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WACE ATAR English as an Additional Language or Dialect study materials
WACE ATAR English as an Additional Language or Dialect study resources

WACE ATAR English as an Additional Language or Dialect practice questions

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Question 1Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

Read this sentence: 'Although the harvest had been poor, the villagers still shared what little grain remained.' Which relationship between the two clauses does the conjunction 'although' signal?

  1. Contrast or concession Correct answer.
  2. Cause and effect
  3. Sequence in time
  4. Addition of similar ideas

Explanation

The conjunction 'although' introduces a clause that works against the expectation set up by the main clause, creating a concessive or contrastive link. The sharing of grain is surprising given the poor harvest, so the relationship is one of contrast rather than cause, time or addition.

Question 2Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

A news report describes a factory closure using the phrase 'hard-working locals lost their livelihoods'. Which persuasive technique is most evident in this wording?

  1. Statistical evidence
  2. Technical jargon
  3. Formal hedging
  4. Emotive language Correct answer.

Explanation

Words such as 'hard-working' and 'livelihoods' carry strong emotional associations that invite sympathy for the workers. This loaded choice of vocabulary is the defining feature of emotive language, which aims to shape the reader's feelings rather than present neutral facts.

Question 3Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

In a narrative, a character repeatedly glances at a locked drawer whenever her mother is mentioned. What is the most reasonable inference a reader can draw?

  1. The drawer holds something connected to a hidden family secret Correct answer.
  2. The mother has forbidden her to open any drawers
  3. The character dislikes the furniture in the room
  4. The character is simply bored during the conversation

Explanation

Repeated behaviour linked to a specific trigger is a common way authors signal unspoken significance. Because the glances occur whenever the mother is mentioned, the reader is invited to connect the drawer with concealed information about her.

Question 4Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

Which sentence uses a modal verb that expresses strong obligation?

  1. Students could submit their forms by Friday.
  2. Students must submit their forms by Friday. Correct answer.
  3. Students may submit their forms by Friday.
  4. Students might submit their forms by Friday.

Explanation

Modal verbs express degrees of obligation, possibility or permission. 'Must' conveys the strongest obligation, indicating that submitting the forms is compulsory rather than optional or merely possible.

Question 5Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

A poster shows a photograph of a pristine beach beside the slogan 'Protect what you love.' The photograph mainly functions to:

  1. Give directions to the nearest beach
  2. Provide verifiable evidence about water quality
  3. Explain the scientific causes of coastal erosion
  4. Create an emotional attachment that supports the slogan's appeal Correct answer.

Explanation

In multimodal texts, images work alongside words to position the audience. A beautiful beach photograph evokes affection, which primes the reader to accept the slogan's call to protect the place.

Question 6Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

Which of these connectives would best introduce a concluding paragraph that summarises an argument?

  1. In conclusion Correct answer.
  2. Meanwhile
  3. For instance
  4. By contrast

Explanation

Concluding connectives signal that the writer is drawing the discussion together. 'In conclusion' explicitly marks a summary or final judgement, which matches the purpose of a concluding paragraph.

Question 7Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

A writer states: 'Every sensible person agrees that the new policy is necessary.' Which flaw does this statement contain?

  1. It confuses correlation with causation
  2. It overstates the size of a sample
  3. It attacks opponents rather than addressing their reasons Correct answer.
  4. It relies on an unrepresentative statistic

Explanation

The statement implies that anyone who disagrees is not sensible, which dismisses opponents instead of engaging with their arguments. This is an attack on the character or judgement of dissenters rather than a reasoned defence of the policy.

Question 8Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

In a short story, the narrator says: 'I told him I was fine, but my hands would not stop shaking.' What does the contrast between words and body reveal?

  1. The narrator is describing someone else's hands
  2. The narrator is deliberately lying to deceive the reader
  3. The narrator's spoken claim conflicts with her true emotional state Correct answer.
  4. The narrator has forgotten what she said earlier

Explanation

The gap between what a character says and what her body does is a technique for revealing concealed feeling. The shaking hands undercut the claim of being fine, showing inner distress that the dialogue hides.

