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European Baccalaureate Language 1 study materials
European Baccalaureate Language 1 study resources

European Baccalaureate Language 1 practice questions

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Question 1Written examinations

In the written Language 1 examination of the European Baccalaureate, which document defines the assessment criteria and the weighting of the different components of the paper?

  1. The candidate's own school's internal language syllabus
  2. The European Baccalaureate regulations on examination conduct only
  3. The national curriculum of the country where the school is located
  4. The European Schools' marking scheme published for the subject Correct answer.

Explanation

The written Language 1 paper is assessed against the marking scheme issued for the subject within the European Schools system, which sets out criteria and weightings. National curricula and individual school syllabi do not govern the Baccalaureate marking. The conduct regulations cover procedure, not assessment criteria.

Question 2Written examinations

A Language 1 written paper asks candidates to produce a text that argues a position on a current social issue while addressing a specified readership. Which combination of skills is being assessed most directly?

  1. Memorised reproduction of set literary passages
  2. Argumentation and audience awareness Correct answer.
  3. Literal comprehension of a source text
  4. Transcription and dictation accuracy

Explanation

Tasks that require defending a position for a defined readership test the ability to construct reasoned argument and to adapt register and tone to an audience. Dictation and transcription test orthographic accuracy rather than argumentation. Literal comprehension and memorised reproduction do not involve building an argued case.

Question 3Written examinations

When a Language 1 examination task specifies a word limit for the produced text, what is the usual consequence of a substantial overshoot?

  1. The response may be penalised because the task constraints have not been respected Correct answer.
  2. The response automatically receives full marks for effort
  3. Only the final paragraph is marked and the rest ignored
  4. The candidate is disqualified from the whole examination session

Explanation

Word limits are part of the task instructions, and exceeding them substantially can lead to a penalty because the candidate has not respected the constraints. Full marks are never awarded for length alone. Disqualification is reserved for serious malpractice, not for overshooting a limit.

Question 4Written examinations

In a Language 1 written examination, which feature most clearly distinguishes a summary task from a commentary task?

  1. The summary restates the source content neutrally, while the commentary develops the candidate's own position Correct answer.
  2. The summary uses only direct quotation, while the commentary forbids quotation entirely
  3. The summary must be longer than the source text, while the commentary is always shorter
  4. The summary is written in the first person, while the commentary avoids any personal voice

Explanation

A summary reproduces the essential content of a source in neutral, condensed form, whereas a commentary requires the candidate to interpret and take a stance. Length relationships and the use of the first person are not what define the two task types. Quotation conventions apply to both and do not separate them.

Question 5Written examinations

A candidate writing an argumentative essay in the Language 1 examination wants to signal a concession before refuting an opposing view. Which connector best performs this function?

  1. Consequently
  2. Moreover
  3. Admittedly Correct answer.
  4. Similarly

Explanation

Concession markers such as 'admittedly' acknowledge an opposing point before the writer rebuts it, which is exactly the rhetorical move described. 'Consequently' signals a result, 'moreover' adds a further point, and 'similarly' draws a comparison. None of these introduces a concession.

Question 6Written examinations

Which sentence uses the apostrophe correctly according to standard written conventions expected in the Language 1 paper?

  1. The committees decision was criticised by several of it's members.
  2. The committee's decision was criticised by several of its members. Correct answer.
  3. The committee's decision was criticised by several of it's members.
  4. The committees' decision was criticised by several of its' members.

Explanation

A singular noun takes 's to mark possession, and the possessive pronoun 'its' takes no apostrophe. The correct option shows both conventions. The other options either omit the possessive apostrophe, wrongly apostrophise 'its', or misplace the plural possessive.

Question 7Written examinations

In the Language 1 written examination, what is the primary purpose of the reading material provided as a stimulus for a writing task?

  1. To supply content and angles that the candidate transforms into an original response Correct answer.
  2. To be translated line by line as the main body of the answer
  3. To be copied verbatim into the candidate's answer to demonstrate comprehension
  4. To be ignored, since stimulus material is decorative

Explanation

Stimulus material provides ideas, vocabulary and perspectives that the candidate is expected to rework into an original piece of writing. Copying it verbatim does not demonstrate the required productive skills. Translation is a separate task type, and the material is never purely decorative.

Question 8Written examinations

Which feature is characteristic of a formal register in a Language 1 written response addressed to an institutional readership?

