NBT NBT Academic Vocabulary and Language 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In academic writing, which sentence uses the word 'mitigate' correctly?
- The new policy will mitigate the risks associated with the project. (Correct answer)
- She decided to mitigate her opinion on the subject.
- The teacher mitigated the answer on the board.
- They mitigated a new proposal during the meeting.
Correct answer: The new policy will mitigate the risks associated with the project.
'Mitigate' means to lessen or reduce the severity of something, so it correctly applies to reducing risks.
Question 2: Which word best completes the sentence: 'The scientist's findings were _______, as multiple independent labs confirmed the same results.'
- ambiguous
- corroborated (Correct answer)
- refuted
- speculative
Correct answer: corroborated
'Corroborated' means confirmed or supported by additional evidence, fitting the context of independent verification.
Question 3: What does the prefix 'trans-' mean in words like 'transcend,' 'transfer,' and 'transform'?
- Against or opposing
- Before or prior to
- Across or beyond (Correct answer)
- Under or below
Correct answer: Across or beyond
The prefix 'trans-' derives from Latin meaning 'across' or 'beyond,' as seen in all three example words.
Question 4: A passage states: 'The author's tone is sardonic throughout the essay.' What does 'sardonic' mean?
- Earnest and sincere
- Grimly mocking or cynically humorous (Correct answer)
- Formal and academic
- Optimistic and encouraging
Correct answer: Grimly mocking or cynically humorous
'Sardonic' describes a tone that is mockingly cynical or scornfully humorous.
Question 5: Which sentence demonstrates correct use of the word 'disparate'?
- The two theories were disparate in their conclusions, sharing many similarities.
- The disparate communities united under a single cause despite their differences. (Correct answer)
- Her disparate mood improved after the good news.
- The committee reached a disparate agreement by the end of the meeting.
Correct answer: The disparate communities united under a single cause despite their differences.
'Disparate' means essentially different in kind, and the sentence correctly shows distinct communities with differences coming together.
Question 6: In the sentence 'The committee was asked to explicate the new regulations,' what does 'explicate' mean?
- To enforce strictly
- To analyze and explain in detail (Correct answer)
- To repeal or cancel
- To vote on or ratify
Correct answer: To analyze and explain in detail
'Explicate' means to analyze and develop an idea or principle in detail, making it clearer.
Question 7: Which transition word best shows a contrasting relationship between two ideas?
- Furthermore
- Consequently
- Nevertheless (Correct answer)
- Similarly
Correct answer: Nevertheless
'Nevertheless' signals contrast or concession, indicating that the second idea holds despite the first.
NBT NBT Academic Vocabulary and Language 4
In academic writing, which sentence uses the word 'mitigate' correctly?