Latin and French phrases used in English

Grade 11 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Story

   The mayor argued that because the stadium had sold out twice, the library needed no new funding. Critics called the argument a non sequitur, since ticket sales say nothing about what a library needs.

2. 1.

   Ari reads a city-council story. In this sentence, what does non sequitur mean?

   • A claim that looks true at first glance and needs no further proof.
   • A conclusion that does not follow from the reason given for it.
   • A series of events listed out of order.
   • A funding request that cannot be checked.
3. 2.

   Owning a drone is not illegal per se; flying one over a crowded stadium is. Bo reads a ruling. In this sentence, what does per se add?

   • Owning a drone, taken by itself, is not the offense.
   • Owning a drone is not illegal in any place or case.
   • Owning a drone is not illegal unless a crowd is present.
   • Owning a drone is not illegal for each person who owns one.

4. Audit report

   The auditor compared the three branches and found one modus operandi: each skipped the monthly count and relied on the manager's memory.

5. 3.

   Esme reads an audit report. In this sentence, what does modus operandi mean?

   • A habitual way of doing a job.
   • A failure to count stock at month's end.
   • A modest budget for running the branch.
   • The branch's reason for existing.

6. Profile

   The senator returned to her alma mater to give the commencement speech, then toured the library where she had once worked.

7. 4.

   Jun reads a profile. In this sentence, what does alma mater mean?

   • The school or college a person graduated from.
   • A degree awarded with the highest honors.
   • The senator's mother, who taught at the college.
   • The library where the senator once worked.

8. Entry (our words)

   Carte blanche [French carte, "paper"; blanche, "blank"] noun. Full freedom to act as one thinks best. Example: The board gave the director carte blanche to redesign the program.

9. 5.

   Kira reads a dictionary entry. Which note uses the entry correctly?

   • French; carte means paper and blanche means blank; today the phrase means an empty sheet of paper.
   • French; carte means paper and blanche means blank; today the phrase means full freedom to act.
   • French; carte means card game and blanche means white; today the phrase means full freedom to act.
   • Latin; carte means paper and blanche means blank; today the phrase means full freedom to act.

10. Entry (our words)

    Bona fide [Latin bona, "good"; fide, "faith"] adjective. Genuine; done in good faith. Example: The museum would not buy the painting until a bona fide expert had confirmed it.

11. 6.

    Luz reads a dictionary entry. Which note uses the entry correctly?

    • French; bona means good and fide means faith; today the phrase means genuine.
    • Latin; bona means good and fide means faith; today the phrase means a sincere religious belief.
    • Latin; bona means good and fide means faith; today the phrase means genuine.
    • Latin; bona means large and fide means faith; today the phrase means genuine.

12. Entry (our words)

    Terra firma [Latin terra, "land"; firma, "firm"] noun. Solid ground, as opposed to water or air. Example: After three days at sea, the crew stepped onto terra firma again.

13. 7.

    Noah reads a dictionary entry. Which note uses the entry correctly?

    • Latin; terra means fear and firma means firm; today the phrase means solid ground.
    • French; terra means land and firma means firm; today the phrase means solid ground.
    • Latin; terra means land and firma means firm; today the phrase means solid ground.
    • Latin; terra means land and firma means firm; today the phrase means a firm land purchase.

14. Profile

    The new ambassador's ___ was clear at the reception: she knew whom to seat together, when to change the subject and how to thank a host without fuss.

15. 8.

    Ren finishes a profile sentence. Which phrase fits the blank?

    • noblesse oblige
    • savoir-faire
    • terra firma
    • joie de vivre

16. News

    The new owners promised to keep the ___ at the bakery: the same recipes, the same hours and the same staff.

17. 9.

    Tala finishes a news sentence. Which phrase fits the blank?

    • quid pro quo
    • status quo
    • terra firma
    • de facto
18. 10.

    The reporter's notes were copied ___ from the recording, with each pause and false start left in. Zee finishes a newsroom sentence. Which phrase fits the blank?

    • in toto
    • ad hoc
    • sic
    • verbatim