Homonyms: English is a vibrant, changing, dynamic language. It allows people to express their thoughts in diverse ways, as there are many synonyms and antonyms to choose from. The hardest part for the English speaker—or those learning English as a second language—
is learning about homonyms. These are words that sound alike but are spelled different ways, with different meanings.
One example is 'Our'. This word, spelled 'one' means the numeral 1, an amount. If spelled 'won,' it means to be victorious. Now words spelling is a difficult skill to master.
Other homonyms encountered by the beginning English speaker are 'To, two, too,' 'four, for, fore,' 'there, their, they're' and 'son, sun' to name just a few. This is one reason that 'spell check' programs on word processing computers cannot be completely accurate, because the way a word is spelled depends on the context of the sentence. Proofreaders will always be in demand.
What inference can be drawn from the article?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: English is a difficult language to master. The rationale behind this is based on the content of the article, which highlights the challenges of learning English, particularly in relation to homonyms. The article mentions that homonyms, words that sound alike but are spelled differently with different meanings, pose a challenge for English speakers and learners. It emphasizes that mastering words' spelling can be difficult. This indicates that English is not an easy language to learn, as highlighted by the complexities of homonyms and spelling variations.
Choice A is incorrect because the article does not explicitly state that English should be learned by all people. Choice B is incorrect as the article emphasizes that spelling, especially with homonyms, is a difficult skill to master. Choice C is incorrect as the article does not focus on the use of spell check programs but rather on the challenges of spelling and homonyms in English.
Nokea