NBT NBT Academic Literacy: Tone, Register and Author's Attitude 8

Question 1

A letter of complaint reads: 'I am writing to express my profound dissatisfaction with the service I received on 3 May. The conduct of your staff was, to say the least, unacceptable.' The register is:

Accepted Answer

Formal written complaint

Answer

Informal rant

Answer

Academic analytical

Answer

Literary narrative

Question 2

Read: 'The poet does not describe war heroically; instead she strips it of glory, presenting it as a squalid and futile exercise in human self-destruction.' The critic's attitude toward the poet's approach is:

Accepted Answer

Appreciative — the critic approves of the honest, unglamourised portrayal

Answer

Critical — the critic finds the approach too negative

Answer

Neutral — the critic neither approves nor disapproves

Answer

Confused about the poet's intentions

Question 3

Which of the following sentences demonstrates a formal academic tone?

Accepted Answer

Empirical evidence consistently indicates that early childhood intervention yields measurable long-term benefits.

Answer

It's pretty clear that helping kids early on makes a big difference later.

Answer

Everyone knows that early help for children is super important.

Answer

You'd think by now we'd all agree that early childhood support really matters.

Question 4

An essay concludes: 'This analysis has demonstrated that language is never a neutral tool; it is always already a site of power.' The phrase 'always already' suggests the author believes:

Accepted Answer

Language has inherently always been entangled with power — this is not a new development

Answer

Power and language are only recently connected

Answer

Language was once neutral but has become political

Answer

The relationship between power and language is uncertain

Question 5

A charity appeal reads: 'For just R5 a day — less than the price of a coffee — you can change a child's life forever. Will you act today?' The dominant tone is:

Accepted Answer

Emotionally appealing and action-orientated

Answer

Formally argumentative

Answer

Detached and statistical

Answer

Ironically critical

Question 6

Read: 'The committee noted, with some concern, an increase in student absenteeism.' The phrase 'with some concern' is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Hedged formal expression of mild disapproval

Answer

Strong emotional condemnation

Answer

Neutral factual reporting

Answer

Ironic understatement of alarm

Question 7

A columnist writes: 'I confess I find it mildly entertaining that those who once dismissed social media as trivial now use it to run their election campaigns.' The tone is:

Accepted Answer

Wryly amused — noting the irony of those who dismissed social media now using it

Answer

Angry and confrontational

Answer

Neutral and analytical

Answer

Sympathetic toward politicians