Applied Linguistics – Concepts, Branches, ELT Applications (MCQ)
1. Applied Linguistics is best defined as the study of: (UGC NET 2017)
A) Language in its pure theoretical form only
B) Practical applications of linguistic theories to real-world problems
C) Historical change of languages
D) Only literary language
Ans: B) Practical applications of linguistic theories to real-world problems
2. Which of the following is a major area of Applied Linguistics? (PGTRB 2019)
A) English poetry analysis
B) Language teaching and learning
C) Astronomy
D) Organic chemistry
Ans: B) Language teaching and learning
3. The early growth of Applied Linguistics as a discipline is closely linked with: (SET 2018)
A) Machine translation only
B) Foreign language teaching after World War II
C) Historical linguistics
D) Stylistics of poetry
Ans: B) Foreign language teaching after World War II
4. Which association is internationally known for work in Applied Linguistics? (UGC NET 2016)
A) MLA
B) TESOL
C) IATEFL
D) AILA
Ans: D) AILA
5. AILA stands for: (SET 2019)
A) Association Internationale de Linguistique Appliquée
B) American Institute of Literary Analysis
C) Asian Institute of Language Arts
D) Applied Indian Linguistics Association
Ans: A) Association Internationale de Linguistique Appliquée
6. Which of the following is NOT typically considered an area of Applied Linguistics? (UGC NET 2018)
A) Forensic linguistics
B) Language testing
C) Language planning
D) Quantum physics
Ans: D) Quantum physics
7. “Contrastive Analysis” is primarily concerned with: (PGTRB 2018)
A) Comparing two literary genres
B) Systematic comparison of two languages
C) Comparing two exam papers
D) Comparing two teaching methods
Ans: B) Systematic comparison of two languages
8. Contrastive Analysis was once believed to: (SET 2017)
A) Predict all learner errors from L1–L2 differences
B) Remove the need for textbooks
C) Replace all translation
D) Eliminate the need for teachers
Ans: A) Predict all learner errors from L1–L2 differences
9. “Error Analysis” in Applied Linguistics focuses on: (UGC NET 2015)
A) Avoiding all learner errors
B) Classifying and explaining learner errors
C) Punishing mistakes
D) Ignoring learner performance
Ans: B) Classifying and explaining learner errors
10. In Error Analysis, “interlanguage” describes: (PGTRB 2020)
A) A perfect native-like grammar
B) Language used only in translation
C) Learner’s evolving system between L1 and L2
D) A secret code
Ans: C) Learner’s evolving system between L1 and L2
11. Applied Linguistics is most closely related to which field? (SET 2018)
A) Linguistics and education
B) Botany
C) Physics
D) Agriculture
Ans: A) Linguistics and education
12. Which branch of Applied Linguistics studies language and mind in learning? (UGC NET 2019)
A) Sociolinguistics
B) Psycholinguistics
C) Neurolinguistics
D) Stylistics
Ans: B) Psycholinguistics
13. Sociolinguistics contributes to Applied Linguistics by examining: (PGTRB 2017)
A) Atomic structure of language
B) Social factors affecting language use and learning
C) Only child language
D) Chemistry of sound
Ans: B) Social factors affecting language use and learning
14. Which area of Applied Linguistics deals with “first language influence on second language”? (SET 2016)
A) Historical linguistics
B) Language transfer studies
C) Corpus linguistics
D) Stylistics
Ans: B) Language transfer studies
15. Which of the following is an example of Applied Linguistics in ELT? (UGC NET 2018)
A) Discussing only Shakespeare’s sonnets
B) Designing communicative tasks based on discourse analysis
C) Memorising grammar rules without context
D) Learning spelling lists only
Ans: B) Designing communicative tasks based on discourse analysis
16. Language testing as an Applied Linguistics field is concerned with: (PGTRB 2021)
A) Writing poetry
B) Designing valid and reliable language exams
C) Decorating exam halls
D) Only oral storytelling
Ans: B) Designing valid and reliable language exams
17. A language test is said to be “valid” if it: (SET 2019)
A) Is very difficult
B) Measures what it claims to measure
C) Is very long
D) Has negative marking
Ans: B) Measures what it claims to measure
18. A “reliable” language test is one that: (UGC NET 2017)
A) Changes result every time
B) Gives consistent results over repeated administrations
