Core Academic Skills: Reading Informational Texts Flashcards

An article states, 'Although the data is preliminary, the trend appears promising.' The word 'Although' signals that the author is:

Answer: Acknowledging a limitation before a positive point

'Although' concedes a limitation (preliminary data) before making the favorable claim.

Which question would best help a reader evaluate an author's credibility?

Answer: What are the author's qualifications and sources?

Examining qualifications and sources directly assesses whether the author is trustworthy.

A passage about diet says, 'Some researchers believe sugar is the main culprit, while others point to inactivity.' This sentence shows that:

Answer: There is disagreement among experts

Presenting two differing expert views indicates disagreement rather than consensus.

In 'The committee gave its tacit approval by remaining silent,' the word 'tacit' most nearly means:

Answer: Unspoken or implied

'Tacit' means understood without being stated, which fits approval shown through silence.

An author summarizes opposing studies fairly before stating a position. This approach primarily makes the argument:

Answer: More balanced and credible

Fairly addressing opposing studies strengthens credibility by showing balanced reasoning.

A reader encounters a headline that exaggerates while the article itself is measured. This mismatch should prompt the reader to:

Answer: Read the full article before judging the claim

Reading the full article guards against being misled by a sensational headline.

Which transition word would best connect a cause to its result in an informational text?

Answer: Consequently

'Consequently' explicitly signals that what follows is a result of what came before.