NBT Academic Literacy 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A passage argues: 'Urban green spaces reduce stress levels; therefore, cities should invest in parks.' What type of reasoning is being used?
- Deductive reasoning from a universal law
- Inductive reasoning from a specific observation to a policy recommendation (Correct answer)
- Analogical reasoning comparing two unrelated phenomena
- Circular reasoning restating the same claim
Correct answer: Inductive reasoning from a specific observation to a policy recommendation
The argument moves from a specific empirical observation (green spaces reduce stress) to a broader policy recommendation, which is inductive reasoning.
Question 2: Which of the following is an example of an implicit assumption in an argument?
- A statistic cited with a footnote reference
- An unstated belief the argument depends on to be valid (Correct answer)
- A direct quote from a primary source
- A clearly stated definition of a key term
Correct answer: An unstated belief the argument depends on to be valid
An implicit assumption is an unstated premise that an argument relies upon but does not explicitly acknowledge.
Question 3: Read the following: 'Some critics argue X; however, the majority of evidence supports Y.' The word 'however' indicates:
- The author agrees with the critics
- A contrast or shift to a different viewpoint (Correct answer)
- The evidence and critics agree
- The author is uncertain about Y
Correct answer: A contrast or shift to a different viewpoint
'However' is an adversative conjunction that signals a contrast or shift, here moving from the critics' view to the evidence-based position.
Question 4: In the sentence 'The data were analyzed using a longitudinal approach,' the word 'longitudinal' most likely means:
- Studying a large group at one point in time
- Tracking the same subjects over an extended period (Correct answer)
- Using geographic measurements
- Comparing subjects from different countries
Correct answer: Tracking the same subjects over an extended period
A longitudinal study tracks the same individuals or variables over a long period to observe changes over time.
Question 5: Which text feature most helps a reader navigate a long academic article?
- Decorative images placed throughout
- Subheadings that label different sections (Correct answer)
- A wide margin with no annotations
- Italicized font for every third sentence
Correct answer: Subheadings that label different sections
Subheadings allow readers to quickly identify the structure and locate specific sections within a lengthy academic text.
Question 6: An author writes: 'It could be argued that...' This phrasing indicates:
- A definitive conclusion supported by strong evidence
- A tentative or hedged claim (Correct answer)
- A direct quotation from another scholar
- A factual statement verified by experiments
Correct answer: A tentative or hedged claim
Hedging language like 'it could be argued' signals that the claim is not absolute and the author is being cautious about its certainty.
Question 7: What is the primary purpose of an abstract in an academic paper?
- To list every source cited in the paper
- To provide a concise summary of the paper's purpose, methods, and findings (Correct answer)
- To present raw data for peer review
- To acknowledge contributors who assisted the research
Correct answer: To provide a concise summary of the paper's purpose, methods, and findings
An abstract is a brief summary placed at the beginning of an academic paper that outlines its purpose, methodology, results, and conclusions.
NBT Academic Literacy 3
A passage argues: 'Urban green spaces reduce stress levels; therefore, cities should invest in parks.' What type of reasoning is being used?