EAP Critical Reading Strategies 4

Question 1

Which of the following is the best description of an author's 'purpose' in a critical reading framework?

Accepted Answer

The reason the author wrote the text and what they intended to achieve

Answer

Identifying purpose means asking why the author wrote the text—to inform, persuade, analyze, or entertain—and how that shapes the content.

Question 2

A critical reader encounters the phrase 'studies show.' Without further citation, this phrase should be treated as:

Accepted Answer

A vague claim requiring verification of which studies and what they actually show

Answer

Unspecified 'studies' cannot be evaluated for quality, sample, or context and should be treated as unsupported until documented.

Question 3

When distinguishing a fact from an opinion in academic text, the clearest indicator of a fact is that it:

Accepted Answer

Can be verified through independent, observable evidence

Answer

Facts are verifiable claims; the test is whether independent evidence can confirm or disconfirm them, not whether they sound confident.

Question 4

Which strategy best helps a reader track how an argument develops across a long academic article?

Accepted Answer

Creating a brief outline or concept map that records each section's main claim

Answer

A running outline or concept map externalizes the argument's structure, making it easier to follow logical progression and spot gaps.

Question 5

An author writes: 'No serious scholar believes X.' A critical reader recognizes this as:

Accepted Answer

An appeal to authority used to dismiss a position without engaging its evidence

Answer

Claiming no 'serious scholar' holds a view dismisses it through social pressure rather than logical refutation.

EAP - English For Academic Purposes Practice Test