ESOL Academic English 2

Question 1

Which sentence uses a subordinating conjunction correctly to show cause?

Accepted Answer

She passed the exam because she studied hard.

Answer

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

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

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

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

Demonstrate

Answer

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

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

Subject-verb disagreement

Answer

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

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

To state the main idea of that specific paragraph.

Answer

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

(ESOL) English to Speakers of Other Languages Practice Test