English Usage Test 10

Para: The telescope’s instrument, once plagued by noise, was cooled to near absolute zero. Signal clarity improved, revealing faint exoplanet signatures missed before. Best summary? Para: The telescope’s instrument, once plagued by noise, was cooled to near absolute zero. Signal clarity improved, revealing faint exoplanet signatures missed before. Best summary?

2 Mark(s)

Cooling degraded measurements Cooling degraded measurements
Cooling reduced noise, enabling detection of faint exoplanet signals
Exoplanets disappeared after cooling Exoplanets disappeared after cooling
Absolute zero made the telescope unusable

Para: A ventilation retrofit lowered CO2 and absenteeism in schools. Costs were recouped in two years through reduced sick days. Best summary? Para: A ventilation retrofit lowered CO2 and absenteeism in schools. Costs were recouped in two years through reduced sick days. Best summary?

2 Mark(s)

Ventilation increased illness Ventilation increased illness
Improved ventilation paid for itself via fewer absences
CO2 levels rose CO2 levels rose
Savings were negligible Savings were negligible

Para: Planting trees cools streets, but species choice matters. Some emit compounds that worsen smog. Cities now favor low-emitting, drought-tolerant varieties. Best summary? Para: Planting trees cools streets, but species choice matters. Some emit compounds that worsen smog. Cities now favor low-emitting, drought-tolerant varieties. Best summary?

2 Mark(s)

Any tree reduces smog Any tree reduces smog
Urban greening helps, but species selection is crucial to avoid air-quality trade-offs
Cities abandoned tree planting Cities abandoned tree planting
Only drought tolerance matters Only drought tolerance matters

Para: With all approvals routed through one manager, projects stalled. Delegating sign-offs cut cycle times and reduced errors from haste. Best summary? Para: With all approvals routed through one manager, projects stalled. Delegating sign-offs cut cycle times and reduced errors from haste. Best summary?

2 Mark(s)

Centralizing approvals improves speed Centralizing approvals improves speed
Removing a single point of failure sped decisions and improved quality
Delegation increased errors Delegation increased errors
Approvals were abolished Approvals were abolished

Para: The newspaper launched newsletters and podcasts. Subscriptions rose, but revenue still relies on ads during big news cycles. Best summary? Para: The newspaper launched newsletters and podcasts. Subscriptions rose, but revenue still relies on ads during big news cycles. Best summary?

2 Mark(s)

Subscriptions fell after podcasts Subscriptions fell after podcasts
New products increased subs, yet revenue remains tied to ad spikes
Ads were eliminated Ads were eliminated
The paper stopped covering big news The paper stopped covering big news

Para: The author’s late essays shed ornament for clarity, confronting illness frankly. Critics praise the voice’s steadiness amid decline. Best summary? Para: The author’s late essays shed ornament for clarity, confronting illness frankly. Critics praise the voice’s steadiness amid decline. Best summary?

2 Mark(s)

Late essays grew more ornate Late essays grew more ornate
A stripped style met illness with calm candor, earning critical respect
Critics disliked the tone Critics disliked the tone
The essays hid illness The essays hid illness

Para: A universal cash transfer boosted spending initially but tapered after three months. Recipients used funds mainly for essentials. Best summary? Para: A universal cash transfer boosted spending initially but tapered after three months. Recipients used funds mainly for essentials. Best summary?

2 Mark(s)

Spending surged permanently on luxuries Spending surged permanently on luxuries
Cash transfers raised short-run essential spending with fading effects
Recipients saved all the money Recipients saved all the money
Effects were negative Effects were negative

Para: Survey response was 12%. Results matched prior polls but underrepresented older voters. Analysts caution against overconfidence in subgroup estimates. Best summary? Para: Survey response was 12%. Results matched prior polls but underrepresented older voters. Analysts caution against overconfidence in subgroup estimates. Best summary?

2 Mark(s)

Low response guarantees bias in all respects
Findings align overall, yet sampling limits weaken subgroup precision
Older voters dominated the sample Older voters dominated the sample
Surveys are useless Surveys are useless

Para: A diet app promised weight loss, but trials found small changes no better than counseling. Adherence slipped after four weeks, especially among shift workers. Best summary? Para: A diet app promised weight loss, but trials found small changes no better than counseling. Adherence slipped after four weeks, especially among shift workers. Best summary?

