ELTIS - English Language Test for International Students Academic Vocabulary in Context Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the sentence 'The researcher sought to corroborate her findings with additional data,' what does 'corroborate' mean?
- Contradict
- Confirm or support (Correct answer)
- Summarize
- Publish
Correct answer: Confirm or support
Corroborate means to confirm or give support to a statement or theory with additional evidence.
When a researcher seeks to corroborate findings, she is looking for additional evidence that confirms or supports her original results. This is a common academic practice where multiple sources of data are used to strengthen conclusions.
Question 2: Which word best completes the sentence: 'The professor asked students to _____ the main argument of the essay before class discussion'?
- Articulate (Correct answer)
- Demolish
- Ignore
- Postpone
Correct answer: Articulate
Articulate means to express or state clearly, which fits the academic context of explaining an argument.
In academic settings, 'articulate' is frequently used to mean expressing ideas clearly and coherently. When a professor asks students to articulate the main argument, they want a clear, well-organized explanation of the essay's central thesis.
Question 3: What does 'empirical' mean in the phrase 'empirical evidence supports this theory'?
- Based on personal opinion
- Based on observation or experiment (Correct answer)
- Based on tradition
- Based on authority
Correct answer: Based on observation or experiment
Empirical means based on or verified by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic.
Empirical evidence is information acquired by observation or experimentation. In academic writing, claiming that empirical evidence supports a theory means that real-world data collected through systematic observation or controlled experiments provides support for that theory.
Question 4: In academic writing, what does 'synthesize' mean?
- To copy information exactly
- To combine different ideas into a coherent whole (Correct answer)
- To delete unnecessary information
- To translate from another language
Correct answer: To combine different ideas into a coherent whole
Synthesize means to combine various elements or ideas to form a connected whole, a key academic skill.
Synthesis is one of the highest-order thinking skills in academia. When students synthesize information, they take ideas from multiple sources and combine them to create a new understanding or argument.
Question 5: Which word means 'to make a distinction between two things'?
- Differentiate (Correct answer)
- Consolidate
- Replicate
- Abbreviate
Correct answer: Differentiate
Differentiate means to recognize or identify differences between two or more things.
In academic contexts, differentiating between concepts, theories, or approaches is a critical analytical skill. When a teacher asks students to differentiate between two ideas, they want students to clearly identify and explain the specific ways in which those ideas are distinct.
Question 6: What does 'prevalent' mean in the sentence 'This misconception is prevalent among new students'?
- Rare and unusual
- Widespread and common (Correct answer)
- Harmful and dangerous
- Easily correctable
Correct answer: Widespread and common
Prevalent means widespread or commonly occurring in a particular area or at a particular time.
When something is described as prevalent, it means it exists commonly or is widely encountered. In this academic context, saying a misconception is prevalent among new students means that many or most new students hold this incorrect belief.
ELTIS - English Language Test for International Students Academic Vocabulary in Context Questions and Answers 2
In the sentence 'The researcher sought to corroborate her findings with additional data,' what does 'corroborate' mean?