C) Is corrected only once
D) Is very easy
Ans: B) Gives consistent results over repeated administrations
19. “Washback effect” in language testing refers to: (PGTRB 2019)
A) Cleaning the exam papers
B) Influence of testing on teaching and learning
C) Grammar drills only
D) Feedback after washing hands
Ans: B) Influence of testing on teaching and learning
20. “Language planning” in Applied Linguistics is mostly related to: (SET 2020)
A) Personal timetable of a teacher
B) Government decisions on official languages and language policy
C) Planning homework
D) Planning only pronunciation
Ans: B) Government decisions on official languages and language policy
21. Forensic linguistics, as a part of Applied Linguistics, deals with: (UGC NET 2019)
A) Literature criticism
B) Legal and criminal investigations using language evidence
C) Classroom seating arrangement
D) Child stories
Ans: B) Legal and criminal investigations using language evidence
22. Corpus Linguistics contributes to Applied Linguistics by: (SET 2018)
A) Ignoring real data
B) Using large electronic collections of texts to study language use
C) Avoiding computers
D) Focusing only on spelling rules
Ans: B) Using large electronic collections of texts to study language use
23. Which of the following best describes the relationship between Linguistics and Applied Linguistics? (UGC NET 2016)
A) They are identical
B) Applied Linguistics uses insights from Linguistics to solve practical problems
C) Applied Linguistics exists without Linguistics
D) They are unrelated fields
Ans: B) Applied Linguistics uses insights from Linguistics to solve practical problems
24. “Language acquisition” and “language learning” distinctions are mainly explored in: (PGTRB 2018)
A) Historical linguistics
B) Applied Linguistics and Psycholinguistics
C) Phonetics only
D) Stylistics
Ans: B) Applied Linguistics and Psycholinguistics
25. The study of “second language acquisition” (SLA) is considered: (SET 2019)
A) A central area of Applied Linguistics
B) A part of nuclear physics
C) Unrelated to teaching
D) Only literary criticism
Ans: A) A central area of Applied Linguistics
26. A typical research method in Applied Linguistics is: (UGC NET 2017)
A) Astrology chart reading
B) Classroom observation and learner data analysis
C) Palm reading
D) Coin tossing
Ans: B) Classroom observation and learner data analysis
27. Which type of research is common in Applied Linguistics? (PGTRB 2019)
A) Experimental and quasi-experimental studies
B) Only mythological studies
C) Purely fictional study
D) No research at all
Ans: A) Experimental and quasi-experimental studies
28. Needs analysis in Applied Linguistics is mainly used for: (SET 2020)
A) Exam invigilation
B) Designing courses based on learners’ goals and contexts
C) Marking attendance
D) Writing diaries
Ans: B) Designing courses based on learners’ goals and contexts
29. ESP (English for Specific Purposes) is an example of: (UGC NET 2018)
A) Applied Linguistics in professional domains
B) Folk studies
C) Only literature teaching
D) Pure phonology
Ans: A) Applied Linguistics in professional domains
30. Discourse analysis in Applied Linguistics examines: (PGTRB 2020)
A) Language beyond the sentence in real contexts
B) Only word spelling
C) Only isolated sounds
D) Only dictionaries
Ans: A) Language beyond the sentence in real contexts
31. Pragmatics, contributing to Applied Linguistics, studies: (SET 2017)
A) Word origins only
B) Meaning in context and language use
C) Only sounds
D) Only suffixes
Ans: B) Meaning in context and language use
32. In Applied Linguistics, “communicative competence” involves: (UGC NET 2016)
A) Only grammatical accuracy
B) Ability to use language appropriately in various contexts
C) Only pronunciation drills
D) Remembering rule names
Ans: B) Ability to use language appropriately in various contexts
33. Language policy and planning is often concerned with: (PGTRB 2021)
A) Individual hobbies
B) National and educational language choices
C) Only bedtime stories
D) Private diaries
Ans: B) National and educational language choices
34. Which statement is TRUE about Applied Linguistics? (SET 2019)
A) It is limited to teaching vocabulary lists
B) It is interdisciplinary and problem-oriented
C) It never uses empirical data
D) It ignores learners completely
