Academic English Flashcards

Which sentence uses a subordinating conjunction correctly to show cause?

Answer: She passed the exam because she studied hard.

'Because' is a subordinating conjunction that correctly links the cause (studying hard) to the effect (passing the exam).

In academic writing, what does the term 'thesis statement' refer to?

Answer: A sentence in the introduction that states the paper's main argument.

A thesis statement is a single sentence, usually at the end of the introduction, that presents the central argument or claim of the essay.

Which word best replaces 'show' in a formal academic sentence?

Answer: Demonstrate

'Demonstrate' is the most appropriate formal academic synonym for 'show' in scholarly writing.

A student writes: 'The results was significant.' What is the grammatical error?

Answer: Subject-verb disagreement

'Results' is a plural subject and requires the plural verb 'were,' not the singular 'was.'

What is the purpose of a topic sentence in a body paragraph?

Answer: To state the main idea of that specific paragraph.

A topic sentence introduces and controls the main idea of a single body paragraph, not the whole essay.

Which transition word signals a contrast between two ideas?

Answer: Nevertheless

'Nevertheless' signals that the following idea contrasts with or qualifies the previous statement.

In the sentence 'The data suggest a strong correlation,' why is 'suggest' used instead of 'suggests'?

Answer: 'Data' is a plural noun in formal academic usage.

In formal academic writing, 'data' is treated as a plural noun (the plural of 'datum'), so it takes the plural verb 'suggest.'