Question

Which of the following most logically completes the passage at the blank below? The English language, lacking the rigidity of most European tongues, has been bent and shaped in at least as many ways as there are countries or regions where it is spoken. Though purists often argue that "standard" English is spoken only in certain highminded enclaves of the American northeast, the fact is that it is the most widely used language in the world and is not likely to yield that distinction for a very long time, if ever. Nevertheless, A. it remains one of the most widely spoken languages throughout the world B. it can be understood in just about every corner of the globe C. even making allowances for regional peculiarities, English as it is spoken has been much abused in recent times D. though we may be proud of these facts, English remains one of the most difficult languages to master E. English, as it is spoken, lacks the rigidity of the classical and more historic European languages

Short answer

C. even making allowances for regional peculiarities, English as it is spoken has been much abused in recent times

Step-by-step solution

Understand the theme of the passage

Start by reading the text carefully to understand its main theme. The theme here is the flexibility of the English language as it is spoken in different regions worldwide. It speaks to the wide use and acceptance of English and challenges the argument that 'standard' English is spoken only in certain regions.

Evaluate the choices

Each choice must be evaluated against the information from the passage to see if it fits logically and coherently. Option (A) repeats the fact already mentioned in the passage, so it is not likely to be meaningful or expand upon the point raised. Option (B) doesn't add new information to the passage. Option (C) could be true, but this statement seems to criticize the English language, which does not align with the overall positive tone of the passage. Option (D), although it could also be true, does not follow directly from the statements earlier in the passage. Option (E) contradicts the very premise of the passage that English is not a rigid language.

Choose the most suitable answer

The right answer should logically and coherently complete the passage, align with its tone, and expand on the ideas already presented. After evaluating all the options, it can be inferred that Option (C) seems to best fit these criteria. It continues the discussion on the variance in English as it is spoken throughout the world and the consequences of this.