EAP Sentence Meaning 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary meaning of: 'The empirical evidence fails to substantiate the theoretical predictions'?
- The real-world data supports the theory well.
- Observable data does not confirm what the theory predicted. (Correct answer)
- The theory was developed without any evidence.
- Empirical research has not yet been conducted on this topic.
Correct answer: Observable data does not confirm what the theory predicted.
'Fails to substantiate' means the evidence does not support or confirm the theoretical claims.
Question 2: In academic prose, what does 'the scope of this study is delimited to' mean?
- The study covers all possible aspects of the topic.
- The study's boundaries are intentionally defined and restricted. (Correct answer)
- The study has no clear focus or direction.
- The study expands beyond its original aims.
Correct answer: The study's boundaries are intentionally defined and restricted.
'Delimited to' means the researcher has consciously set boundaries to restrict what the study covers.
Question 3: Which sentence contains an implicit comparison between two groups?
- The intervention group improved their scores over eight weeks.
- Participants with prior training outperformed those without it. (Correct answer)
- Data was collected at three separate time points.
- The research design was approved by the ethics board.
Correct answer: Participants with prior training outperformed those without it.
'Outperformed those without it' implicitly compares those with prior training against those without.
Question 4: What is meant by 'The argument proceeds from a normative rather than a descriptive standpoint'?
- The argument describes what is factually true about a situation.
- The argument is based on values or judgments about what should be. (Correct answer)
- The argument uses only quantitative data.
- The argument avoids making any recommendations.
Correct answer: The argument is based on values or judgments about what should be.
A normative standpoint involves value judgments about what ought to be, as opposed to a descriptive account of what is.
Question 5: The phrase 'the findings are robust across multiple methodologies' in a research article means:
- The results changed significantly depending on the method used.
- The results were consistent regardless of the research approach. (Correct answer)
- Only one methodology was used to gather findings.
- The methodology had significant flaws that affected results.
Correct answer: The results were consistent regardless of the research approach.
'Robust across multiple methodologies' indicates the findings hold up consistently regardless of which method is applied.
Question 6: What is the function of the word 'notwithstanding' in academic writing?
- It introduces a supporting example.
- It signals a definition or explanation.
- It acknowledges a point but proceeds with a contrasting claim. (Correct answer)
- It indicates a chronological sequence of events.
Correct answer: It acknowledges a point but proceeds with a contrasting claim.
'Notwithstanding' means in spite of, acknowledging a point while still asserting a contrary position.
Question 7: In the sentence 'The study operationalizes well-being as a composite of physical, psychological, and social indicators,' what does 'operationalize' mean?
- To replace a concept with a simpler one.
- To define an abstract concept in measurable terms. (Correct answer)
- To argue that a concept is unimportant to the study.
- To expand the scope of the study beyond its original aim.
Correct answer: To define an abstract concept in measurable terms.
Operationalizing a concept means translating it into specific, observable, and measurable variables.
EAP Sentence Meaning 4
What is the primary meaning of: 'The empirical evidence fails to substantiate the theoretical predictions'?