Free NBT Academic Literacy Questions and Answers 1

Question 1

The Influence of Advertising - Paragraph 1:

Advertising was initially meant to make people aware of the goods available in the market. It was as simple as announcing what you have in your store or the services you offer on your premises. Over the years, advertising has evolved into a major industry that goes beyond informing, to persuading and influencing. It is a form of brainwashing consumers.

The overall purpose of paragraph 1 is to do the following: (communicative function)

Accepted Answer

indicate that advertising has changed to become influencing

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introduce the reader to the basics/fundamentals of advertising

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inform the reader that advertising is brainwashing

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indicate that advertising means announcing what you have in store

Question 2

The Influence of Advertising - Paragraph 4:

In a nutshell, advertising does influence people. Most of the advertisements are filled with images that equate emotional well-being with material acquisition and associate independence and leisure with the consumption of alcohol. Advertising also makes people lavish their effect on products rather than real people, thereby destroying human relationships. We have become trapped in the web of advertising where products like brands of beer and cigarettes take over our minds, doing away with our core family values.

In paragraph 4, we read that “Most advertisements … associate independence and leisure with consumption of alcohol.” This suggests that advertisements mainly communicate the message that (inferencing):

Accepted Answer

independence and leisure encourage people to drink alcohol

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independence and leisure are always accompanied by alcohol consumption

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independence and leisure enable people to relax

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lack of independence and leisure makes it impossible for people to relax

Question 3

The Influence of Advertising - Paragraph 2:

Advertising has become a type of culture with ardent followers. In the process, it attracts enviable attention from manufacturers and service providers who fancy an edge over their competitors. Unfortunately, in keeping with the ever-increasing demands of the manufacturers, the advertisers have resorted to creating unnecessary wants and excess consumption in most of us. This is a craving for harmful products that we are better off without. It preys on our minds, rendering us completely irrational. The billboards (hoardings), television, and radio advertisements target us from a very early age, forming our view of the world as we grow into adults.

In the first sentence of paragraph 2, the phrase “has become” signals that the change in advertising: (grammar/syntax)

Accepted Answer

started in the past and is still in progress

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started in the past and ended in the past

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started yesterday and ended yesterday

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started yesterday and will end tomorrow

Question 4

The Influence of Advertising - Paragraph 2:

Advertising has become a type of culture with ardent followers. In the process, it attracts enviable attention from manufacturers and service providers who fancy an edge over their competitors. Unfortunately, in keeping with the ever-increasing demands of the manufacturers, the advertisers have resorted to creating unnecessary wants and excess consumption in most of us. This is a craving for harmful products that we are better off without. It preys on our minds, rendering us completely irrational. The billboards (hoardings), television, and radio advertisements target us from a very early age, forming our view of the world as we grow into adults.

In paragraph 2, the word “ardent” can be substituted with the word: (vocabulary)

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passionate

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obsessed

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compassionate

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energetic

Question 5

The Influence of Advertising - Paragraph 2:

Advertising has become a type of culture with ardent followers. In the process, it attracts enviable attention from manufacturers and service providers who fancy an edge over their competitors. Unfortunately, in keeping with the ever-increasing demands of the manufacturers, the advertisers have resorted to creating unnecessary wants and excess consumption in most of us. This is a craving for harmful products that we are better off without. It preys on our minds, rendering us completely irrational. The billboards (hoardings), television, and radio advertisements target us from a very early age, forming our view of the world as we grow into adults.

In paragraph 2, we read: “This is a craving for harmful products that we are better off without.” In this sentence, the word “This” mainly refers to (cohesion)

Accepted Answer

unnecessary wants

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enviable attention

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excessive consumption

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increasing demands

Question 6

The Influence of Advertising - Paragraph 3:

The notion that the media are primarily in place to give us news is not very true. If the truth may be told, the media are there to gather a large enough audience, package them into a pricey commodity, and sell it to the advertisers. The advertisers, on the other hand, are always on the lookout for a target audience to persuade them that this product or service is better than that of the competitor.

The main idea of paragraph 3 is that (essential/non-essential)

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The media and advertisers complement each other

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The media and advertisers aim to achieve different goals

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Both the media and advertisers target the same consumers

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The media and advertisers aim to outsmart competitors

Question 7

The Influence of Advertising - Paragraph 2:

Advertising has become a type of culture with ardent followers. In the process, it attracts enviable attention from manufacturers and service providers who fancy an edge over their competitors. Unfortunately, in keeping with the ever-increasing demands of the manufacturers, the advertisers have resorted to creating unnecessary wants and excess consumption in most of us. This is a craving for harmful products that we are better off without. It preys on our minds, rendering us completely irrational. The billboards (hoardings), television, and radio advertisements target us from a very early age, forming our view of the world as we grow into adults.

In paragraph 2, the phrase “fancy an edge over” means: (metaphor)

Accepted Answer

wish to have an advantage over others

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take pleasure in pushing others to the edge

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wish that someone falls over an edge

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hope to have an opportunity to win

Question 8

"Interpreting Graphs"

Graphs are powerful tools for visualizing data and identifying trends. The x-axis typically represents the independent variable, while the y-axis represents the dependent variable. By plotting data points and observing patterns, researchers can conclude and make predictions. Understanding how to interpret graphs is essential for making sense of complex information and communicating findings effectively.

In the passage "Interpreting Graphs," what does the x-axis typically represent?

Accepted Answer

The independent variable

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The dependent variable

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The title of the graph

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The color scheme used

Question 9

"The Importance of Reading"

In today's fast-paced world, the importance of reading cannot be overstated. Reading not only entertains but also enriches the mind. It enhances mental agility, improves vocabulary, and fosters critical thinking skills. Whether it's fiction or non-fiction, diving into a good book opens doors to new worlds and perspectives. In a society increasingly dominated by digital media, carving out time for reading is essential for personal growth and development.

In the passage "The Importance of Reading," the author emphasizes that reading enhances:

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Mental agility

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Physical fitness

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Social media presence

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Financial success

Question 10

"The Power of Words"

Words hold immense power. They can inspire, motivate, and shape our perceptions of the world. Rhetoric, the art of persuasion through language, plays a significant role in communication. From political speeches to advertising slogans, rhetoric is employed to sway opinions and influence behavior. Understanding the power of words empowers individuals to communicate effectively and critically evaluate the messages they encounter.

According to the passage "The Power of Words," the term "rhetoric" refers to:

Accepted Answer

The art of persuasion

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The study of ancient civilizations

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The process of cooking

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The principles of mathematics