EAP Vocabulary in Context 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the sentence 'The committee reached a consensus after prolonged deliberation,' 'deliberation' most nearly means:
- Heated argument
- Long, careful consideration and discussion (Correct answer)
- A formal vote
- A written agreement
Correct answer: Long, careful consideration and discussion
'Deliberation' refers to the long process of careful thought and discussion before making a decision.
Question 2: A passage states: 'The policy's ramifications extended far beyond its original scope.' 'Ramifications' refers to:
- The policy's financial costs
- The complex, widespread consequences or results (Correct answer)
- The legal challenges posed
- The officials who enacted it
Correct answer: The complex, widespread consequences or results
'Ramifications' are the far-reaching and often complex consequences of an action or event.
Question 3: In academic writing, if a scholar 'corroborates' a previous finding, they:
- Challenge and refute it
- Confirm and support it with additional evidence (Correct answer)
- Ignore it in their analysis
- Restate it without new evidence
Correct answer: Confirm and support it with additional evidence
To 'corroborate' means to strengthen or confirm an existing statement or finding with new evidence.
Question 4: The text reads: 'The documentary evidence was sparse, making any definitive claim tenuous.' What does 'tenuous' suggest about the claim?
- It is well-supported
- It is creative and original
- It is weak and uncertain (Correct answer)
- It is technical and complex
Correct answer: It is weak and uncertain
'Tenuous' means very weak or slight; here it signals the claim lacks solid support.
Question 5: In the sentence 'The professor's lectures were known for their erudition,' 'erudition' means:
- Clarity and brevity
- Extensive knowledge gained from reading and study (Correct answer)
- Use of humor and anecdote
- Reliance on visual aids
Correct answer: Extensive knowledge gained from reading and study
'Erudition' refers to great learning and scholarly knowledge acquired through extensive study.
Question 6: Which sentence uses 'paradigm' in its academic sense?
- The paradigm was solved by three students in the final exam.
- Kuhn argued that science advances through paradigm shifts, not gradual accumulation. (Correct answer)
- The paradigm included a list of grammar rules.
- Teachers should use a paradigm to measure student progress.
Correct answer: Kuhn argued that science advances through paradigm shifts, not gradual accumulation.
In academic usage, a 'paradigm' is a typical model or framework that shapes thinking within a field.
Question 7: A text states that 'global temperatures show an inexorable rise.' 'Inexorable' most nearly means:
- Gradual and undetectable
- Impossible to stop or prevent (Correct answer)
- Scientifically disputed
- Seasonal and cyclical
Correct answer: Impossible to stop or prevent
'Inexorable' means relentless and unable to be stopped, regardless of efforts.
EAP Vocabulary in Context 3
In the sentence 'The committee reached a consensus after prolonged deliberation,' 'deliberation' most nearly means: