EAP Hedging Language in Academic Writing 2

Question 1

Which frequency adverb functions as a hedging device in academic writing?

Accepted Answer

generally

Answer

always

Answer

never

Answer

completely

Question 2

How do reporting verbs contribute to hedging in academic writing?

Accepted Answer

They indicate the writer's level of commitment to a cited claim

Answer

They replace the need for in-text citations

Answer

They are used only in the passive voice to avoid attribution

Answer

They signal that the cited author's argument is incorrect

Question 3

Which sentence uses the passive voice primarily as a hedging strategy?

Accepted Answer

It has been observed that stress levels increase during exam periods.

Answer

The researcher decided to omit outliers from the analysis.

Answer

Students frequently forget to cite their sources.

Answer

The professor assigned three readings for next week.

Question 4

What does the term 'epistemic modality' refer to in the context of academic hedging?

Accepted Answer

The grammatical expression of a speaker's degree of certainty or knowledge about a proposition

Answer

The use of footnotes to qualify factual statements

Answer

A method for structuring argument paragraphs in essays

Answer

The use of first-person pronouns to express personal viewpoints

Question 5

In which section of an academic paper is hedging MOST critical, and why?

Accepted Answer

The discussion and conclusion, because claims about implications extend beyond the direct data

Answer

The abstract, because it must be short and use no uncertainty

Answer

The methodology, because procedures are objective and factual

Answer

The reference list, because sources must be qualified carefully

Question 6

Which of the following is a problem caused by UNDER-hedging in academic writing?

Accepted Answer

Claims appear overstated, reducing the writer's academic credibility

Answer

The writing appears too tentative and lacks a clear argument

Answer

The text becomes difficult to read because of too many qualifiers

Answer

Reviewers may think the writer is not familiar with hedging conventions

Question 7

Which phrase is an example of a 'shield' hedge, attributing a claim to an external source rather than the writer?

Accepted Answer

According to the WHO, global temperatures may rise by 1.5°C.

Answer

It seems likely that economic growth will slow.

Answer

We tentatively propose a new theoretical framework.

Answer

Approximately 60% of participants responded positively.