OPELA Specialized Terminology 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In academic writing assessed by OPELA, what does the term 'hedging' refer to?
- Using cautious language to qualify claims (Correct answer)
- Avoiding the use of evidence
- Writing in passive voice exclusively
- Summarizing another author's argument
Correct answer: Using cautious language to qualify claims
Hedging involves using language like 'may,' 'might,' or 'suggests' to show appropriate caution about claims.
Question 2: What is an 'annotated bibliography' in academic contexts tested by OPELA?
- A list of sources with descriptive and evaluative notes (Correct answer)
- A bibliography sorted by publication date
- A summary written at the end of an essay
- A footnote system for in-text citations
Correct answer: A list of sources with descriptive and evaluative notes
An annotated bibliography includes each source reference followed by a brief summary and evaluation of that source.
Question 3: Which term describes the ability to understand and produce language in real-time without extensive planning, as assessed in OPELA speaking tasks?
- Spontaneous fluency (Correct answer)
- Scripted delivery
- Rote memorization
- Formulaic recitation
Correct answer: Spontaneous fluency
Spontaneous fluency refers to producing coherent speech naturally and in the moment, a key OPELA speaking criterion.
Question 4: In OPELA reading tasks, 'inferencing' means:
- Drawing conclusions from implied information (Correct answer)
- Locating specific facts in a passage
- Skimming text for main ideas only
- Translating technical vocabulary
Correct answer: Drawing conclusions from implied information
Inferencing is the ability to understand meaning that is not directly stated but is implied by the text.
Question 5: What does 'academic register' mean in the context of OPELA writing assessment?
- A formal style appropriate for scholarly communication (Correct answer)
- A list of approved academic words
- The word count required for essays
- A grading rubric used by assessors
Correct answer: A formal style appropriate for scholarly communication
Academic register refers to the formal, objective, and discipline-appropriate language style expected in university writing.
Question 6: The term 'lexical density' in academic language assessment refers to:
- The proportion of content words to total words in a text (Correct answer)
- The number of vocabulary errors per 100 words
- The frequency of technical jargon in a passage
- The length of sentences in an academic essay
Correct answer: The proportion of content words to total words in a text
Lexical density measures how information-rich a text is by calculating the ratio of content words (nouns, verbs, adjectives) to total words.
Question 7: In OPELA listening assessments, 'macro-level comprehension' involves:
- Understanding the overall main idea and structure of a spoken text (Correct answer)
- Identifying individual words and pronunciation features
- Noting specific numbers and dates mentioned by the speaker
- Recognizing idiomatic expressions within a lecture
Correct answer: Understanding the overall main idea and structure of a spoken text
Macro-level comprehension focuses on the big picture—the overall purpose, topic, and organization of a spoken text.
OPELA Specialized Terminology 2
In academic writing assessed by OPELA, what does the term 'hedging' refer to?