Question 9Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

Read this extract: 'The city never slept. Buses groaned past at midnight, delivery vans rattled through the dawn, and shop shutters clattered open before the sun had risen.' Which feature most strongly creates the impression of constant activity?

  1. The shift from past tense to present tense
  2. The absence of any adjectives in the description
  3. The accumulation of sensory verbs describing sounds across the whole night Correct answer.
  4. The use of a single metaphor in the opening sentence

Explanation

The writer piles up verbs such as 'groaned', 'rattled' and 'clattered' and spreads the events from midnight through dawn, so the density and timing of the detail produce the sense of unbroken activity. The cumulative effect is what convinces the reader that the city never rests.

Question 10Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

A website article about a health supplement includes the line: 'Nine out of ten users say they feel better within a week.' Which question would most usefully test this claim?

  1. What is the price of the supplement?
  2. How long has the company existed?
  3. How many users were asked, and how were they selected? Correct answer.
  4. Who designed the website's layout?

Explanation

A claim based on user reports depends on the size and representativeness of the group surveyed. Asking how many people were asked and how they were chosen reveals whether the figure is reliable or the result of a biased or tiny sample.

Question 11Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

Which sentence contains a nominalisation that makes the writing more formal and abstract?

  1. People talked about the policy for many weeks.
  2. The implementation of the policy required extensive consultation. Correct answer.
  3. They put the policy into practice quite quickly.
  4. The council implemented the policy after consulting widely.

Explanation

Nominalisation turns verbs or adjectives into nouns, as when 'implement' becomes 'implementation'. This condenses an action into an abstract noun phrase, which is typical of formal, academic registers.

Question 12Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

An advertisement reads: 'Don't let another summer slip away without the holiday you deserve.' Which two persuasive strategies are combined here?

  1. Reliance on statistics and appeal to authority
  2. Appeal to fear of loss and appeal to self-interest Correct answer.
  3. Use of expert testimony and appeal to tradition
  4. Use of humour and appeal to novelty

Explanation

The warning that summer will 'slip away' creates anxiety about missing out, while 'the holiday you deserve' flatters the reader's sense of entitlement. Together these strategies pressure the audience through fear of loss and self-interest.

Question 13Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

In an opinion piece, the writer describes a proposed law as 'a bureaucratic monster that will devour small businesses'. This is an example of:

  1. Euphemism combined with litotes
  2. Technical description combined with statistics
  3. Understatement combined with irony
  4. Hyperbole combined with metaphor Correct answer.

Explanation

The law is exaggerated as a 'monster' that will 'devour' businesses, which is hyperbolic, and the comparison presents the law as a living creature, which is metaphorical. The two devices together create a vivid, alarming image.

Question 14Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

A text states: 'The council reduced spending on libraries. Soon afterwards, library visits declined.' Which interpretation is most careful?

  1. The two events are linked in time, but the text does not prove one caused the other Correct answer.
  2. The decline in visits forced the council to cut spending
  3. The two events are entirely unrelated and coincidental
  4. The spending cut definitely caused the decline in visits

Explanation

The text reports a sequence of events without establishing a causal mechanism. A careful reader notes the temporal link while recognising that other factors, such as changed opening hours, could explain the decline.

Question 15Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

A brochure about a resort uses short sentences, direct address and frequent exclamation marks. What is the likely intended effect on the reader?

  1. To convey doubt about the resort's quality
  2. To establish a scholarly tone suited to academic research
  3. To create an energetic, friendly tone that encourages quick action Correct answer.
  4. To present detailed legal conditions of booking

Explanation

Short sentences, second-person address and exclamations combine to produce a lively, approachable voice that urges the reader to act. These choices are typical of promotional writing aimed at persuasion rather than analysis.

Question 16Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

Read this line: 'The old man walked into the room, and everyone stopped talking.' Which detail most strongly suggests that the man holds authority?

