Academic Literacy Reading Flashcards

In the AQL Academic Literacy section, a passage states: 'Despite initial scepticism, the municipality eventually endorsed the recycling scheme.' What does this sentence tell you about the municipality's final position?

Answer: It supported the recycling scheme in the end

'Eventually endorsed' signals final approval. 'Despite initial scepticism' shows the municipality first had doubts but ultimately supported the scheme, so option B is correct.

A reading passage uses the word 'consequently' to begin a sentence. What relationship does this signpost word indicate?

Answer: Cause and effect

'Consequently' introduces a result or effect that follows from a previously stated cause, making it a cause-and-effect connector.

Read this sentence: 'The study's findings were tentative and should not be generalised.' What does 'tentative' most nearly mean here?

Answer: Provisional and uncertain

'Tentative' means not yet definite or provisional. The clause 'should not be generalised' reinforces that the findings are uncertain.

An academic text refers to 'the latter' when discussing two methods. If the methods mentioned are 'observation and experimentation', what does 'the latter' refer to?

Answer: Experimentation

'The latter' always refers to the second of two items mentioned. Here the second item is 'experimentation'.

A passage concludes: 'The evidence, while compelling, is far from conclusive.' What is the author's overall stance toward the evidence?

Answer: The evidence is strong but not yet decisive

'Compelling' shows the evidence is strong, but 'far from conclusive' shows it does not fully settle the matter, so it is strong but not decisive.

In academic reading, a 'main idea' of a paragraph is best described as:

Answer: The central point the paragraph develops

The main idea is the central point a paragraph develops; supporting details and examples explain or back it up.

A text states: 'Whereas urban schools reported improvements, rural schools saw little change.' The word 'whereas' signals:

Answer: A contrast between the two groups

'Whereas' is a contrast connector, here highlighting the difference between urban and rural school outcomes.

If an academic passage describes an argument as 'unsubstantiated', the writer is suggesting the argument is:

Answer: Not backed by sufficient evidence

'Unsubstantiated' means not supported by evidence or proof, so the writer is questioning the argument's support.