APTIS - Aptis English Reading for Text Cohesion Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Read the following sentences: 1. This advice is particularly important for new gardeners. 2. Finally, remember to water your plants regularly, but avoid overwatering. 3. First, you should choose a location that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight. 4. After preparing the soil, you can plant your seeds or seedlings. 5. Then, it is essential to prepare the soil by removing weeds and adding compost. What is the most logical order for these sentences to form a cohesive paragraph?
- 1, 3, 5, 4, 2
- 3, 5, 4, 2, 1 (Correct answer)
- 1, 5, 3, 4, 2
- 3, 4, 5, 2, 1
Correct answer: 3, 5, 4, 2, 1
The correct order is 3, 5, 4, 2, 1. This sequence follows a logical progression of steps for gardening. It starts with the first step (choosing a location), followed by preparing the soil, planting, the final step of watering, and concludes with a general statement about who the advice is for. The sequencing words 'First', 'Then', 'After', and 'Finally' provide clear clues to the correct order.
Question 2: Which of the following is the primary function of cohesive devices in a text?
- To introduce new and unrelated topics for discussion.
- To make the text longer and more complex.
- To connect ideas and create a smooth, logical flow between sentences and paragraphs. (Correct answer)
- To highlight spelling and grammar errors for the reader.
Correct answer: To connect ideas and create a smooth, logical flow between sentences and paragraphs.
The primary function of cohesive devices (such as transition words, pronouns, and conjunctions) is to act as 'glue' that holds a text together. They create clear relationships between ideas, sentences, and paragraphs, ensuring the text is unified and easy for the reader to follow.
Question 3: In the sentence, 'The company launched a new smartphone last year. *It* has several innovative features,' what cohesive device is the word 'It'?
- Conjunction
- Substitution
- Lexical Repetition
- Pronominal Reference (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Pronominal Reference
The word 'It' is a pronoun that refers back to the previously mentioned noun, 'a new smartphone'. This use of a pronoun to refer to an antecedent is a cohesive device known as pronominal reference.
Question 4: A student is asked to reorder scrambled sentences to form a coherent story, a common task in the Aptis Reading Test. Which skill is this task specifically designed to assess?
- The ability to identify the main idea of a single sentence.
- The understanding of text cohesion and logical sequencing. (Correct answer)
- The speed at which a candidate can read individual words.
- The knowledge of advanced vocabulary and idioms.
Correct answer: The understanding of text cohesion and logical sequencing.
The Aptis Reading Test includes a section on text cohesion where candidates must reorder scrambled sentences. This task directly assesses the ability to understand how sentences connect to form a logical, coherent, and cohesive text by identifying clues like sequencing words and pronoun references.
Question 5: Read the following short text: 'The city council decided to build a new park. __________, many residents were delighted with the news.' Which transition word best fills the blank to show a cause-and-effect relationship?
- Although
- Meanwhile
- As a result (Correct answer)
- For instance
Correct answer: As a result
'As a result' correctly shows that the residents' delight is a direct consequence of the council's decision. 'Although' would show contrast, 'Meanwhile' would indicate a simultaneous action, and 'For instance' would introduce an example, none of which fit the logical connection between the two sentences.
Question 6: Which of the following sentences demonstrates effective use of lexical cohesion through the use of a synonym?
- The car was very fast. The car had a powerful engine.
- The automobile was expensive. The vehicle, however, was very fuel-efficient. (Correct answer)
- He saw the dog. Then, he saw the cat.
- She likes to read books. Moreover, she likes to write stories.
Correct answer: The automobile was expensive. The vehicle, however, was very fuel-efficient.
This option uses the synonym 'vehicle' to refer back to 'automobile'. This is a form of lexical cohesion that avoids repetition while maintaining a clear link between the ideas in the two sentences. The other options use repetition, show no lexical link, or use a transitional phrase for a different purpose.
APTIS - Aptis English Reading for Text Cohesion Questions and Answers
Read the following sentences:
1.
This advice is particularly important for new gardeners.
2.
Finally, remember to water your plants regularly, but avoid overwatering.
3.
First, you should choose a location that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight.
4.
After preparing the soil, you can plant your seeds or seedlings.
5.
Then, it is essential to prepare the soil by removing weeds and adding compost.
What is the most logical order for these sentences to form a cohesive paragraph?