Lesson SL-E2

SL-E2 Intelligible, formal language for the setting Quiz: AQA English Language, Unit 4

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson SL-E2, Intelligible, formal language for the setting: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA GCSE English Language (8700), Unit 4: Spoken language, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What does 'intelligible' mean in the context of spoken language?

    • Able to be understood by the listener, through clear pronunciation, pace and organisation of speech
    • Able to be recorded clearly on a device, regardless of whether the audience can follow the speech at all
    • Able to be read aloud only by experts, using specialist terms that are rarely heard in everyday speech
    • Able to be spoken very quickly, so that the audience cannot easily identify any individual word used

  2. Which feature most helps a speaker be intelligible to a large audience?

    • Speaking with a heavy accent throughout, so that the audience understands that the speaker is unique
    • Speaking in a whisper, so that the audience must lean in and concentrate closely on every word spoken
    • Speaking very fast, so that the audience hears more words in the time available to listen carefully
    • Speaking at a steady pace, with clear pronunciation and a voice that carries to the back of the room

  3. What does 'language appropriate to the formal setting' mean for a presentation?

    • Vocabulary and tone that match the speaker's everyday chat with friends at lunch, to feel natural
    • Vocabulary chosen to shock the audience, so that they remember the speaker's presentation later
    • Vocabulary taken only from the audience's social media posts, so that the talk feels current
    • Vocabulary and tone suited to a serious occasion, with respect shown to the audience throughout

  4. A speaker uses 'gonna' and 'stuff' throughout a formal talk. What is the likely effect?

    • The language will have no effect on the assessment, since vocabulary is not part of the criteria
    • The language will make the talk clearer, since everyday words are always easier to understand
    • The language will be seen as correct, since these words are used widely in all forms of speech
    • The language may be seen as too informal for the formal setting of the presentation

  5. Which of these is an intelligible sentence for a formal audience?

    • The project was completed on time, and the team then presented its findings to the board
    • Team project, time, board, findings, done, you know what I mean, all of it, yeah
    • Proj done on time, team did the presenting to the board, findings stuff, got it, yeah
    • The project done, on time, we then, you know, did the thing with the findings for the board

  6. Which feature of organisation supports intelligibility in a spoken explanation?

    • Giving the conclusion first and then all the evidence in a jumble with no link between the parts
    • Using long lists of unconnected words in place of sentences, so the listener hears more words each minute
    • Signposting the sequence of points so the listener can follow the reasoning from one step to the next
    • Mixing several unrelated topics in the same sentence, so that the listener must sort them out alone

  7. Which action best supports a formal tone during a presentation?

    • Using sarcasm about the topic so that the audience understands that the speaker is above the subject
    • Addressing the audience by first names only, with casual remarks about their personal lives in between
    • Addressing the audience respectfully, using full sentences and measured language throughout the talk
    • Using heavy slang and emojis on a slide, so that the presentation stays relevant to young listeners

  8. Why must spoken language be intelligible to the audience?

    • Because intelligible speech is needed only when the examiner is in the room, not for the audience
    • Because an audience that cannot understand the speaker cannot follow or benefit from the presentation
    • Because intelligibility removes the need for any structure, since the audience understands everything anyway
    • Because an unintelligible talk is always given a higher grade, since the examiner cannot follow it either

  9. Which choice best matches the formal setting of a school council meeting?

    • Using only a single word for each point, so that the meeting finishes as quickly as possible
    • Using a dialect that the council members do not understand, so that they must ask for a translation
    • Using slang and abbreviations, since council members are busy and want the information quickly
    • Using precise, respectful language and explaining any term that the council members may not know

  10. Which of these is a reason a speaker should pause between points?

    • To make the talk longer, so that the speaker can fit more content into the time allowed for it
    • To stop the audience from asking any questions, since pauses discourage listeners from speaking
    • To give the audience time to absorb one point before moving on to the next, aiding intelligibility
    • To show the audience that the speaker has forgotten the next point and needs to look at the notes

