ACCA LW · Chapter 1 · Question 7 of 10
A statute refers to 'cats, dogs, rabbits and other animals'. A court holds that 'other animals' covers only domestic pets of a similar kind and not wild animals. Which rule of language has the court applied?
Test yourself: pick an answer
Reveal answer & explanation
Correct answer: C) Ejusdem generis
Explanation
Under the ejusdem generis rule, general words that follow a list of specific items are read as limited to things of the same kind as the specific items. Expressio unius means that express mention of one thing excludes others not mentioned. Noscitur a sociis is the wider idea that a word takes its meaning from its context, and the presumption against retrospectivity concerns timing rather than meaning.
More The English legal system MCQs
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