  1. The fact that the man is described as old
  2. The mention of a room rather than a hall
  3. The use of the verb 'walked' rather than 'ran'
  4. The immediate silence of everyone present when he enters Correct answer.

Explanation

The reaction of the group is the key clue: a sudden hush on someone's arrival implies respect, fear or importance. Characterisation often works through how others respond rather than through direct description.

Question 17Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

Which feature would most clearly identify a text as an informal, conversational blog post rather than a formal report?

  1. A reference list at the end
  2. Passive voice and impersonal constructions
  3. A contents page and numbered headings
  4. Contractions, slang and direct questions to the reader Correct answer.

Explanation

Informal registers are marked by contractions, colloquial vocabulary and direct engagement with the audience. These choices contrast sharply with the impersonal, structured conventions of formal reporting.

Question 18Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

A cartoon shows a politician at a podium while a tiny figure behind him holds up a sign reading 'Promises'. The politician's speech bubble is empty. What is the cartoon most likely satirising?

  1. The gap between a politician's rhetoric and actual delivery Correct answer.
  2. The poor design of modern podiums
  3. The need for larger speech bubbles in cartoons
  4. The importance of sign language in politics

Explanation

The empty speech bubble suggests hollow words, while the small figure holding 'Promises' implies that commitments are hidden or neglected. Together these visual cues mock the distance between what politicians say and what they do.

Question 19Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

In an argument, a writer claims: 'If we allow students to choose their own books, they will soon demand to choose their own teachers and then their own curriculum.' Which technique is being used?

  1. False dilemma
  2. Slippery slope reasoning Correct answer.
  3. Appeal to authority
  4. Circular reasoning

Explanation

The writer predicts a chain of escalating consequences from a single initial step without justifying each link. This pattern, where one modest change is said to lead inevitably to an extreme outcome, is a slippery slope.

Question 20Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

A poem repeats the line 'the river remembers' at the end of each stanza. What is the most likely effect of this repetition?

  1. It creates a refrain that emphasises the river's enduring significance Correct answer.
  2. It shows that the poet has run out of ideas
  3. It signals a change of setting in each stanza
  4. It provides factual information about the river's history

Explanation

Repetition at regular intervals, such as the end of each stanza, functions as a refrain that reinforces a central idea. Here it stresses the river's persistence and the theme of memory running through the poem.

Question 21Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

Read this extract: 'She had rehearsed the apology a hundred times. Now, facing her brother, the words arrived in the wrong order, collided, and fell silent on the floor.' Which technique is used in the final clause?

  1. A simile comparing speech to music
  2. An allusion to a well-known myth
  3. Personification of the words as objects that can fall Correct answer.
  4. Direct speech enclosed in quotation marks

Explanation

The words are treated as physical things that can 'collide' and 'fall', which gives abstract language the properties of objects. This figurative treatment conveys the speaker's loss of control more vividly than a literal description could.

Question 22Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

Two texts discuss the same housing policy. Text A, a government newsletter, calls it 'a forward-looking plan'. Text B, a tenants' group statement, calls it 'an untested experiment'. What best explains the difference?

  1. One text is factually accurate and the other is entirely false
  2. Each text selects vocabulary that reflects the values and interests of its producer Correct answer.
  3. The texts describe two completely different policies
  4. Text B uses a more formal register than Text A

Explanation

Word choice is never neutral; each producer frames the same policy through language that serves its own perspective. The government emphasises optimism and progress, while the tenants' group stresses risk and uncertainty, revealing their different positions.

Question 23Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

A writer argues: 'We cannot trust the senator's report on the bridge because she trained as a lawyer, not an engineer.' Which criticism of this reasoning is most accurate?

  1. It uses emotive language to manipulate the reader
  2. It dismisses the report on the basis of the author's background rather than its evidence Correct answer.
  3. It relies too heavily on statistical sampling
  4. It draws an unjustified conclusion from a small sample

Explanation

The argument rejects the report because of who wrote it, not because of flaws in what it says. Sound evaluation should examine the quality of the evidence and reasoning rather than the author's professional history alone.

