NBT NBT Academic Literacy: Tone, Register and Author's Attitude 4

Question 1

A health professional's letter reads: 'I wish to advise that the patient presents with symptoms consistent with early-stage hypertension and is advised to reduce dietary sodium intake.' The register is:

Accepted Answer

Formal professional/medical

Answer

Medical terminology ('presents with', 'consistent with', 'hypertension', 'dietary sodium') in an advisory letter is formal professional/medical register.

Question 2

Read: 'The researchers found a modest but statistically significant improvement in reading comprehension scores.' The word 'modest' indicates that the author's attitude is:

Accepted Answer

Measured — the improvement exists but is not overstated

Answer

'Modest' calibrates the extent of the improvement without dismissing or overstating it — a measured, objective stance.

Question 3

A social media post reads: 'CANNOT believe the govt raised fuel prices AGAIN 😤 this is literally insane'. The dominant register is:

Accepted Answer

Informal emotive digital

Answer

All-caps, emoji, 'literally', 'insane', and conversational syntax signal informal emotive digital register.

Question 4

Which of the following best describes the tone of the sentence: 'The committee's report, running to 342 pages, managed to say very little of substance'?

Accepted Answer

Dry/wry — using length as ironic commentary on lack of content

Answer

Juxtaposing the report's length (342 pages) against its lack of substance is classically dry, wry irony.

Question 5

An academic abstract states: 'This paper examines the extent to which socioeconomic factors influence educational outcomes in post-apartheid South Africa.' The author's attitude toward the topic is:

Accepted Answer

Objective and inquiring — presenting a research focus without personal bias

Answer

Passive, neutral language ('examines', 'extent to which') signals an objective, inquiring academic stance without advocating a position.

(NBT) National Benchmark Test Practice Test

(NBT) National Benchmark Test Practice Test

NBT NBT Academic Literacy: Tone, Register and Author's Attitude 4