APTIS Reading for Text Cohesion 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Text: 'Renewable energy investment reached record levels last year. Solar and wind projects attracted billions in funding. ___ Governments and private investors alike recognized the sector's long-term potential.' Which sentence best fills the blank?
- Nuclear energy remains controversial in many countries.
- This surge in capital reflected growing confidence in green technology. (Correct answer)
- Energy prices fluctuated significantly due to global instability.
- Renewable energy has existed as a concept since the 19th century.
Correct answer: This surge in capital reflected growing confidence in green technology.
'This surge' uses a demonstrative to refer back to the investment figures and logically leads into the explanation about investor confidence.
Question 2: What is 'cataphoric reference' in text cohesion?
- A reference that points backward to something already mentioned in the text
- A reference that points forward to something that will be mentioned later in the text (Correct answer)
- The use of a general word to substitute a specific term already introduced
- The repetition of a key noun to reinforce the paragraph's topic
Correct answer: A reference that points forward to something that will be mentioned later in the text
Cataphoric reference anticipates meaning by pointing forward, as in 'Here is what she said: …'
Question 3: Which transition best completes the sentence to show a concession? 'The new regulation is unpopular with manufacturers. ___, it has been welcomed by environmental groups.'
- As a result
- For example
- Even so (Correct answer)
- In other words
Correct answer: Even so
'Even so' acknowledges the manufacturers' opposition while contrasting it with the environmental groups' approval.
Question 4: Five sentences form a paragraph. Identify the one that disrupts cohesion: 'A. Online learning platforms have expanded access to education. B. Students in remote areas can now attend world-class courses. C. The history of distance education dates to correspondence courses in the 1800s. D. This democratization of knowledge is reshaping traditional universities. E. Employers increasingly recognize online credentials as legitimate qualifications.'
- Sentence A
- Sentence B
- Sentence C (Correct answer)
- Sentence D
Correct answer: Sentence C
Sentence C introduces a historical tangent about correspondence courses that breaks the paragraph's focus on contemporary online learning trends.
Question 5: Read: 'The athlete trained for six hours a day. ___ this grueling schedule, she won three gold medals at the championship.' Which word or phrase best fills the blank?
- Despite
- Because of (Correct answer)
- Although
- Whereas
Correct answer: Because of
'Because of' correctly expresses that the training schedule was the cause of her winning medals.
Question 6: In an APTIS text cohesion task, 'substitution' differs from 'pronoun reference' because substitution:
- Uses a pronoun such as 'it' or 'they' to replace a noun
- Replaces a clause or sentence with a pro-form like 'so' or 'do so' (Correct answer)
- Omits words that are recoverable from the surrounding context
- Repeats the exact noun to reinforce its importance
Correct answer: Replaces a clause or sentence with a pro-form like 'so' or 'do so'
Substitution replaces whole clauses or verbs with pro-forms (e.g., 'I think so'), while pronoun reference replaces only noun phrases.
Question 7: Which ordering of these sentences creates the most cohesive argument? 1. Therefore, schools should integrate financial literacy into their curriculum. 2. Many adults struggle with debt management and savings. 3. Studies show that early financial education reduces long-term financial stress. 4. This lack of knowledge often stems from inadequate education in childhood. 5. Such programs have already proven effective in several US states.
- 2, 4, 3, 1, 5 (Correct answer)
- 1, 5, 3, 2, 4
- 3, 1, 4, 2, 5
- 4, 2, 1, 3, 5
Correct answer: 2, 4, 3, 1, 5
Sentence 2 states the problem, 4 identifies its cause, 3 provides supporting evidence, 1 draws a logical conclusion, and 5 adds real-world validation.
APTIS Reading for Text Cohesion 5
Text: 'Renewable energy investment reached record levels last year.
Solar and wind projects attracted billions in funding. ___ Governments and private investors alike recognized the sector's long-term potential.' Which sentence best fills the blank?