CAEL CAEL - Canadian Academic English Language Grammar and Sentence Structure Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In academic English, which tense is most commonly used to report the findings of a study?
- Future simple
- Simple present or simple past (Correct answer)
- Present continuous
- Past perfect continuous
Correct answer: Simple present or simple past
Academic writing typically uses the simple present to describe current truths or the simple past to report completed research findings.
Question 2: Which sentence correctly uses a conditional structure in academic writing?
- If the sample size will increase, the results are more reliable.
- If the sample size increases, the results are more reliable. (Correct answer)
- If the sample size increased, the results will be more reliable.
- If the sample size would increase, the results are more reliable.
Correct answer: If the sample size increases, the results are more reliable.
A first conditional (present tense in the 'if' clause + present/future in the main clause) correctly expresses a realistic academic condition.
Question 3: What punctuation correctly joins two independent clauses in academic writing?
- A comma alone
- A semicolon or a comma with a coordinating conjunction (Correct answer)
- A colon alone
- No punctuation is needed
Correct answer: A semicolon or a comma with a coordinating conjunction
Two independent clauses can be joined by a semicolon or by a comma followed by a coordinating conjunction (e.g., 'and,' 'but,' 'so').
Question 4: Identify the correct use of articles in this sentence: 'The researcher used __ unique method to analyze __ data.'
- a / the
- an / the (Correct answer)
- the / a
- a / a
Correct answer: an / the
'Unique' begins with a 'y' sound, so it takes 'a' (not 'an'); 'the data' uses the definite article because it refers to specific data already established.
Question 5: Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?
- The professor explained the theory clearly.
- The professor, who was tired, explained the theory.
- Rushing to finish, the essay was completed by the student. (Correct answer)
- The students read the assigned chapter carefully.
Correct answer: Rushing to finish, the essay was completed by the student.
In 'Rushing to finish, the essay was completed by the student,' the modifier 'rushing to finish' incorrectly appears to modify 'the essay' rather than 'the student.'
Question 6: Which of the following is a complex sentence?
- The student studied hard.
- The student studied hard, and she passed the exam.
- Although the student studied hard, she did not pass the exam. (Correct answer)
- The student studied; she passed the exam.
Correct answer: Although the student studied hard, she did not pass the exam.
A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause; 'Although the student studied hard' is the dependent clause.
CAEL CAEL - Canadian Academic English Language Grammar and Sentence Structure Questions and Answers 2
In academic English, which tense is most commonly used to report the findings of a study?