Latin and French phrases used in English
Grade 11 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence
Circle the best answer.
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.
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 funding request that cannot be checked.
- A series of events listed out of order.
- A conclusion that does not follow from the reason given for it.
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 is not illegal for each person who owns one.
- Owning a drone, taken by itself, is not the offense.
- Owning a drone is not illegal unless a crowd is present.
- Owning a drone is not illegal in any place or case.
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.
Esme reads an audit report. In this sentence, what does modus operandi mean?
- A modest budget for running the branch.
- The branch's reason for existing.
- A habitual way of doing a job.
- A failure to count stock at month's end.
Profile
The senator returned to her alma mater to give the commencement speech, then toured the library where she had once worked.
Jun reads a profile. In this sentence, what does alma mater mean?
- A degree awarded with the highest honors.
- The school or college a person graduated from.
- The senator's mother, who taught at the college.
- The library where the senator once worked.
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.
Kira reads a dictionary entry. Which note uses the entry correctly?
- French; carte means paper and blanche means blank; today the phrase means full freedom to act.
- Latin; carte means paper and blanche means blank; today the phrase means full freedom to act.
- French; carte means paper and blanche means blank; today the phrase means an empty sheet of paper.
- French; carte means card game and blanche means white; today the phrase means full freedom to act.
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.
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 large and fide means faith; today the phrase means genuine.
- Latin; bona means good and fide means faith; today the phrase means genuine.
Entry (our words)
Ad lib [Latin ad libitum, "at one's pleasure"] verb. To speak or play without a script or plan. Example: When the microphone failed, the host had to ad lib for ten minutes.
Milo reads a dictionary entry. Which note uses the entry correctly?
- Latin; the full phrase means at one's pleasure; today it means to improvise without a script.
- French; the full phrase means at one's pleasure; today it means to improvise without a script.
- Latin; the full phrase means at a library; today it means to improvise without a script.
- Latin; the full phrase means at one's pleasure; today it means to do whatever pleases oneself.
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.
Noah reads a dictionary entry. Which note uses the entry correctly?
- Latin; terra means land and firma means firm; today the phrase means a firm land purchase.
- French; terra means land and firma means firm; today the phrase means solid ground.
- Latin; terra means fear and firma means firm; today the phrase means solid ground.
- Latin; terra means land and firma means firm; today the phrase means solid ground.
News
The new owners promised to keep the ___ at the bakery: the same recipes, the same hours and the same staff.
Tala finishes a news sentence. Which phrase fits the blank?
- terra firma
- status quo
- quid pro quo
- de facto
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?
- ad hoc
- sic
- verbatim
- in toto