EAP Critical Reading Strategies 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When an author uses a rhetorical question in an academic text, the primary purpose is usually to:
- Request information from the reader
- Introduce a point the author will then address (Correct answer)
- Admit uncertainty about the topic
- Invite reader disagreement
Correct answer: Introduce a point the author will then address
Rhetorical questions in academic writing signal a claim or argument the author is about to develop, not genuine requests for answers.
Question 2: Which reading approach is most effective when previewing an unfamiliar academic article for the first time?
- Reading every word from the first paragraph to the last
- Scanning headings, abstract, topic sentences, and conclusion first (Correct answer)
- Focusing exclusively on the data tables and figures
- Highlighting all unfamiliar vocabulary before reading
Correct answer: Scanning headings, abstract, topic sentences, and conclusion first
Previewing structural elements gives a conceptual map that improves comprehension during full reading.
Question 3: A passage states: 'While some researchers argue X, the preponderance of evidence suggests Y.' The author's stance is best described as:
- Fully endorsing X
- Fully endorsing Y (Correct answer)
- Neutral between X and Y
- Rejecting both X and Y
Correct answer: Fully endorsing Y
'Preponderance of evidence suggests Y' signals that the author favors Y despite acknowledging the minority view X.
Question 4: An author cites a study from 1978 to support a claim about current digital communication. A critical reader should question this evidence because:
- Older studies are always inaccurate
- The field may have changed significantly, making the study outdated (Correct answer)
- Only peer-reviewed articles published after 2000 are valid
- Citation dates are irrelevant to argument strength
Correct answer: The field may have changed significantly, making the study outdated
Evidence should be evaluated for currency; a study predating modern digital communication may not apply to current contexts.
Question 5: In critical reading, 'reading between the lines' refers to:
- Skipping paragraphs to read faster
- Identifying implied meanings not stated explicitly (Correct answer)
- Annotating the margins of a text
- Counting the number of supporting examples
Correct answer: Identifying implied meanings not stated explicitly
Critical readers identify unstated assumptions, implied arguments, and subtext that the author conveys indirectly.
Question 6: Which of the following best defines a 'straw man' fallacy in academic writing?
- Presenting a weakened or distorted version of an opposing argument to easily refute it (Correct answer)
- Citing too many secondary sources instead of primary ones
- Using emotional language to persuade readers
- Failing to define key terms in an argument
Correct answer: Presenting a weakened or distorted version of an opposing argument to easily refute it
A straw man fallacy misrepresents an opponent's position to make it easier to defeat rather than engaging with the actual argument.
Question 7: When two academic sources contradict each other on the same topic, the best critical reading response is to:
- Accept the more recently published source as correct
- Discard both sources as unreliable
- Examine each source's methodology, sample size, and context to evaluate credibility (Correct answer)
- Choose the source that aligns with your prior knowledge
Correct answer: Examine each source's methodology, sample size, and context to evaluate credibility
Contradicting sources require evaluation of research design, sample characteristics, and context rather than simple date or preference bias.
EAP Critical Reading Strategies 2
When an author uses a rhetorical question in an academic text, the primary purpose is usually to: