6 Minute English - Is English changing?

Here are some questions that I have prepared for a 6 minute English listening on the BBC website.   Follow the instructions below:

1. Read the questions.
2. Read the specific vocabulary.
3. Follow the link below and try to answer the questions as you listen. You might need to listen twice.              http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-160804
4. Scroll down the BBC web page  and listen again with the transcript so you can check your answers.

Is English Changing? - 6 minute English
Questions

1.     What is the first example they give of English changing?

2.     What are the 3 options in the questions?

3.     What modal verb is on the way out (disappearing)?

4.     What is Bas Aarts’ job?

5.     What is the name of the programme on BBC radio 4?

6.     The use of what other modal verb is declining rapidly?

7.     According to Bas Aarts, when did the present progressive tense start being used more?

8.     What popular new progressive sentence does Michael use?

9.     What is Mark Pagel’s job and where does he work?

10.  According to Mark how long ago were our ancestors using answer to question 2?

11.  How long ago were our ancestors using number words?

Vocabulary

baffling
hard to understand

on the way out
disappearing; declining in popularity and use

interrogative
question

win out
succeed after a fight

obligation
having a duty to do something

authoritarian
demanding obedience from people

shying away from
avoiding

progressive
ongoing; continuing

stative
expressing a state of 'being' – as opposed to 'doing'