Ans: B) It is interdisciplinary and problem-oriented
35. A “diagnostic test” in Applied Linguistics is used to: (UGC NET 2019)
A) Punish learners
B) Identify learners’ strengths and weaknesses
C) Award prizes only
D) Teach literature
Ans: B) Identify learners’ strengths and weaknesses
36. “Formative assessment” in Applied Linguistics-based pedagogy is: (SET 2021)
A) Assessment for learning during the course
B) Once-in-a-lifetime exam
C) Only final exam
D) No feedback at all
Ans: A) Assessment for learning during the course
37. “Summative assessment” primarily aims at: (PGTRB 2019)
A) Continuous feedback
B) Judging overall achievement at the end
C) Daily attendance
D) Peer gossip
Ans: B) Judging overall achievement at the end
38. In Applied Linguistics, “washback” is considered positive when: (UGC NET 2020)
A) Tests promote good teaching and learning practices
B) Tests cause anxiety only
C) Tests are secret
D) Tests confuse learners
Ans: A) Tests promote good teaching and learning practices
39. “Language attitude studies” in Applied Linguistics investigate: (SET 2020)
A) Weather reports
B) People’s beliefs and feelings about languages
C) Only phone numbers
D) Exam marks
Ans: B) People’s beliefs and feelings about languages
40. “Code-switching” studies in Applied Linguistics look at: (UGC NET 2018)
A) Changing TV channels
B) Alternating between languages in communication
C) Switching exam halls
D) Shifting seats
Ans: B) Alternating between languages in communication
41. In Applied Linguistics, “language disability/impairment” is studied under: (PGTRB 2020)
A) Neurolinguistics and Clinical Linguistics
B) Historical linguistics only
C) Phonetics lab only
D) Literary criticism
Ans: A) Neurolinguistics and Clinical Linguistics
42. A “corpus-based” study in Applied Linguistics will typically: (SET 2019)
A) Use invented examples only
B) Use large databases of real language
C) Avoid real texts
D) Ignore usage
Ans: B) Use large databases of real language
43. “Task-based language teaching” is informed by Applied Linguistics research on: (UGC NET 2021)
A) Pure literary theory
B) Meaning-focused interaction and SLA
C) Weather prediction
D) Business accounting
Ans: B) Meaning-focused interaction and SLA
44. “Communicative Language Teaching” as a movement is strongly connected with: (PGTRB 2021)
A) Applied Linguistics insights into communication and discourse
B) Only drilling
C) Only translation
D) Memorising rules
Ans: A) Applied Linguistics insights into communication and discourse
45. In Applied Linguistics research, “triangulation” refers to: (SET 2021)
A) Using three languages in class
B) Using multiple methods or data sources to confirm findings
C) Teaching only three skills
D) Testing three times a day
Ans: B) Using multiple methods or data sources to confirm findings
46. A key ethical concern in Applied Linguistics research is: (UGC NET 2020)
A) Hiding results from all
B) Informed consent and confidentiality of participants
C) Forcing learners to participate
D) Publishing without permission
Ans: B) Informed consent and confidentiality of participants
47. The “applied” in Applied Linguistics highlights: (PGTRB 2018)
A) Its purely theoretical role
B) Its focus on practical uses of language study
C) Its distance from real problems
D) Its link to only literature
Ans: B) Its focus on practical uses of language study
48. Which of the following classroom activities most clearly shows an Applied Linguistics influence? (SET 2020)
A) Random reading aloud
B) Task where learners negotiate meaning in pairs
C) Silent copying from board
D) Only chorus repetition
Ans: B) Task where learners negotiate meaning in pairs
49. Which statement summarises the scope of Applied Linguistics? (UGC NET 2019)
A) It is only about testing
B) It covers teaching, testing, planning, policy, translation and more
C) It deals only with dictionaries
D) It studies only poems
Ans: B) It covers teaching, testing, planning, policy, translation and more
50. Overall, Applied Linguistics helps teachers by: (PGTRB 2022)
A) Confusing them with theory only
B) Providing research-based principles to improve classroom practice
C) Replacing them with machines
D) Limiting their creativity
Ans: B) Providing research-based principles to improve classroom practice
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