ACT Compass ESL Practice Test

Category - ACT Compass ESL Practice Test

The Galician Language and Its Revitalization

Ever since the implementation of Galician as the primary language in the public school of Galicia in the early 1980’s, there has been an increase in number of speakers of this language. Observers have seen (1) “new speakers” use Galician, their (2) heritage language, during protests, theatrical skits, and other public events. However, more anthropological research needs to be done on how else the Galician language is being used by these so-called “new speakers”.
Galician-or galego(gah-lay-goh)-is the autochthonous, or native, language of the northwestern region of Spain known as Galicia. It is a language closely related to both Spanish and Portuguese-although it has closer linguistic ties to Portuguese when it is observed under the microscope of some linguists-and is spoken mainly by people who live in rural areas of the region. Although Galician is the co-official language of Galicia, Spanish is spoken by a higher number of (3) inhabitants since it is the language of the Spanish nation and the majority language in the (4) urban areas of Galicia, such as Vigo, Ourense, and A Coruña.
Although Spanish is the most commonly spoken language in Galicia (due to a larger urban rather than rural population), there is a new movement for urban youth toward adopting the language, and in some cases employing it in their every-day conversations (5) instead of Spanish. Because these urban youth typically have spoken mainly Spanish but have come to rely more and more on the use of Galician, they have been termed “new speakers”. It is thanks to these “new speakers” that Galician has recently enjoyed a growth in the number of people who choose to employ it in their daily lives rather than Spanish.



What is the main idea of this essay?
  1. Galician is the autochthonous, or native, language of Galicia.
  2. Galician has seen an increase in its number of speakers.
  3. Spanish is being spoken less by some speakers in Galicia.
  4. Galicia is a region in northwestern Spain where Galician is spoken.
Explanation
Answer: B - The main idea of the essay is that Galician has seen an increase in its number of speakers. While the essay does explain that “new speakers” area changing from speaking Spanish to speaking Galician, the essay begins and ends with how research shows an increase in number of speakers of Galician. Authors will often begin and end an essay with the main idea.
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