English Usage Test 3

Para: After a price cap, fuel shortages appeared. Delivery firms delayed shipments, anticipating higher future prices. Black markets emerged as queues lengthened. Best summary? Para: After a price cap, fuel shortages appeared. Delivery firms delayed shipments, anticipating higher future prices. Black markets emerged as queues lengthened. Best summary?

2 Mark(s)

Price caps had no impact on supply chains
The cap triggered shortages and distorted incentives, leading to delays and black markets
Queues shortened because prices fell Queues shortened because prices fell
Black markets existed before the cap Black markets existed before the cap

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: The museum’s new wing is striking, with sweeping glass arcs. But acoustics are poor, and climate control struggles on hot days. The director admits fixes will be costly. Best summary? Para: The museum’s new wing is striking, with sweeping glass arcs. But acoustics are poor, and climate control struggles on hot days. The director admits fixes will be costly. Best summary?

2 Mark(s)

The wing is flawless and affordable The wing is flawless and affordable
A visually impressive wing faces functional problems that will be expensive to fix
Acoustics don’t matter in museums Acoustics don’t matter in museums
The museum plans to demolish the wing The museum plans to demolish the wing

Para: Cities banned plastic bags expecting cleaner streets. Litter dropped slightly, but sales of thicker garbage liners rose, offsetting plastic use. Policymakers are now tweaking designs. Best summary? Para: Cities banned plastic bags expecting cleaner streets. Litter dropped slightly, but sales of thicker garbage liners rose, offsetting plastic use. Policymakers are now tweaking designs. Best summary?

2 Mark(s)

Bag bans eliminated plastic waste Bag bans eliminated plastic waste
Bag bans had mixed effects as consumers substituted other plastics, prompting policy adjustments
Garbage liners are eco-friendly Garbage liners are eco-friendly
Policymakers abandoned regulation Policymakers abandoned regulation

Para: To curb traffic, the city raised parking fees and expanded bus lanes. Commute times fell slightly downtown, while outer neighborhoods demanded feeder services. Best summary? Para: To curb traffic, the city raised parking fees and expanded bus lanes. Commute times fell slightly downtown, while outer neighborhoods demanded feeder services. Best summary?

2 Mark(s)

Higher parking fees increased traffic Higher parking fees increased traffic
Peak traffic eased in the core, creating demand for better connections from the periphery
Bus lanes were removed Bus lanes were removed
Neighborhoods abandoned public transit Neighborhoods abandoned public transit

Para: Many firms equate productivity with longer hours. Yet studies show output plateaus beyond a point, while burnout rises. Several companies that cut hours reported equal or better results. Best summary? Para: Many firms equate productivity with longer hours. Yet studies show output plateaus beyond a point, while burnout rises. Several companies that cut hours reported equal or better results. Best summary?

2 Mark(s)

Longer hours always increase productivity
Shorter hours can sustain or improve productivity by avoiding burnout
Burnout is unrelated to hours worked Burnout is unrelated to hours worked
Companies that cut hours went bankrupt Companies that cut hours went bankrupt

Find the odd sentence out. A) Upwelling brought nutrient-rich water to the surface. B) Phytoplankton blooms tinted the sea turquoise. C) Trophic cascades followed shifts in predator abundance. D) The boutique hotel opened a rooftop infinity pool. Find the odd sentence out. A) Upwelling brought nutrient-rich water to the surface. B) Phytoplankton blooms tinted the sea turquoise. C) Trophic cascades followed shifts in predator abundance. D) The boutique hotel opened a rooftop infinity pool.

2 Mark(s)

Para: The app added badges to motivate learning. Initially activity spiked, but soon users ignored badges that felt cheap. Designers now test fewer, harder-to-earn milestones. Best summary? Para: The app added badges to motivate learning. Initially activity spiked, but soon users ignored badges that felt cheap. Designers now test fewer, harder-to-earn milestones. Best summary?

2 Mark(s)

Badges always work Badges always work
Overused badges lost meaning; tougher milestones may restore motivation
Users dislike milestones Users dislike milestones
Designers removed all rewards Designers removed all rewards

Find the odd sentence out. A) Affordances cue how an object should be used. B) Progressive disclosure prevents overwhelming novices. C) Contrast ratios affect readability on small screens. D) The geologist mapped a batholith in the shield craton. Find the odd sentence out. A) Affordances cue how an object should be used. B) Progressive disclosure prevents overwhelming novices. C) Contrast ratios affect readability on small screens. D) The geologist mapped a batholith in the shield craton.

2 Mark(s)

Find the odd sentence out. A) Headways shortened as signalling upgraded to CBTC. B) Platform screen doors improved safety and airflow. C) Off-peak fares shifted demand away from rush hour. D) The vineyard bottled a pét-nat with minimal sulphur. Find the odd sentence out. A) Headways shortened as signalling upgraded to CBTC. B) Platform screen doors improved safety and airflow. C) Off-peak fares shifted demand away from rush hour. D) The vineyard bottled a pét-nat with minimal sulphur.

2 Mark(s)

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: 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: 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: 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: 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

Find the odd sentence out. A) Informed consent requires clear disclosure and voluntariness. B) Conflicts of interest must be declared. C) Data should be anonymised when possible. D) The snowboarder landed a switch backside 900. Find the odd sentence out. A) Informed consent requires clear disclosure and voluntariness. B) Conflicts of interest must be declared. C) Data should be anonymised when possible. D) The snowboarder landed a switch backside 900.

2 Mark(s)

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: 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

Find the odd sentence out. A) A necessary condition must hold for the outcome to occur. B) A sufficient condition guarantees the outcome when present. C) Counterexamples refute universal claims. D) The patissier spun sugar into gossamer nests. Find the odd sentence out. A) A necessary condition must hold for the outcome to occur. B) A sufficient condition guarantees the outcome when present. C) Counterexamples refute universal claims. D) The patissier spun sugar into gossamer nests.

2 Mark(s)

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: 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: 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

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: 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

Find the odd sentence out. A) Heteroskedasticity inflates standard errors if ignored. B) Cluster-robust variance estimators adjust for grouping. C) Residual plots diagnose model misspecification. D) The florist arranged peonies with eucalyptus sprigs. Find the odd sentence out. A) Heteroskedasticity inflates standard errors if ignored. B) Cluster-robust variance estimators adjust for grouping. C) Residual plots diagnose model misspecification. D) The florist arranged peonies with eucalyptus sprigs.

2 Mark(s)

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: 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: 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: 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: 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

English Usage Test 3 : Question 1 of 30