Page 62 - READING COMPANION TO ENGLISH EXAMS

Answer the questions 30–32 according to the
passage below.

The Viking Age is frequently linked with images of 31. Which of the following is true about the Old
fierce warriors and merciless attackers, but there Norse language?
is more than meets the eye with this fascinating A) The English language is believed to have
period in history. The Vikings, who were from originated from it.
Scandinavia, what is now Norway, Denmark,
and Sweden, were a group of seafaring raiders B) It was originally spoken by the British and
and traders that existed between the 8 and 11 Irish people in ancient times.
th
th
centuries. The lack of cultivable land and the C) There were multiple dialects of it spoken on
high population density in Scandinavia forced the European continent.
the Vikings to leave their homeland and search
for alternate territories to settle and sustain their D) It played a significant role in the development
livelihood. Initially, their attention was directed of modern European languages.
towards neighbouring and well-known regions E) It continues to serve as a viable means of
like Britain and Ireland. However, subsequently, communication in the modern era.
they crossed a substantial part of the North
Atlantic, reaching as far south as North Africa
and east as Russia. Consequently, the Vikings
were considered pioneers in exploring and
visiting all four continents of Europe, Asia,
Africa, and America. Apart from that, they were
a complex and multifaceted people with a rich
cultural heritage. Their influence on European
culture and civilisation was noteworthy as they
introduced new customs, languages, and ideas
to the continent. One of their most significant
contributions was the Old Norse language,
which served as the basis for many modern
Scandinavian languages, such as Swedish,
Danish, and Norwegian, and still has a significant
impact on the English language today.

30. According to the passage, the Vikings ----. 32. According to the passage, why did the Vikings
leave their homeland initially?
A) left their original land and created new
communities in Norway, Denmark, and A) They felt the need to conquer new territories,
Sweden as they were fierce warriors and merciless
attackers.
B) were a minority group of traders, originated
from the Scandinavian region B) They were attracted by the nearby and
famous areas such as Britain and Ireland.
C) possessed great navigation skills, which
allowed them to travel and trade across vast C) They were looking for land that could be
distances used for farming so that they could support
themselves.
D) were fierce warriors and showed no mercy
towards their enemies D) They wanted to discover new lands and visit
places that they had never been to before.
E) gained a great deal of knowledge and
understanding from the culture and E) They wanted to explore the culture and
civilisation of Europe civilisation of Europe with the aim of
discovering new customs and ideas.

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