  1. Direct address with informal second-person pronouns throughout
  2. Avoidance of contracted verb forms and colloquial vocabulary Correct answer.
  3. Frequent use of exclamation marks to convey enthusiasm
  4. Reliance on sentence fragments for dramatic effect

Explanation

Formal writing for an institutional audience typically avoids contractions and colloquialisms, maintaining a measured and impersonal tone. Exclamation marks and sentence fragments belong to informal or expressive styles. Informal second-person address would clash with the required register.

Question 9Written examinations

A candidate's essay contains the sentence: 'Having read the report, the conclusions seemed questionable to the committee.' What is the grammatical problem?

  1. A dangling participle, since the implied subject of 'having read' is not the committee Correct answer.
  2. A faulty parallel structure between two verbs
  3. A comma splice joining two independent clauses
  4. An incorrect use of the passive voice

Explanation

The participial phrase 'having read the report' should share its subject with the main clause, but here the main clause subject is 'the conclusions', producing a dangling participle. The sentence contains no comma splice, no parallelism error and no misuse of the passive. Revising to 'Having read the report, the committee found the conclusions questionable' repairs it.

Question 10Written examinations

In a Language 1 commentary, a candidate writes: 'The author's irony is so subtle that many readers will miss it entirely.' Which rhetorical effect does the sentence attribute to subtlety?

  1. It reduces the accessibility of the ironic meaning for the audience Correct answer.
  2. It transfers the author's viewpoint to the reader
  3. It intensifies the literal meaning of the words used
  4. It removes all evaluative content from the passage

Explanation

The sentence states that subtle irony escapes many readers, which means the ironic meaning is less accessible to the audience. Subtlety does not intensify literal meaning or transfer viewpoint to the reader. Nor does it strip the passage of evaluation.

Question 11Written examinations

Which revision best removes the ambiguity in: 'The minister told the journalist that she had misrepresented the figures'?

  1. The minister told the journalist: 'You have misrepresented the figures.' Correct answer.
  2. The minister told the journalist that the figures had been misrepresented by her.
  3. The minister, having told the journalist, had misrepresented the figures.
  4. The minister told the journalist that she herself had misrepresented the figures.

Explanation

The original ambiguity lies in 'she', which could refer to the minister or the journalist. Direct speech with 'you' resolves the reference unambiguously. The other revisions either retain an unclear pronoun or change the meaning of the sentence entirely.

Question 12Written examinations

A candidate must write a letter to the editor arguing for stricter environmental legislation. Which opening best suits the genre and readership?

  1. Sir or Madam, I write to urge your readers to support stricter environmental legislation. Correct answer.
  2. This essay will discuss environmental legislation and its many advantages.
  3. Hey everyone, let me tell you why we need tougher green laws right now!
  4. Once upon a time, a town decided to protect its river from pollution.

Explanation

A letter to the editor conventionally opens with a formal salutation and states its purpose directly to the readership. The informal greeting and exclamation are unsuited to the genre. A narrative opening and an essay-style meta-statement do not match the conventions of a letter to the editor.

Question 13Written examinations

In assessing a Language 1 written response, why is coherence distinguished from cohesion?

  1. Coherence concerns the logical organisation of ideas, while cohesion concerns the linguistic links that connect them Correct answer.
  2. Coherence concerns spelling, while cohesion concerns handwriting legibility
  3. Coherence applies only to poetry, while cohesion applies only to prose
  4. Coherence is a measure of length, while cohesion is a measure of vocabulary range

Explanation

Coherence refers to whether the ideas form a logically ordered whole that the reader can follow, while cohesion refers to the surface linking devices such as connectors and pronoun reference. Spelling and handwriting belong to accuracy criteria. Neither term is restricted by genre or measured by length or vocabulary range.

Question 14Written examinations

Which sentence best demonstrates an effective topic sentence for a paragraph in an argumentative Language 1 essay?

  1. In conclusion, therefore, the argument has been demonstrated.
  2. This paragraph will now present several different points about transport.
  3. Public transport subsidies reduce congestion because they make car use comparatively less attractive. Correct answer.
  4. For example, in 2019 the city of Lyon reported a decline in traffic.

Explanation

A topic sentence states the paragraph's controlling claim and its reason, which the following sentences then support. An example sentence provides evidence rather than announcing the claim. A concluding formula and a meta-statement about the paragraph do not function as topic sentences.

