本课程命题以全国高等教育自学考试指导委员会制订的《现代语文学自学考试大纲》和全国高等自学考试指导委员会组编的《现代语言学》教程为依据，旨在考核应试者是否掌握现代语言学各个主要研究领域的基本概念、基本理论和原则、研究方法，以及所取得的主要研究成果，是否能运用语言学的理论知识对某些语言现象（主要是英语语言现象）作出一定的解释。

　　本课题试题分为易、较易、较难、难四个等级，每份试卷中，四个等级所占的比例分别为20%、30%、30%、20%。题型采用单项选择题、正误判断题、填空题、名词解释题和问答题五种，各种题型所占比例为：单项选择题（共10题）——20%、正误判断题（共10题）——20%、填空题（共10题）——10%、名词解释题（共10题）——30%、问答题（共2题）——20%。
    　　
　　本课程考试时间为150分钟。考试采用闭卷形式，答题一律用英语。
题型举例如下：

I.
Directions：Read each of the following statements carefully. Decide which one of the four choices best completes the statement and put the letter A, B, C or D in the brackets in front of each statement.
（ ）1.The situation in which two or more languages are used side by side in a state or region with different functions is referred to as __________.
A. diglossia
B. bilingualism
C. pidginization
D. blending

Ⅱ.
Directions: Judge whether each of the following statements is true or false. Put a T for true of F for false in the brackets in front of each statement. If you think a statement is false, you must explain why you think so and give the correct version.
（ ）1.Morphemes are the smallest meaningful units of language that can be used independently.

Ⅲ.
Directions: Fill in the bland in each of the following statements with ome word, the first letter of which is already given as a clue. Note that you are to fill in ONE word only, and you are not allowed to change the letter given.
1.Social changes are most readily reflected in the __________ of a language.

Ⅳ.
Directions: Explain the following terms, using are or two examples for illustration.
1.homonymy

Ⅴ.
Answer the following questions.
1.How, in your opinion, does phonology differ from phonetics