MID SEMESTER TEST

SEMANTICS & PRAGMATICS

2 credits
150 minutes

I. Explain the Truth Relations in the following sentences. (20 points)

1. a. I swept the floor.
b. The floor was clean.
2. You must run away from this town or the police will catch you.
3. Michael will see a doctor on Saturday or Monday.
4. John will be happy if and only if he is able to win the race.
5. a. Shanti’s uncle bought a beautiful large house last month.
b. Shanti has an uncle.

II. What a lexeme means depends on what it occurs with and also what it contrasts with. What
colors does red contrast with in these collocations? (18 points)
1. a red apple
2. a red traffic light
3. a red line

III. What kind of antonyms that are found in the following pairs? Explain. (6 points)
a.pass and fail
b. hit and miss
c.employer and employee
d. much and little
e.possible and impossible
f. take and give

IV. Analyze the structural ambiguity found in the following sentences. (20 points)
a. This is a new government’s decision.
b. The participants are old men and women.
c. Joseph picked up a man with a broken leg.
d. The sick pet was taken to a small animal hospital.
e. The postman left a letter and a package for Jennifer.
.
V. Explain the meaning of the adjective “happy” in the following phrases. (12 points)
a. a happy drama
b. a happy student
c. a happy life

VI. What kind of figurative language used in the following sentences. (24 points)
a. The hockey player lost his control when the puck ran across the ice.
b. The snow on the ski hill was powdered sugar.
c. The coach was as upset as a lion when his team lost the game.
d. Freddy French fired five fabulous free throws.
e. The snowmobile was a rocket in the newly fallen snow.
f. The running shoes danced as the runner neared the finish line.
g. “Bang!” went the gun as the race started.
h. Steven boxes in the light-heavyweight division.
i. Spotlighting several special sports shows seems significant for TV.
j. After the marathon, the runner was thirsty enough to drink the ocean.
k. The golf ball walked gently into the ninth hole.
l. The team members remained as cool as cucumbers after the game.