NBT Academic Literacy Vocabulary and Inference — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A passage says a policy was 'implemented incrementally'. What can you infer about how the policy was introduced?
- Gradually, in stages over time (Correct answer)
- Only on paper, never in practice
- All at once on a single day
- Secretly and without notice
Correct answer: Gradually, in stages over time
'Incrementally' means in small steps or stages, so the policy was rolled out gradually rather than all at once.
Question 2: In the sentence 'The minister's response was evasive,' the word 'evasive' suggests the minister:
- Refused to speak at all
- Gave a written report
- Answered directly and clearly
- Avoided giving a straight answer (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Avoided giving a straight answer
'Evasive' describes language that dodges or avoids the question, so the minister avoided a direct answer.
Question 3: An author writes that survey results were 'skewed' by a small sample. The word 'skewed' implies the results were:
- Perfectly balanced
- Translated incorrectly
- Doubled in size
- Distorted or biased (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Distorted or biased
'Skewed' means distorted away from a true or balanced value, here because of the small sample.
Question 4: A text notes that two researchers reached 'divergent' conclusions. This means their conclusions were:
- Different from each other (Correct answer)
- Identical
- Never published
- Both wrong
Correct answer: Different from each other
'Divergent' means moving apart or differing, so the researchers' conclusions differed from one another.
Question 5: If a passage describes a plan as 'feasible', the writer believes the plan is:
- Too expensive to consider
- Already completed
- Impossible to carry out
- Capable of being done successfully (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Capable of being done successfully
'Feasible' means practical and capable of being done, so the writer thinks the plan can realistically be carried out.
Question 6: A passage states: 'Attendance dwindled over the term.' From 'dwindled', you can infer attendance:
- Was never recorded
- Grew steadily
- Decreased gradually (Correct answer)
- Stayed exactly the same
Correct answer: Decreased gradually
'Dwindled' means became gradually smaller, so attendance decreased over time.
Question 7: When an academic writer uses the phrase 'it is widely assumed that', they are most likely about to:
- State a proven fact they fully accept
- Quote a dictionary definition
- End the essay
- Introduce a common belief they may then question (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Introduce a common belief they may then question
Phrases like 'it is widely assumed' often set up a common belief that the writer will examine or challenge, signalling possible disagreement.
Question 8: A passage describes a finding as 'counterintuitive'. This suggests the finding:
- Is impossible to measure
- Goes against what most people would expect (Correct answer)
- Matches what most people expect
- Was expected by everyone
Correct answer: Goes against what most people would expect
'Counterintuitive' means contrary to intuition or common expectation, so the finding surprises most people.
NBT Academic Literacy Vocabulary and Inference
A passage says a policy was 'implemented incrementally'.
What can you infer about how the policy was introduced?