EAP Academic Writing Conventions

Question 1

Which of the following best describes 'hedging language' in academic writing?

Accepted Answer

Using cautious language to indicate uncertainty or limitations

Answer

Hedging language uses words like 'may,' 'might,' or 'suggests' to indicate that claims are not absolute certainties.

Question 2

Which sentence uses an appropriate formal register for academic writing?

Accepted Answer

The data indicate that the initial hypothesis was not supported.

Answer

Formal academic writing avoids contractions, colloquialisms, and overly casual language in favor of precise, objective phrasing.

Question 3

In academic writing, what is the primary purpose of a topic sentence?

Accepted Answer

To state the main idea of a paragraph

Answer

A topic sentence introduces the central point of a paragraph and guides the reader through the content that follows.

Question 4

Which of the following is an example of nominalization?

Accepted Answer

The investigation of the problem was conducted by researchers.

Answer

Nominalization converts verbs or adjectives into nouns, as in changing 'investigate' to 'investigation,' a hallmark of formal academic style.

Question 5

What does 'coherence' mean in the context of academic writing?

Accepted Answer

Having ideas logically connected and flowing smoothly

Answer

Coherence refers to how well ideas are logically connected and transition smoothly from one to the next throughout a text.

EAP - English For Academic Purposes Practice Test