Question 24Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

In a multimodal text, a graph rises steeply while the caption reads 'a modest increase'. What is the likely purpose of this mismatch?

  1. To correct an error in the graph's scale
  2. To downplay the data and shape the audience's interpretation Correct answer.
  3. To provide an accurate summary of the graph
  4. To help readers compare two different graphs

Explanation

When words and images send conflicting messages, the combination can steer interpretation. Describing a steep rise as 'modest' minimises its impact, encouraging readers to underestimate the trend.

Question 25Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

A novel describes a character as follows: 'He was always the first to arrive and the last to leave, though no one ever asked him to stay.' What does the final clause most strongly imply?

  1. He secretly owns the building
  2. He is being paid generously for overtime
  3. He is unpopular because he works too slowly
  4. His dedication is unacknowledged and perhaps unwelcome to others Correct answer.

Explanation

The clause 'no one ever asked him to stay' undercuts the apparent virtue of his diligence, hinting that his commitment is unnoticed or even unwanted. The implication depends on reading the contrast between effort and response.

Question 26Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

A student reads a campaign leaflet that says: 'Our plan will create thousands of jobs and protect every family's future.' Which reading strategy would best help the student judge how reliable this claim is?

  1. Check whether the leaflet supplies evidence, such as figures or sources, for the job figures Correct answer.
  2. Memorise the slogan so it can be quoted in an essay
  3. Count how many times the word 'future' appears in the leaflet
  4. Decide whether the leaflet uses attractive colours and images

Explanation

Reliability depends on whether a claim is supported by verifiable evidence, such as statistics, named sources or independent data. Counting repeated words or admiring the design does not test whether the statement is true. Memorising a slogan may help quotation but tells the reader nothing about accuracy.

Question 27Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

Read this sentence: 'Although the trial had been widely praised, the final report exposed serious flaws in its design.' Which word signals that the second half of the sentence will contradict the first?

  1. final
  2. widely
  3. Although Correct answer.
  4. serious

Explanation

'Although' is a concessive conjunction: it introduces information that works against the expectation set up earlier in the sentence. Recognising concessive connectives helps readers follow shifts in a writer's argument. The other words add description or emphasis but do not create a contrast between clauses.

Question 28Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

A travel article begins: 'Imagine stepping off the plane into air so warm it feels like a blanket.' What is the main purpose of this opening?

  1. To engage the reader's senses and draw them into the scene Correct answer.
  2. To provide precise statistical information about the destination
  3. To criticise the destination's climate
  4. To summarise the article's main argument in one sentence

Explanation

Sensory imagery appeals to touch and temperature so that readers imagine the experience for themselves. Travel writing often opens this way to build interest before giving practical information. Statistics, argument summaries and criticism would require quite different language.

Question 29Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

Which sentence uses the most formal register?

  1. The committee decided to put the whole thing off until they had more numbers.
  2. The committee resolved to defer consideration of the proposal until further data became available. Correct answer.
  3. The committee said, 'Let's park that idea for now, yeah?'
  4. The committee thought it best to wait a bit and see what turned up.

Explanation

Formal register favours Latinate vocabulary, complete clauses and impersonal phrasing, as in 'resolved to defer consideration'. The other options use colloquial words such as 'park that idea', 'a bit' and contractions. Register choices signal the relationship between writer and audience.

Question 30Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

Read this extract: 'The queue stretched around the block. Somewhere near the front, a child began to cry.' What is the most likely effect of the second sentence?

  1. It narrows the wide scene to a single human detail, creating sympathy Correct answer.
  2. It introduces a completely new setting unrelated to the first sentence
  3. It shifts the text into a formal, factual report
  4. It explains the cause of the long queue

Explanation

The first sentence gives a broad picture of the crowd, and the second zooms in on one small, human moment. This technique of moving from wide shot to close-up invites readers to feel for a particular person. It does not explain why people are queuing or change the setting.

