CAE Register and Style 1

Question 1

Which phrase is most appropriate for opening a formal report?

Accepted Answer

This report aims to examine the findings of...

Answer

Formal reports use impersonal, objective language such as 'This report aims to examine,' avoiding contractions and informal tone.

Question 2

Which sentence demonstrates an appropriate use of hedging language in academic writing?

Accepted Answer

The results suggest that regular exercise may contribute to improved mood.

Answer

Hedging language like 'suggest' and 'may' is used in academic writing to express cautious claims rather than absolute statements.

Question 3

In which of the following contexts would a formal register be LEAST appropriate?

Accepted Answer

A text message to a close friend

Answer

Text messages to close friends typically use an informal register; formal language in this context would sound unnatural and stiff.

Question 4

Which of the following is a characteristic of formal written English?

Accepted Answer

Nominalization, such as using 'investigation' instead of 'investigate'

Answer

Nominalization — converting verbs or adjectives into nouns — is a hallmark of formal academic and professional writing in English.

Question 5

A student writes: 'The company's profits went up a lot last year.' Which revision makes this sentence more formal?

Accepted Answer

The company's profits increased significantly during the previous year.

Answer

'Increased significantly' replaces the informal 'went up a lot,' and 'the previous year' is more formal than 'last year' in written contexts.

CAE - Cambridge English Advanced Practice Test