EAP Reading Skills 2

Question 1

When a passage uses the phrase 'notwithstanding the evidence presented,' what is the author signaling?

Accepted Answer

A contrast or concession is about to follow

Answer

'Notwithstanding' signals a concession, meaning the author will argue against or qualify what was just stated.

Question 2

Which reading strategy is MOST effective for locating specific data in a long academic text?

Accepted Answer

Scanning headings and then using keywords to locate the data

Answer

Scanning for keywords after checking headings efficiently locates specific information without reading the entire text.

Question 3

A passage states: 'The results were statistically significant (p < 0.05).' What does this indicate to an academic reader?

Accepted Answer

The findings are unlikely to be due to chance

Answer

A p-value below 0.05 indicates that results have less than a 5% probability of occurring by chance.

Question 4

In academic reading, what does 'the author's stance' refer to?

Accepted Answer

The author's opinion or position on the topic

Answer

An author's stance is their viewpoint or attitude toward the subject being discussed.

Question 5

Which of the following is an example of a hedging phrase in academic writing?

Accepted Answer

It may be suggested that

Answer

'It may be suggested that' uses hedging language to qualify a claim and avoid overstatement.

EAP - English For Academic Purposes Practice Test