EAP Critical Reading Strategies 5

Question 1

When evaluating the credibility of an academic source, which factor is LEAST relevant?

Accepted Answer

The length of the article's bibliography

Answer

Bibliography length does not indicate source quality; a long reference list can include poor sources, while a short one can be highly targeted and valid.

Question 2

A critical reader identifies that an author consistently uses emotionally charged language when describing one side of a debate. This most likely indicates:

Accepted Answer

Bias that may undermine the objectivity of the analysis

Answer

Emotionally loaded language signals that the author may be persuading rather than objectively analyzing, a red flag for bias.

Question 3

Which of the following reading behaviors characterizes a 'deep reading' approach as opposed to skimming?

Accepted Answer

Engaging with the logic of each argument, evaluating evidence, and connecting ideas to prior knowledge

Answer

Deep reading involves active cognitive engagement with argument structure, evidence quality, and connections across ideas rather than surface information retrieval.

Question 4

An author argues that 'because every college professor I know supports policy X, it must be good policy.' This reasoning is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Hasty generalization

Answer

Generalizing from a small, non-representative personal sample to a broad conclusion is a hasty generalization fallacy.

Question 5

When a critical reader 'interrogates the text,' they are primarily:

Accepted Answer

Asking probing questions about assumptions, evidence, and implications

Answer

Interrogating a text means actively questioning its assumptions, the strength of its evidence, and the implications of its claims.

EAP - English For Academic Purposes Practice Test

EAP - English For Academic Purposes Practice Test

EAP Critical Reading Strategies 5