Question 15Written examinations

A candidate quotes a source in a Language 1 examination response. Which practice best respects academic honesty within the examination?

  1. Marking the borrowed words clearly and integrating them with the candidate's own analysis Correct answer.
  2. Omitting all references because the examination is written under time pressure
  3. Presenting the source's ideas as the candidate's own original insight
  4. Paraphrasing the source so closely that the original wording is retained without acknowledgement

Explanation

Borrowed wording must be clearly identified as quotation and combined with the candidate's own commentary. Close paraphrase without acknowledgement and presenting others' ideas as one's own are forms of plagiarism. Time pressure does not excuse the omission of attribution.

Question 16Written examinations

Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon in a Language 1 written response?

  1. The proposal was rejected; and the committee considered it too costly.
  2. The proposal was rejected; because the committee considered it too costly.
  3. The proposal was rejected; the committee considered it too costly. Correct answer.
  4. The proposal was rejected; costly.

Explanation

A semicolon may join two independent clauses that are closely related, which is what the correct option does. The other options place a subordinating conjunction, a coordinating conjunction or a fragment after the semicolon, none of which forms the required independent clause.

Question 17Written examinations

In a Language 1 examination, a candidate is asked to compare two newspaper articles on the same event. Which approach best meets the analytical demand of the task?

  1. Contrast the stance and language choices of each article and account for the differences Correct answer.
  2. Summarise each article separately without drawing any connection between them
  3. State which article is longer and conclude that it is more reliable
  4. Reproduce the headline of each article and count the words used

Explanation

A comparison task requires identifying differences in stance and linguistic choice and explaining why they arise. Summarising each text separately produces description rather than comparison. Counting words or equating length with reliability does not constitute analysis.

Question 18Written examinations

Which sentence uses the subjunctive mood correctly in a formal written register?

  1. The board recommended that the policy be reviewed annually. Correct answer.
  2. The board recommended that the policy will be reviewed annually.
  3. The board recommended that the policy is reviewed annually.
  4. The board recommended that the policy was reviewed annually.

Explanation

After verbs of recommendation in formal English, the mandative subjunctive uses the base form 'be', giving 'recommended that the policy be reviewed'. The indicative forms 'is', 'will be' and 'was' do not express the same formal mandative construction. The subjunctive is the expected register in formal writing.

Question 19Written examinations

A candidate's paragraph opens: 'Moreover, the scheme is expensive. Moreover, it is unpopular.' What is the main weakness of this cohesion?

  1. The connector 'moreover' is too formal for any written register
  2. Repetition of the same connector produces mechanical and ineffective linking Correct answer.
  3. The connector signals contrast rather than addition
  4. The paragraph lacks any punctuation between the sentences

Explanation

Repeating the same additive connector in consecutive sentences creates a mechanical effect and weakens the flow of the argument. 'Moreover' is an appropriate formal connector, so register is not the problem. It signals addition, not contrast, and the punctuation is correct.

Question 20Written examinations

In a Language 1 examination, a candidate is asked to write a text that persuades a sceptical audience. Which strategy is most appropriate for this rhetorical situation?

  1. Assume the audience already agrees and avoid addressing objections
  2. Anticipate objections and answer them with evidence and reasoning Correct answer.
  3. Rely exclusively on emotional appeals without supporting reasons
  4. Use technical jargon to impress the reader with expertise

Explanation

A sceptical audience is best persuaded by acknowledging objections and rebutting them with evidence and reasoning. Ignoring objections leaves the audience unconvinced. Emotional appeals alone and jargon that obscures meaning tend to alienate rather than persuade.

Question 21Written examinations

Which sentence correctly uses 'fewer' and 'less' according to standard written usage?

  1. There were less applicants this year, so the process required less time.
  2. There were fewer applicants this year, so the process required fewer time.
  3. There were less applicants this year, so the process required fewer time.
  4. There were fewer applicants this year, so the process required less time. Correct answer.

Explanation

Standard usage reserves 'fewer' for countable nouns such as applicants and 'less' for uncountable quantities such as time. The correct option applies each form to the appropriate noun. The other options reverse the forms or use the wrong one for the noun type.

Question 22Written examinations

In a Language 1 examination, a candidate is required to write a review of a cultural event. Which element is most essential to the genre?

