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British History

Which languages were the basis of modern English?

Question #1d0895a3 · British History
  1. Gaelic and Celtic
  2. Norman French and Celtic
  3. Celtic and Anglo Saxon
  4. Norman French and Anglo Saxon  ✓
Correct answer: D — After the Norman Conquest, the king and his noblemen had spoken Norman French and the peasants had continued to speak Anglo-Saxon. Gradually these two languages combined to become one English language.

Why this question matters

This question is drawn from the “A Long and Illustrious History” section of the official Home Office handbook. Topics from this chapter make up a significant portion of the 24 questions in the real exam, so being able to answer this one comfortably is a small but real step towards passing on the day.

The accepted answer is D: “Norman French and Anglo Saxon”. Memorise the underlying fact rather than the option letter — the order of options changes between attempts, and the real exam may rephrase the question.

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