Question 31Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

A news report states: 'Police confirmed that three people were injured in the collision.' Which feature makes this sentence sound objective?

  1. It ends with a rhetorical question
  2. It uses vivid adjectives to stir emotion
  3. It attributes the information to an official source Correct answer.
  4. It addresses the reader directly

Explanation

Attributing a statement to a named authority such as police gives the reader a source to trust and distances the reporter from the claim. Objective news writing relies on attribution, neutral vocabulary and third person. Emotional adjectives, direct address and rhetorical questions would all make it more subjective.

Question 32Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

In a graphic novel, a character is drawn in a tiny panel at the bottom of a page while a huge dark building fills the rest of the frame. What does the composition most likely suggest?

  1. The character owns the building and controls it
  2. The scene takes place at night in a quiet village
  3. The building is unimportant compared with the character
  4. The character feels small and overwhelmed by the surroundings Correct answer.

Explanation

Relative size in a visual composition conveys power and mood: a small figure beside an enormous structure suggests vulnerability or insignificance. Readers of multimodal texts combine image size, position and shading to build meaning. Ownership, the building's unimportance or the time of day cannot be inferred from size alone.

Question 33Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

Which sentence contains a generalisation that a careful reader should question?

  1. Phone use among young people has risen in recent years.
  2. Teenagers today are all addicted to their phones. Correct answer.
  3. Many teenagers use their phones for several hours each day.
  4. Some studies link heavy phone use with poorer sleep.

Explanation

The absolute word 'all' turns a limited observation into a sweeping claim that a single exception would disprove. Careful readers treat absolute quantifiers with suspicion unless evidence covers every case. The other sentences use hedges such as 'many', 'some' and 'in recent years', which make them more defensible.

Question 34Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

A writer describes a factory closure as follows: 'The decision was made, and the workers were informed.' What does the passive voice emphasise here?

  1. The writer's own opinion about the decision
  2. The personal responsibility of a named manager
  3. The speed with which the factory was built
  4. The action and the workers affected rather than who made the decision Correct answer.

Explanation

Passive constructions such as 'was made' and 'were informed' place the action and its recipients in focus while hiding or omitting the agent. Writers often use this to avoid naming who is responsible. The sentence names no manager, gives no construction details and states no explicit opinion.

Question 35Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

Read this extract: 'The scientist's paper was careful, thorough and dull. It was, in other words, exactly what the field needed.' What is the writer's attitude towards the paper?

  1. Uncertain about the paper's findings
  2. Approving, despite the apparent criticism Correct answer.
  3. Dismissive of the paper's value
  4. Amused by the scientist's mistakes

Explanation

The word 'dull' looks critical, but 'exactly what the field needed' reframes it as a virtue, showing approval. Skilled readers track tone across a whole sentence rather than reacting to a single word. There is no suggestion of doubt about findings or of amusement at errors.

Question 36Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

A text about recycling states: 'Recycling is important. It helps the planet. Everyone should do it.' Which criticism best describes this writing?

  1. It relies on short assertions without evidence or development Correct answer.
  2. It includes excessive statistical detail
  3. It presents a balanced view of opposing arguments
  4. It uses too much technical vocabulary for its audience

Explanation

Each sentence is a bare claim with no supporting data, example or explanation, so the paragraph asserts rather than argues. Effective persuasive writing develops points with evidence and reasoning. The passage contains no technical terms, no opposing views and no statistics.

Question 37Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

A webpage headline reads: 'Shocking truth about supermarket food revealed!' and the article beneath links to a paid subscription. What is the most likely purpose of the headline?

  1. To summarise the article's main findings accurately
  2. To warn readers against eating supermarket food
  3. To provoke curiosity so readers click and subscribe Correct answer.
  4. To present balanced research on food safety

Explanation

Emotive words such as 'shocking' and 'truth revealed' create a curiosity gap that encourages clicking, which supports the commercial aim of gaining subscribers. This pattern is common in clickbait headlines. An accurate summary, a health warning or balanced research would use more specific and measured language.