  1. An evaluative judgement supported by specific observations about the event Correct answer.
  2. A chronological list of every item on the programme
  3. A neutral summary that avoids any evaluative stance
  4. A biography of the organiser with no reference to the event

Explanation

A review is defined by evaluation, and that judgement must be supported by concrete observations about the event. A mere programme list or a biography of the organiser does not constitute a review. A summary that avoids evaluation fails to perform the genre's central function.

Question 23Written examinations

A candidate writes: 'The report, which was published last week by the ministry, was criticised.' Which effect does the relative clause have on the sentence's information structure?

  1. It adds non-essential background information, marked off by commas Correct answer.
  2. It converts the main clause into a subordinate clause
  3. It restricts which report is meant, so the commas are obligatory
  4. It changes the sentence from passive to active voice

Explanation

The commas signal a non-defining relative clause that supplies extra information about an already identified report. A restrictive clause would not be set off by commas in this way. The clause does not make the main clause subordinate, nor does it change the voice of the main verb.

Question 24Written examinations

A candidate's argumentative essay asserts: 'All forms of censorship are indefensible because they restrict freedom of expression.' Which criticism of the reasoning is most accurate?

  1. It cites no statistics, so it cannot be evaluated at all
  2. It uses the passive voice excessively, weakening its force
  3. It relies on an unqualified generalisation and assumes the conclusion it needs to prove Correct answer.
  4. It provides too many examples to support its central claim

Explanation

The claim is sweeping and treats the restriction of expression as self-evidently decisive, which begs the question of whether any restriction could ever be justified. The essay does not suffer from an excess of examples. Passive voice and the absence of statistics are not the core logical problem here.

Question 25Written examinations

In a Language 1 commentary, which observation best demonstrates analysis rather than mere description?

  1. The repeated passive constructions distance the reader from responsibility for the actions described Correct answer.
  2. The text contains many passive constructions and several long sentences
  3. The passage is about a political event that happened in the past
  4. The author uses a lot of adjectives throughout the passage

Explanation

Analysis explains how a linguistic feature produces an effect on the reader, which is what the first option does by linking passive constructions to a rhetorical effect. The other options merely identify features or summarise content without interpreting their function.

Question 26Written examinations

In the Language 1 written examination, a candidate must produce an argumentative essay. Which element of the task specification most directly determines the register the candidate should adopt?

  1. The stipulated audience and communicative situation Correct answer.
  2. The number of paragraphs the candidate plans to write
  3. The length of the quotations the candidate intends to include
  4. The font style used in the examination booklet

Explanation

Register is governed by the relationship between writer, reader and purpose, so the audience and situation named in the task specification dictate formality, tone and lexical choices. Paragraph count, quotation length and typography do not alter the social relationship between writer and reader and therefore cannot determine register.

Question 27Written examinations

A Language 1 candidate writing an opinion column for a school magazine begins: 'Right, so everyone keeps banging on about recycling, but here's the thing...' Which aspect of the examination task has the candidate misjudged?

  1. The expected register for a semi-formal published column Correct answer.
  2. The need to include statistical evidence
  3. The requirement to address a counterargument
  4. The convention of using the first person

Explanation

A published column, even in a school magazine, calls for a controlled semi-formal register; conversational fillers and slang such as 'banging on' and 'here's the thing' exceed that level. The other listed features are not violated here: evidence, counterargument and first-person address are all compatible with the column genre.

Question 28Written examinations

Which sentence best maintains a consistent formal register throughout in a Language 1 essay on urban policy?

  1. The council's proposal is well intentioned yet it kinda misses the affordable housing problem.
  2. The council's proposal, though well intentioned, fails to address the shortage of affordable housing. Correct answer.
  3. The council's proposal? Well intentioned, sure, but it doesn't really sort out affordable housing.
  4. The council's proposal is well intentioned but it totally drops the ball on affordable housing.

Explanation

Formal academic prose requires a consistent elevated register, and only the first option sustains it with a subordinate clause and precise vocabulary. The other options introduce colloquial idioms or informal intensifiers that break the register expected in a Language 1 essay.

Question 29Written examinations

A Language 1 task asks candidates to write a formal letter of complaint to a municipal authority. Which salutation and closing pair is most appropriate?

  1. Hello, ... Take care
  2. Dear friend, ... Best wishes
  3. Hi there, ... Cheers
  4. Dear Sir or Madam, ... Yours faithfully Correct answer.

