Understanding Conversational Implications Practice Quiz (5 questions)

All questions and answers

1. When asked, “Did you like my presentation?”, someone replies, “I liked the slides.” What does this answer indicate?

The speaker liked the slides, but may not have liked the presentation overall.
The speaker did not watch the presentation, but saw its slides.
The speaker liked the presentation overall because the slides were clear.
The speaker disliked the slides, but liked the presentation overall.

The speaker liked the slides, but may not have liked the presentation overall.

Explanation

The reply directly expresses approval of the slides without establishing an opinion about the entire presentation. Liking the slides does not, by itself, show that the speaker liked the presentation overall.

2. In “She is a lawyer, so she is rich,” what relationship does “so” imply between being a lawyer and being rich?

Being a lawyer and being rich are unrelated facts.
Being a lawyer leads to being rich.
Being rich prevents her from becoming a lawyer.
Being rich is the reason she became a lawyer.

Being a lawyer leads to being rich.

Explanation

The word “so” presents being a lawyer as the cause leading to wealth. Reversing the statement with “because” would instead make wealth the reason she is a lawyer.

3. Asked whether they enjoyed a film, a person says, “The actors were excellent.” What can reasonably be inferred?

The person disliked the actors, but enjoyed the film overall.
The person enjoyed the film because every part was excellent.
The person has no opinion about the actors or the film.
The person approves of the actors, but may not have enjoyed the film overall.

The person approves of the actors, but may not have enjoyed the film overall.

Explanation

The answer praises the actors but does not settle whether the speaker enjoyed the film as a whole. Approving of the actors is not equivalent to enjoying the entire film.

4. A person is asked, “Can you come to my birthday party tomorrow?” and mentions an important exam the next morning. What does the reply imply?

The person expects the exam to be postponed until after the party.
The person is unable to attend because the party is tomorrow.
The person may be unable to attend because of the exam.
The person is certain to attend after completing the exam.

The person may be unable to attend because of the exam.

Explanation

Mentioning the important exam suggests it may prevent the person from attending the party. The reply implies a possible scheduling conflict, not certainty that the person will attend.

5. When asked, “Have you finished the assignment?”, someone says, “I’ve written the introduction.” What does this imply?

The assignment has not been started, but may be complete.
The assignment has been abandoned after its conclusion.
The assignment is complete, but its introduction is unwritten.
The assignment has been started, but may not be complete.

The assignment has been started, but may not be complete.

Explanation

Writing the introduction shows that work on the assignment has begun, while leaving completion uncertain. Having started the assignment is different from having finished it.

Study with flashcards

Lock in the answers with 5 flashcards on Understanding Conversational Implications.

What relationship does “so” imply in “She is a lawyer, so she is rich”?

Being a lawyer leads to being rich.

What does “I liked the slides” imply about the presentation?

The speaker liked the slides but may not have liked the whole presentation.

What does “The actors were excellent” establish about enjoyment of the film?

It expresses approval of the actors but does not establish enjoyment of the whole film.

See the flashcards →

Read the study guide

Go over the full study guide for Understanding Conversational Implications.

Read the study guide →

Related classes

Medieval English Literature

Anglais

Slovenské štylistické figúry

Industrial and Trade Vocabulary

Anglais

Mindset Theory in Language Learning

Anglais

English 9 Units 1 and 2 Review

Anglais

Grade 5 English Programme

Anglais

Make your own practice quizzes

Upload your class notes and Revizly writes a practice quiz with explained answers in about a minute.

Quiz maker