2 Mark(s)

The app outperformed all alternatives The app outperformed all alternatives
The app's benefits were limited, with adherence issues undermining impact
Shift workers lost the most weight Shift workers lost the most weight
Counseling was prohibited Counseling was prohibited

Para: Earnings rose, but guidance was flat. Management prioritized debt reduction over buybacks. Analysts expect slower EPS growth despite healthier balance sheets. Best summary? Para: Earnings rose, but guidance was flat. Management prioritized debt reduction over buybacks. Analysts expect slower EPS growth despite healthier balance sheets. Best summary?

2 Mark(s)

The firm will aggressively repurchase shares
Stronger earnings are being channeled to deleveraging, tempering EPS growth
Debt is rising quickly Debt is rising quickly
Guidance soared Guidance soared

Para: Rooftop solar grew fast, but evening peaks persisted. Batteries and time-of-use pricing helped smooth demand. Best summary? Para: Rooftop solar grew fast, but evening peaks persisted. Batteries and time-of-use pricing helped smooth demand. Best summary?

2 Mark(s)

Solar alone solved peaks Solar alone solved peaks
Solar adoption required storage and pricing signals to address peak demand
Batteries increased peaks Batteries increased peaks
Pricing had no effect Pricing had no effect

Para: Automation took over repetitive checks. Workers were retrained for troubleshooting, raising job satisfaction and cutting error rates. Best summary? Para: Automation took over repetitive checks. Workers were retrained for troubleshooting, raising job satisfaction and cutting error rates. Best summary?

2 Mark(s)

Automation eliminated all jobs Automation eliminated all jobs
Automation of routine tasks freed staff for higher-value work, improving morale and quality
Error rates rose Error rates rose
Retraining failed Retraining failed

Para: Drip irrigation cut water use and stabilized yields in drought years. Upfront costs deterred small farmers until subsidies arrived. Best summary? Para: Drip irrigation cut water use and stabilized yields in drought years. Upfront costs deterred small farmers until subsidies arrived. Best summary?

2 Mark(s)

Drip irrigation wastes water Drip irrigation wastes water
Efficient irrigation improved resilience, but adoption needed financial support
Yields collapsed under drip Yields collapsed under drip
Subsidies harmed farmers Subsidies harmed farmers

Para: The study tested a tutoring program in three urban schools. Scores improved modestly, but researchers warn results may not generalize to rural areas. Best summary? Para: The study tested a tutoring program in three urban schools. Scores improved modestly, but researchers warn results may not generalize to rural areas. Best summary?

2 Mark(s)

The program works everywhere The program works everywhere
Urban trials showed modest gains, with limited external validity
Rural schools outperformed urban schools
Tutoring had no effect Tutoring had no effect

Para: A walking program improved seniors’ cognition in trials versus stretching. Gains were modest but consistent across sites. Best summary? Para: A walking program improved seniors’ cognition in trials versus stretching. Gains were modest but consistent across sites. Best summary?

2 Mark(s)

Walking harmed cognition Walking harmed cognition
Moderate walking produced small but reliable cognitive benefits compared to stretching
Only stretching improved cognition Only stretching improved cognition
Results were contradictory Results were contradictory

Para: Letters found in an archive show a compromise proposed months before talks collapsed. Historians now reassess who stalled negotiations. Best summary? Para: Letters found in an archive show a compromise proposed months before talks collapsed. Historians now reassess who stalled negotiations. Best summary?

2 Mark(s)

No new evidence was found No new evidence was found
New letters shift the timeline, prompting a reevaluation of blame in failed talks
The compromise was accepted The compromise was accepted
Historians ignored the letters Historians ignored the letters

Para: User tests showed onboarding was confusing. A simplified flow and contextual tips halved drop-offs in the first week. Best summary? Para: User tests showed onboarding was confusing. A simplified flow and contextual tips halved drop-offs in the first week. Best summary?