Question 38Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

Read this sentence: 'The report, which had taken three years to compile, was ignored.' Which information does the relative clause add?

  1. The topic the report investigated
  2. The identity of the people who ignored it
  3. The reason the report was eventually published
  4. The length of time spent producing the report Correct answer.

Explanation

The relative clause 'which had taken three years to compile' modifies 'the report' and supplies background about its production time. Identifying what a subordinate clause contributes helps readers separate main and supporting information. It does not name the readers, give a reason for publication or state the subject matter.

Question 39Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

A letter to the editor argues: 'Cyclists should pay registration fees, just as drivers do.' Which assumption does this argument depend on?

  1. That most cyclists also own cars
  2. That cyclists already pay registration fees
  3. That drivers should stop paying registration fees
  4. That bicycles and cars impose comparable costs and responsibilities on the community Correct answer.

Explanation

The argument's force comes from treating bicycles and cars as alike, so it assumes the two cause similar costs and duties that a fee would address. If that comparison fails, the analogy collapses. The argument does not claim cyclists already pay, that drivers should stop paying, or that cyclists own cars.

Question 40Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

A brochure for a language school shows a smiling student beside the caption 'Your future starts here.' How do the image and caption work together?

  1. The image provides emotional appeal while the caption offers a promise about outcomes Correct answer.
  2. The caption describes the image literally and factually
  3. The image supplies statistical evidence for the school's results
  4. The image contradicts the caption by suggesting failure

Explanation

Multimodal texts combine modes so each does part of the persuasive work: the photograph builds warmth and identification, while the caption states an attractive promise. Reading them together reveals the overall pitch. The caption is figurative, not literal, and neither element offers data or contradiction.

Question 41Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

Read this extract: 'He was not unkind, exactly, but the word generous had never been used in the same sentence as his name.' What does the writer imply about the character?

  1. He is not cruel but is noticeably lacking in generosity Correct answer.
  2. He is cruel and universally disliked
  3. He is famous for his charitable donations
  4. He is extremely generous but hides it

Explanation

The litotes 'not unkind' softens the judgement, while the comment about 'generous' hints at a well-known stinginess. The implication is built through understatement and negation rather than direct description. Kindness hidden, cruelty or fame for charity all conflict with this ironic tone.

Question 42Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

Which feature most clearly shows that a text is intended for an academic audience?

  1. References to other research and the use of discipline-specific terminology Correct answer.
  2. Direct commands such as 'Buy now' and 'Hurry'
  3. Short sentences and frequent exclamation marks
  4. Personal anecdotes about the writer's holiday

Explanation

Academic writing signals its audience through citation of scholarly sources, specialised vocabulary and an impersonal, measured tone. These features assume a reader who shares or seeks expert knowledge. Exclamations, sales commands and holiday anecdotes belong to promotional or personal writing.

Question 43Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

A writer claims: 'Since the new library opened, borrowing has increased, so the library must have caused the rise.' Which alternative explanation should a critical reader consider?

  1. The library was built with recycled materials
  2. Borrowing figures are recorded every month
  3. A popular reading campaign began at the same time and encouraged borrowing Correct answer.
  4. The library has a large car park

Explanation

When two events coincide, a third factor may explain both, so the reader should look for a plausible alternative cause. A simultaneous reading campaign offers exactly such an explanation for rising borrowing. Building materials, recording schedules and parking do not readily account for the increase.

Question 44Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

Read this sentence from a review: 'The film is two hours of beautifully photographed nothing.' What is the effect of the phrase 'beautifully photographed nothing'?

  1. It concedes visual skill while attacking the film's substance Correct answer.
  2. It describes the plot in neutral, factual terms
  3. It praises both the visuals and the storyline
  4. It suggests the film is too short

Explanation

The juxtaposition of praise ('beautifully photographed') with dismissal ('nothing') creates a witty, balanced insult. The reviewer grants technical merit but denies the film any real content. The phrase is evaluative rather than neutral, and it makes no comment on length.