Explanation

In formal correspondence where the recipient's name is unknown, the conventional pairing is 'Dear Sir or Madam' with 'Yours faithfully'. The other options use greetings and closings suited to informal or personal correspondence, which would undermine the complaint's formal framing.

Question 30Written examinations

A candidate writing a formal letter of complaint to a transport company includes the sentence: 'I would be grateful if you could investigate the matter and inform me of the outcome.' Which function does this sentence perform in the letter's structure?

  1. It concedes a point to the opposing side
  2. It introduces the writer's credentials
  3. It states the requested remedy and invites a response Correct answer.
  4. It provides background context about the journey

Explanation

The sentence specifies what action the writer wants taken and requests a reply, which is the function of the closing request in a formal complaint. It does not supply narrative background, establish the writer's authority, or concede anything to the company.

Question 31Written examinations

In a Language 1 examination, candidates are told to write an article that explains a scientific development to a general readership. Which feature is most essential to that genre?

  1. Addressing the reader as 'you' in every sentence
  2. Ending with a formal bibliography of primary research
  3. Glossing technical terms in language accessible to non-specialists Correct answer.
  4. Using as many specialist acronyms as possible to show expertise

Explanation

Popularisation writing succeeds when specialist vocabulary is explained in terms the target readership can follow, which is the defining demand of the task. Acronym density would exclude readers, universal second-person address is not required, and a formal bibliography belongs to academic rather than popular writing.

Question 32Written examinations

A Language 1 candidate is asked to produce a text that both informs and entertains, in the manner of a feature article. Which combination of features best matches that brief?

  1. A sustained abstract argument with no illustrative detail
  2. A first-person narrative with no factual content at all
  3. Accurate factual content delivered through vivid examples and varied sentence rhythm Correct answer.
  4. A neutral inventory of facts arranged in bullet points

Explanation

The brief requires information and entertainment together, so factual accuracy must be carried by engaging stylistic devices such as vivid examples and rhythm. Bullet-point inventories inform without entertaining, abstract argument excludes the reader, and pure narrative abandons the informative requirement.

Question 33Written examinations

In a Language 1 written task, a candidate must summarise a source text in no more than 120 words. Which practice best serves the purpose of a summary?

  1. Retaining the source's main claims while compressing supporting detail Correct answer.
  2. Reordering the source's points to create a new argument
  3. Reproducing the source's opening sentences verbatim
  4. Adding the candidate's own evaluation of each claim

Explanation

A summary preserves the central propositions of the source and condenses the illustrative material, keeping the original stance intact. Verbatim copying is not summarising, inserted evaluation changes the purpose, and reordering into a new argument produces a different text.

Question 34Written examinations

A candidate's summary of a source text omits the author's central recommendation and instead lists several minor examples. Which principle of summarising has been violated?

  1. Preservation of the original's paragraph order
  2. Faithfulness to the original's spelling conventions
  3. Selection of the hierarchically most important information Correct answer.
  4. Inclusion of the author's biographical details

Explanation

Summarising requires identifying the hierarchical structure of a text so that main claims outrank illustrative examples. Omitting the central recommendation while retaining minor examples inverts that hierarchy, which is the error described. Spelling, paragraph order and biography are not governing principles of summary.

Question 35Written examinations

In a Language 1 examination, which technique most reliably strengthens the cohesion of a discursive essay?

  1. Repeating the essay's thesis in identical wording in each paragraph
  2. Using referential links and discourse markers to connect successive sentences Correct answer.
  3. Increasing the average length of each sentence
  4. Inserting a quotation at the start of every paragraph

Explanation

Cohesion is created by explicit textual links such as pronouns, lexical chains and discourse markers that tie sentences together. Longer sentences and mechanical quotation placement do not create logical connection, and verbatim repetition of the thesis is redundancy rather than cohesion.

Question 36Written examinations

A candidate's essay reads: 'Cities should invest in public transport. Public transport reduces congestion. Public transport also lowers emissions.' Which revision best improves cohesion without altering the content?

  1. Cities should invest in public transport, which both reduces congestion and lowers emissions. Correct answer.
  2. Cities should invest in public transport; public transport reduces congestion; public transport also lowers emissions.
  3. Cities should invest in public transport. Public transport reduces congestion. Public transport also lowers emissions, which is good.
  4. Cities should invest in public transport because it reduces congestion and it also lowers emissions and this is important.

