NBT - National Benchmark Academic Literacy Comprehension Questions and Answers 2

Question 1

Read the sentence: "The study was both comprehensive and methodical, leaving no variable unexamined." Which word is closest in meaning to "methodical"?

Accepted Answer

Systematic

Answer

Hasty

Answer

Creative

Answer

Superficial

Question 2

A passage argues: "Without access to clean water, sustainable development is impossible." Which type of argument structure does this use?

Accepted Answer

Causal claim

Answer

Inductive reasoning

Answer

Deductive reasoning

Answer

Circular reasoning

Question 3

In the sentence "Notwithstanding the financial challenges, the university expanded its research programme," what does "notwithstanding" mean?

Accepted Answer

In spite of

Answer

Because of

Answer

As a result of

Answer

With the help of

Question 4

A text states: "The data strongly suggest — though do not prove — a link between diet and cognitive performance." What does this qualification indicate about the author's approach?

Accepted Answer

The author is being academically careful by distinguishing correlation from causation

Answer

The author lacks confidence in their research

Answer

The author believes the data is unreliable

Answer

The author is dismissing the findings

Question 5

Which of the following paragraph structures is most common in academic writing?

Accepted Answer

Claim → Evidence → Explanation

Answer

Evidence → Claim → Explanation

Answer

Explanation → Evidence → Claim

Answer

Evidence → Explanation → Conclusion

Question 6

A student is asked to "evaluate" a source. What does "evaluate" require them to do?

Accepted Answer

Judge the quality, strengths, and limitations of the source

Answer

Summarise the source in their own words

Answer

Copy key quotes from the source

Answer

List all facts from the source