C2 Practice and Application 3

Question 1

A researcher is writing a literature review and wants to attribute a finding to a source while subtly distancing herself from it. Which phrasing best achieves this?

Accepted Answer

Smith (2020) claims that caffeine improves cognition.

Answer

The verb 'claims' signals epistemic distance and invites the reader to evaluate the assertion critically, unlike 'proves' or neutral attribution.

Question 2

Which of the following sentences contains a dangling participle?

Accepted Answer

Having read the report, the decision was made.

Answer

In 'Having read the report, the decision was made,' the participial phrase wrongly modifies 'decision' rather than the committee that did the reading.

Question 3

In discourse analysis, what is the primary function of a 'hedge' in academic spoken English?

Accepted Answer

To qualify a claim and signal the speaker's epistemic uncertainty or caution.

Answer

Hedges such as 'it seems,' 'arguably,' and 'to some extent' calibrate the degree of certainty the speaker commits to.

Question 4

Which sentence most effectively uses parallel structure in a formal speech?

Accepted Answer

We came, we saw, we conquered.

Answer

Julius Caesar's tricolon 'veni, vidi, vici' pattern ('we came, we saw, we conquered') demonstrates perfect grammatical parallelism.

Question 5

A journalist wants to write a sentence that conveys inevitability using a modal. Which choice is most precise?

Accepted Answer

The treaty is bound to collapse.

Answer

'Is bound to' is a semi-modal expressing strong inevitability, stronger than 'will' (prediction) and clearer than the vague modality of 'should' here.

C2 Practice Test

C2 Practice Test

C2 Practice and Application 3