BU Center for the Assessment of Sign Language Interpretation (CASLI) Practice Test

Formal register is the language style used in formal, ceremonial, or official settings, where speech is respectful, precise, and free of slang. A graduation ceremony fits this well because the speeches and official announcements adopt a ceremonious tone, use polite forms, conventional vocabulary, and careful grammar to show respect for the occasion. Casual chat would rely on slang and informal language; a concert is typically informal or casual in tone; a news report, while formal, operates in a journalistic, informational context rather than a ceremonial one. So, the graduation ceremony is the clearest example of formal register among these options.