Explanation

The relative clause fuses the repeated subject into a single cohesive sentence, using 'which' to link the two benefits to the main claim. The other revisions either retain the choppy repetition or add empty evaluative padding that weakens the prose.

Question 37Written examinations

A paragraph in a Language 1 essay opens with a general claim, then presents two counterexamples, then returns to the general claim without comment. Which description best identifies the paragraph's structural weakness?

  1. The paragraph's topic sentence is too short
  2. The counterexamples are left unresolved, so the paragraph's argumentative line is interrupted Correct answer.
  3. The paragraph relies too heavily on direct quotation
  4. The paragraph contains too many discourse markers

Explanation

Introducing counterexamples obliges the writer to engage with them before restating the claim, otherwise the paragraph's line of reasoning stalls. The weakness lies in the unresolved challenge to the thesis, not in marker density, sentence length or quotation.

Question 38Written examinations

Which sentence uses a colon correctly in a formal Language 1 response?

  1. The report identified three priorities, which were: safety, affordability and accessibility.
  2. The report identified three priorities, namely: safety, affordability and accessibility.
  3. The report identified: three priorities, safety, affordability and accessibility.
  4. The report identified three priorities: safety, affordability and accessibility. Correct answer.

Explanation

A colon may follow a complete independent clause and introduce a list or elaboration, which is exactly what the first option does. The other options place the colon after an incomplete construction or after a phrase that already announces the list, producing a double marker.

Question 39Written examinations

In a Language 1 written response, which use of the dash is acceptable in formal prose?

  1. A single dash introducing a parenthetical aside that is closed by a second dash Correct answer.
  2. A dash placed immediately after a preposition
  3. A dash used to separate a subject from its verb
  4. A dash used in place of every comma in a long sentence

Explanation

Dashes may mark a parenthetical interruption provided the aside is closed symmetrically, which is the standard formal use. Replacing all commas, or separating a preposition from its object or a subject from its verb, produces ungrammatical or unclear punctuation.

Question 40Written examinations

A candidate writes: 'The scheme was praised by the mayor, who called it visionary, and criticised by the opposition, who called it reckless.' Which punctuation change would be required if the two relative clauses were reduced to appositives?

  1. Replace the commas with semicolons
  2. Remove all commas from the sentence
  3. Replace each comma-plus-relative-clause with a comma plus a noun phrase Correct answer.
  4. Insert a colon before the first appositive

Explanation

Reducing a relative clause to an appositive keeps the comma that marks the parenthetical element and substitutes a noun phrase for the clause, as in 'the mayor, a vocal supporter'. Removing commas, using semicolons or inserting a colon would misrepresent the appositive's parenthetical function.

Question 41Written examinations

In a Language 1 examination, a candidate must analyse how a writer creates a persuasive tone. Which analytical statement is most precise?

  1. The repeated modal 'must' frames dissent as a duty rather than a choice Correct answer.
  2. The writer uses lots of persuasive words to convince the reader
  3. The tone of the passage is persuasive and effective
  4. The writer's style makes the argument stronger

Explanation

Precise analysis names a specific linguistic feature and explains its rhetorical effect, which the first option does by linking the modal 'must' to a reframing of dissent. The other statements offer vague evaluation without identifying linguistic evidence or explaining how meaning is produced.

Question 42Written examinations

A candidate comments on a newspaper editorial: 'The writer uses the passive voice, which makes the text formal.' Which revision turns this into a stronger analytical observation?

  1. Passive constructions appear throughout and make the editorial interesting
  2. The writer likes the passive voice because it sounds serious
  3. The passive voice is used several times and this is a formal choice by the writer
  4. The passive 'mistakes were made' conceals agency, shielding the officials from responsibility Correct answer.

Explanation

Strong analysis identifies a specific instance and explains its rhetorical function, here the suppression of agency that deflects blame. The other revisions merely count features or assert impressions without showing how the construction produces meaning.

Question 43Written examinations

In a Language 1 commentary, a candidate writes: 'The writer's use of short sentences creates a sense of urgency.' Which addition would most strengthen this claim?

  1. A statement that short sentences are common in journalism
  2. A brief quotation of one such sentence and a comment on its effect on pacing Correct answer.
  3. A note that the candidate personally prefers long sentences
  4. A list of other writers who also use short sentences

Explanation

Analytical claims are strengthened by textual evidence and by explaining how the feature produces the stated effect, which a quotation plus a comment on pacing supplies. Generality about journalism, comparisons with other writers, and personal preference add no evidential support.

