NBT Academic Literacy Comprehension 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A passage states: 'While correlation between screen time and academic decline has been documented, researchers caution against assuming causation.' What does this sentence primarily warn readers against?
- Ignoring the findings of the research
- Concluding that screen time directly causes academic decline (Correct answer)
- Doubting whether the correlation exists
- Assuming academic decline always involves screens
Correct answer: Concluding that screen time directly causes academic decline
The sentence warns that a documented correlation should not be mistaken for a causal relationship.
Question 2: In academic writing, a 'caveat' is best described as:
- A strong conclusion supported by data
- A limitation or warning attached to a claim (Correct answer)
- A definition of a technical term
- A summary of the opposing viewpoint
Correct answer: A limitation or warning attached to a claim
A caveat is a qualification or warning that limits the scope or certainty of a statement.
Question 3: An author writes three paragraphs describing a problem, then one paragraph proposing a solution. What organizational pattern is being used?
- Cause and effect
- Compare and contrast
- Problem-solution (Correct answer)
- Chronological order
Correct answer: Problem-solution
Presenting a problem followed by a proposed solution is the problem-solution organizational pattern.
Question 4: Read: 'The proliferation of misinformation has rendered critical evaluation of sources not merely advisable but indispensable.' The word 'indispensable' most closely means:
- Recommended
- Debatable
- Absolutely necessary (Correct answer)
- Increasingly difficult
Correct answer: Absolutely necessary
'Indispensable' means absolutely essential or cannot be done without.
Question 5: A paragraph begins: 'On the one hand, urbanization improves access to services. On the other hand, it strains infrastructure.' The function of this paragraph is to:
- Argue that urbanization is harmful
- Present a balanced view of competing perspectives (Correct answer)
- Conclude that infrastructure must be prioritized
- Introduce a case study on urban planning
Correct answer: Present a balanced view of competing perspectives
The 'on the one hand / on the other hand' structure signals the presentation of two contrasting perspectives.
Question 6: Which sentence best demonstrates a hedging strategy commonly used in academic writing?
- Climate change is definitely caused by human activity.
- The results prove that the hypothesis was wrong.
- These findings may suggest a link between diet and cognition. (Correct answer)
- All participants reported improved outcomes.
Correct answer: These findings may suggest a link between diet and cognition.
Words like 'may' and 'suggest' are hedges that express uncertainty and are characteristic of academic writing.
Question 7: A text includes the sentence: 'Despite initial resistance, the policy gained widespread acceptance within two years.' The word 'despite' signals:
- A cause-and-effect relationship
- A concession that contrasts with the main point (Correct answer)
- A sequence of events in time order
- A definition of the policy
Correct answer: A concession that contrasts with the main point
'Despite' introduces a concessive clause, indicating that the resistance did not prevent the acceptance.
NBT Academic Literacy Comprehension 2
A passage states: 'While correlation between screen time and academic decline has been documented, researchers caution against assuming causation.' What does this sentence primarily warn readers against?