2 Mark(s)

Adding steps improved onboarding Adding steps improved onboarding
Simplifying onboarding and adding guidance reduced early churn
Tips increased confusion Tips increased confusion
Drop-offs remained the same Drop-offs remained the same

Para: Traditional courses deliver lectures then quizzes. In contrast, flipped classrooms assign videos at home and use class time for problem-solving. Early results show higher engagement. Best summary? Para: Traditional courses deliver lectures then quizzes. In contrast, flipped classrooms assign videos at home and use class time for problem-solving. Early results show higher engagement. Best summary?

2 Mark(s)

Flipped classrooms remove assessments Flipped classrooms remove assessments
Compared to lectures, flipped models shift content outside class and report greater engagement
Traditional courses are obsolete Traditional courses are obsolete
Students prefer silent reading Students prefer silent reading

Para: Trained on vast text, a model learned grammar implicitly and generalized to new tasks. The result revived debates about “understanding.” Best summary? Para: Trained on vast text, a model learned grammar implicitly and generalized to new tasks. The result revived debates about “understanding.” Best summary?

2 Mark(s)

The model cannot generalize The model cannot generalize
Unsupervised training produced emergent abilities, prompting debate on what counts as understanding
Grammar was hand-coded Grammar was hand-coded
Debates ended Debates ended

Para: A nudge placed healthy snacks at eye level. Sales rose, but the effect faded when promotions on sweets returned. Best summary? Para: A nudge placed healthy snacks at eye level. Sales rose, but the effect faded when promotions on sweets returned. Best summary?

2 Mark(s)

Nudges permanently change preferences Nudges permanently change preferences
Placement nudges work, but can be undermined by counter-incentives
Sales of snacks fell overall Sales of snacks fell overall
Promotions had no effect Promotions had no effect

Para: A lab disclosed that its funder reviewed drafts before publication. Critics called for clearer conflict statements. The team has since added a public registry of funding roles. Best summary? Para: A lab disclosed that its funder reviewed drafts before publication. Critics called for clearer conflict statements. The team has since added a public registry of funding roles. Best summary?

2 Mark(s)

The lab hid all sponsors The lab hid all sponsors
Disclosure gaps spurred transparency reforms, including a funding-role registry
Conflicts are irrelevant Conflicts are irrelevant
The funder wrote the paper The funder wrote the paper

Para: A festival revived crafts by pairing elders with teens. Schools added workshops; orders from visitors gave artisans steady income. Best summary? Para: A festival revived crafts by pairing elders with teens. Schools added workshops; orders from visitors gave artisans steady income. Best summary?

2 Mark(s)

The festival disrupted schooling The festival disrupted schooling
Intergenerational training and school support revitalized crafts and incomes
Visitors avoided local products Visitors avoided local products
Crafts declined further Crafts declined further

Para: The factory’s throughput lagged due to one inspection station. Adding parallel inspectors cut queues and lifted output without new machines. Best summary? Para: The factory’s throughput lagged due to one inspection station. Adding parallel inspectors cut queues and lifted output without new machines. Best summary?

2 Mark(s)

Adding machines everywhere boosted output
Relieving a bottleneck inspection step increased throughput efficiently
Inspections were eliminated Inspections were eliminated
Queues grew longer Queues grew longer

Para: Students using retrieval practice remembered more weeks later than those rereading notes. The advantage held across subjects. Best summary? Para: Students using retrieval practice remembered more weeks later than those rereading notes. The advantage held across subjects. Best summary?

2 Mark(s)

Rereading outperforms retrieval practice
Testing yourself improves long-term retention across domains
Results apply only to math Results apply only to math
Memory was not measured Memory was not measured

Para: The report uses vivid case studies, but hides methods in an appendix. Conclusions are persuasive yet difficult to evaluate. Best summary? Para: The report uses vivid case studies, but hides methods in an appendix. Conclusions are persuasive yet difficult to evaluate. Best summary?

2 Mark(s)

Persuasive storytelling without transparent methods hinders evaluation
Methods are the only important part Methods are the only important part
Case studies invalidate conclusions Case studies invalidate conclusions
The report contains no appendix The report contains no appendix

English Usage Test 10 : Question 1 of 25