  11. Which phrase is most appropriate for introducing a summary in a formal presentation?

    • So yeah, to sum up the whole thing, the main stuff was the three bits I mentioned earlier, right
    • Basically, the big takeaway is the three things, so yeah, that is pretty much it, cheers everyone
    • To summarise the main points, I would like to return to the three findings I set out at the start
    • Okay, so, like, the summary is the three things, and that's about it, I reckon, more or less

  12. What is the difference between 'formal' and 'informal' spoken language in terms of word choice?

    • Formal language uses no vocabulary from everyday speech at all, which makes it harder to understand
    • Formal language tends to use precise, standard vocabulary, while informal language uses more casual words
    • Formal language uses slang from the same era as the speaker, to show the speaker is up to date
    • Formal language uses only long words, while informal language uses only short words in every sentence

  13. A speaker is nervous and speaks very quietly. Which criterion is most at risk?

    • Being audible, which is a general criterion that every grade must meet in the assessment
    • Engaging the audience with a range of strategies, which is a criterion that applies only to the teacher
    • Responding perceptively to feedback, which is a criterion that only applies to the Distinction grade
    • Using a sophisticated repertoire of vocabulary, which is a criterion assessed only in written work

  14. Which phrase is intelligible and formal when introducing a point?

    • I would now like to turn to the second point, which concerns the cost of the scheme
    • Next up, the cost, the money bit, yeah, which is like point two, or whatever, cool
    • OK, so, next, the cost stuff, which I think is number two, or was it three, anyway
    • Right, next point, the cost thing, which is, like, the second one or something, yeah

  15. Which speaking habit reduces intelligibility most?

    • Speaking clearly with short pauses after key points so that the audience can follow the reasoning
    • Looking up at the audience while speaking so that the words carry clearly to the back of the room
    • Mumbling the ends of words and speaking so quickly that the audience cannot pick out key terms
    • Using an even pace and emphasising the key terms so that they are easy for the audience to catch

  16. What does a formal register usually avoid in spoken presentations?

    • Slang, text-speak and emotional asides that do not contribute to the content of the talk
    • Clear signposting of the main points so that the audience can follow the sequence of the talk
    • Respectful forms of address that acknowledge the audience and the setting of the presentation
    • Precise vocabulary and technical terms that are explained for the audience to understand clearly

  17. Which example shows a speaker combining intelligibility with formal language?

    • First, the sample, mate, it got bigger, like loads bigger, and that is the main bit, cheers
    • Right, so the first thing, which is kind of a biggish finding, like, the sample is a fifth bigger
    • The first finding was clear: the sample grew by a fifth, and I will explain why that matters
    • The first finding, yeah, that sample thing went up loads, which is well important, innit, so there

  18. Which of these best describes the expectation for language in a formal spoken presentation?

    • Language that avoids any structure, so that the presentation flows naturally from one idea to the next
    • Language that is as sophisticated as possible in every sentence, with no clear explanation to listeners
    • Language that matches the audience's slang precisely, so that listeners feel they belong in the room
    • Language that is intelligible and generally appropriate to the formal setting of the talk

  19. A speaker uses a dialect word that the audience may not know. What is the best approach?

    • Use the dialect word in every sentence to show the speaker's roots, whatever the audience thinks
    • Repeat the dialect word several times, since the audience will learn its meaning by hearing it often
    • Replace it with a Standard English word, or explain the term briefly, so the audience can follow
    • Leave the word unexplained, as the audience is expected to know every dialect word that is used

  20. Which example best shows language suited to a formal presentation about a hospital service?

    • The service is dead good, it helps folks out loads, and the waiting thing is way better now, yeah
    • The service is sound, mate, and patients aren't stuck waiting around forever no more, cheers
    • The hospital thing is sorted, like, people get seen quicker now, which is pretty decent, innit
    • The service supports patients by reducing waiting times and improving the flow of appointments

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