Question 45Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

A government website describes a new tax as 'a modest contribution to shared prosperity', while a community newsletter calls the same tax 'a heavy burden on ordinary households'. What does the comparison mainly reveal?

  1. That word choice can frame an identical policy in opposing ways Correct answer.
  2. That the tax was changed between the two publications
  3. That both texts were written by the same author
  4. That one of the two texts must contain factual errors

Explanation

Both descriptions refer to the same measure, but evaluative language ('modest contribution', 'heavy burden') positions readers differently. Comparing texts shows how framing shapes perception of a single policy. Disagreement in framing does not prove factual error, alteration of the tax or shared authorship.

Question 46Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

Read this extract: 'The instructions were simple. Fold the sheet. Turn it over. Fold again. Yet somehow the shelf collapsed.' What is the main effect of the short sentences?

  1. They create a steady, controlled rhythm that the final sentence abruptly breaks Correct answer.
  2. They show that the writer is unsure how to fold the sheet
  3. They slow the pace to create a calm, reflective mood
  4. They provide detailed technical explanation of the shelf

Explanation

A run of brief, parallel sentences produces an orderly rhythm, which the unexpected 'Yet somehow' disrupts for comic effect. Sentence length and rhythm are key tools for controlling pace and surprise. The sentences are confident rather than hesitant, give no technical detail and build towards a jolt rather than reflection.

Question 47Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

An article about a drought includes a photograph of cracked earth with a caption giving rainfall figures for ten years. Which statement best describes how the two modes combine?

  1. Both modes present identical information in the same way
  2. The photograph supplies the data and the caption creates the emotional appeal
  3. The photograph evokes an emotional response while the caption supplies measurable evidence Correct answer.
  4. The caption is designed to entertain rather than inform

Explanation

Each mode contributes something different: the image works on feeling and identification, while the caption provides quantitative proof. Together they make the argument both vivid and credible. The roles are not reversed, and the caption is evidently informational rather than entertaining.

Question 48Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

A columnist writes: 'Of course, I am biased. We are all biased. So you may as well accept my view.' Which criticism best applies to this reasoning?

  1. The writer provides too much statistical evidence
  2. The argument is too formal for a newspaper column
  3. The writer refuses to acknowledge any bias at all
  4. Admitting bias does not make the argument's conclusion valid Correct answer.

Explanation

Confessing a general bias may seem disarming, but it does not establish that the particular conclusion follows. The move shifts attention from evidence to the universality of bias. The writer does acknowledge bias, offers no statistics and uses a conversational rather than formal tone.

Question 49Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

Read this extract: 'The town had changed. The bakery was a phone shop, the cinema a car park, and the school a block of flats. Only the river was where she had left it.' What is the main effect of the final sentence?

  1. It contrasts the town's transformation with one enduring landmark, deepening the sense of loss Correct answer.
  2. It introduces a new character to the story
  3. It suggests that the river has moved to a new location
  4. It confirms that the town has not changed at all

Explanation

The list of vanished places builds a picture of transformation, and the river's constancy throws that change into relief. The contrast sharpens the character's sense of loss, since only the natural feature remains familiar. The river has not literally moved, the town has clearly changed and no new character appears.

Question 50Comprehension of written and multimodal texts

A think-tank report states: 'Regions that adopted the scheme saw unemployment fall by two per cent. This proves the scheme works everywhere.' Which two weaknesses appear in this reasoning?

  1. It relies on a single anecdote and contradicts itself
  2. It uses too many technical terms and ignores unemployment
  3. It gives no figures and confuses cause with effect
  4. It treats correlation as proof of cause and generalises from limited regions to everywhere Correct answer.

Explanation

The report moves from an observed association to a causal claim, which requires evidence that the scheme itself produced the fall. It then extends a finding from particular regions to all places, an overgeneralisation. Figures are actually supplied, and no anecdote or self-contradiction is present.