Cleopatra.
(b) "Raw-boned" in Henry VI (Part 1).
(c) "To blanket" in King Lear.
(d) "To humor" in Love's Labour's Lost.

Correct Answer is Option (a)
The passage states that Shakespeare occasionally borrowed words from other languages. The example given is "alligator" from Spanish, which appears in Romeo and Juliet. Therefore, choice A is the correct answer.

Q.5. What does the passage imply about language evolution?
(a) Language evolution is driven by linguistic snobbery.
(b) Language evolution is influenced by traditional grammar rules.
(c) Language evolution can involve the creation of new words and changes in word usage.
(d) Language evolution is hindered by the preservation of clichés.

Correct Answer is Option (c)
The passage implies that language evolution involves the creation of new words and changes in word usage. It highlights Shakespeare's role in transforming nouns into verbs and verbs into adjectives, which contributed to the growth and evolution of the English language. Therefore, choice C is the correct answer.