Question 44Written examinations

A Language 1 candidate must write a text arguing a position on a contested local issue. Which thesis statement is most appropriate for an argumentative essay?

  1. This essay will argue that the new bypass should be halted until an independent traffic assessment is published. Correct answer.
  2. The new bypass is a topic that many people have different opinions about.
  3. Everyone agrees that the new bypass is controversial and important.
  4. Bypasses have been built in many countries over the past century.

Explanation

An argumentative thesis must state a contestable position and indicate the line of reasoning, which the first option does by demanding a specific precondition. The others announce a topic, offer background, or assert consensus without taking a defensible stance.

Question 45Written examinations

A candidate's essay claims that a proposed curfew for young people will reduce street crime, and supports this with one anecdote from a neighbouring town. Which criticism of the argument is most accurate?

  1. The essay's thesis is too narrowly stated
  2. A single anecdote cannot establish a general causal claim of this kind Correct answer.
  3. The claim is unfalsifiable and therefore meaningless
  4. The essay relies too heavily on statistical evidence

Explanation

A general causal claim requires more than one illustrative case, so the evidential base is too thin to support the conclusion. The essay does not overuse statistics, the claim is empirically testable, and the thesis is not shown to be too narrow.

Question 46Written examinations

In a Language 1 essay, a candidate writes: 'Some argue that the policy is too costly. However, the long-term savings outweigh the initial outlay.' Which argumentative move does the second sentence perform?

  1. It introduces an unrelated new topic
  2. It rebuts an opposing point by weighing long-term benefit against cost Correct answer.
  3. It concedes that the opposing point is entirely correct
  4. It restates the opponent's position without comment

Explanation

The sentence acknowledges the objection and then counters it by comparing long-term savings with initial cost, which is a rebuttal by reweighting the criteria. It does not fully concede, change the subject, or merely restate the objection.

Question 47Written examinations

A candidate is asked to write a review of a theatre production for a Language 1 examination. Which combination of elements is most essential to the review genre?

  1. A evaluative judgement supported by specific observations about the production Correct answer.
  2. A list of ticket prices and seating arrangements
  3. A full plot synopsis covering every scene
  4. A biography of the playwright from birth onwards

Explanation

A review's defining purpose is to evaluate, and evaluation must rest on concrete observations about performance, staging or design. Exhaustive synopsis, extended biography and practical ticketing details are either irrelevant or subordinate to the evaluative judgement.

Question 48Written examinations

A review in a Language 1 examination opens: 'Rarely has a production squandered such talent so thoroughly.' Which effect does the inverted opening achieve?

  1. It introduces a neutral summary of the plot
  2. It foregrounds the negative verdict through emphatic fronting Correct answer.
  3. It signals that the review will avoid evaluation
  4. It softens the criticism to appear balanced

Explanation

Fronting the negative adverb 'rarely' places the verdict in the emphatic initial position, giving the criticism immediate force. The construction intensifies rather than softens the judgement, and it neither summarises plot nor withholds evaluation.

Question 49Written examinations

In a Language 1 examination, a candidate must write a formal report on a school event. Which organisational feature is most characteristic of the report genre?

  1. A series of rhetorical questions addressed to the reader
  2. Headings and a logical sequence of sections with a clear conclusion Correct answer.
  3. An extended metaphor sustained throughout the text
  4. A single continuous narrative in the first person

Explanation

Reports are organised for efficient retrieval of information, so headings and a logical section sequence ending in conclusions are defining features. Continuous narration, rhetorical questions and sustained metaphor belong to other genres and impede the report's informational purpose.

Question 50Written examinations

A Language 1 candidate must write a formal report on a school event. Which sentence is most appropriate in the recommendations section?

  1. Wouldn't it be nice if exams didn't get in the way?
  2. Next time, let's not clash with exams, yeah?
  3. We should probably think about maybe moving the date next time.
  4. It is recommended that future events be scheduled outside examination periods. Correct answer.

Explanation

Formal reports use impersonal, declarative recommendation formulas, and the subjunctive after 'recommended that' is standard in this register. The other options rely on hedged colloquial phrasing or rhetorical questions that are inappropriate for a formal report.