Sample questions – syntax exam

Task one (15 questions)
For each question below circle the correct answer. In each case only one answer is correct.

1. We have argued that the word unlockable is two-way ambiguous for structural reasons.
Which of the words below is ambiguous in the same way:
A. undeniable

B. unloadable

C. unstoppable

D. unbridgeable

2. In the sentence below all of the words have been consecutively numbered from (1) to (4).
Bulldogs bulldogs fight fight.
(1) (2) (3) (4)
For this sentence to remain meaningful, which of the following changes is NOT possible:
A. adding the to word (1)

B. adding the to word (2)

C. replacing (3) with fought

D replacing (4) with fights

3. What are the initial settings of the Pro-drop parameter for Polish and English, as predicted
by the No-Negative Evidence Hypothesis?
A. [+] for Polish, [ –] for English

B. [ –] for Polish, [+] for English

C. [–] for Polish and English

D. [+] for Polish and English

4. In Schmenglish, which is like English in every other respect, the AUX component requires
the PROGR node to precede (=come before) the PERF node. What is the Schmenglish for I
might have been dreaming?
A. I might be having dreamt.

B. I may had being dream.

C. I might being have dreamt.

D. I may having been dream.

(…)

15. Choose the pair of words that can illustrate the relation of polysemy in Polish:
A. zamek ( w drzwiach) – zamek (budowla) B. kopia (broń) – kopia (tekst)
C. może - morze

D. rodzina (krewni) – rodzina (krukowatych)

Task two
Provide three examples of your own which reflect the conceptual metaphor Time is money /
Czas to pieniądz. Use examples from English and/or Polish.

Task three
Which specific syntactic ability (aspect of your overall syntactic competence) is involved in
the interpretation of the sentence The students promised the teachers to behave themselves as
opposed to The students told the teachers to behave themselves?

Task four
Draw a detailed deep structure tree diagram for the sentence below. Indicate with arrows what
moves where in the derivation process. Do not forget to represent the structure of the AUX
component.

Mary had been being followed.