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LC English practice questions

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Question 1Composing (Paper 1)

In the Composing paper, which element of an essay most directly establishes the controlling idea that the rest of the piece must develop?

  1. The concluding sentence of the conclusion
  2. The title printed at the top of the page
  3. The thesis statement in the introduction Correct answer.
  4. The topic sentence of the final body paragraph

Explanation

The thesis statement announces the central claim the essay will defend, and every body paragraph should be organised to support it. Titles and closing sentences may echo the idea, but they do not set the argumentative direction of the piece.

Question 2Composing (Paper 1)

A candidate writing a persuasive composition wants each body paragraph to open with a sentence that names the paragraph's single point. Which term describes that sentence?

  1. The hook
  2. The transition
  3. The topic sentence Correct answer.
  4. The anecdote

Explanation

A topic sentence states the one idea a paragraph will develop, giving the reader a clear signal of its focus. Transitions link paragraphs, hooks draw readers into the opening, and anecdotes are illustrative stories rather than structural signposts.

Question 3Composing (Paper 1)

Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly within a composition?

  1. The rain stopped; and the match resumed.
  2. The rain stopped; resuming the match.
  3. The rain stopped; the match resumed. Correct answer.
  4. The rain stopped; because the match resumed.

Explanation

A semicolon joins two independent clauses that are closely related and not already linked by a coordinating conjunction. The other options place a conjunction, a subordinator, or a fragment after the semicolon, which breaks that rule.

Question 4Composing (Paper 1)

A writer wants to replace the vague verb in 'The report says that costs rose' with a verb that names the report's function more precisely. Which revision best achieves this in an academic composition?

  1. The report goes on about costs rising.
  2. The report talks about costs rising.
  3. The report mentions that costs rose.
  4. The report demonstrates that costs rose. Correct answer.

Explanation

Precise reporting verbs such as 'demonstrates' specify the relationship between the source and the claim, which strengthens academic argument. 'Mentions' is weaker and vaguer, while 'talks about' and 'goes on about' are informal and imprecise.

Question 5Composing (Paper 1)

Which pair of sentences is linked most effectively by a contrastive transition suitable for a formal composition?

  1. The policy reduced emissions. For example, it raised household costs.
  2. The policy reduced emissions. However, it raised household costs. Correct answer.
  3. The policy reduced emissions. Therefore, it raised household costs.
  4. The policy reduced emissions. Similarly, it lowered household costs.

Explanation

'However' signals that the second clause runs counter to the expectation set by the first, which matches the actual relationship between lower emissions and higher costs. The other connectives assert similarity, causation, or exemplification that the content does not support.

Question 6Composing (Paper 1)

In a Paper 1 composition, what is the primary function of the introduction?

  1. To list the sources used in the body of the composition
  2. To summarise every argument the essay will make in full detail
  3. To present the strongest counter-argument before the thesis
  4. To engage the reader and establish the focus and direction of the piece Correct answer.

Explanation

An introduction orients the reader, creates interest, and states the controlling idea so the body has a clear direction. Detailed summary and counter-argument belong in the body, and source listing belongs in a reference list rather than the opening.

Question 7Composing (Paper 1)

Which sentence contains a comma splice that a candidate should correct when editing a composition?

  1. The deadline was tight, so the team delivered the draft early.
  2. The deadline was tight; nevertheless, the team delivered the draft.
  3. The deadline was tight, the team delivered the draft on time. Correct answer.
  4. Although the deadline was tight, the team delivered the draft.

Explanation

A comma splice occurs when a comma alone joins two independent clauses. In option 1 the comma is doing the work of a full stop or semicolon, so it must be replaced or reinforced with a conjunction.

Question 8Composing (Paper 1)

A candidate is asked to write a composition that argues a position. Which feature most clearly distinguishes argumentation from mere description?

  1. The use of vivid sensory imagery throughout
  2. The presence of a contestable claim supported by reasoned evidence Correct answer.
  3. The inclusion of a first-person anecdote in the opening
  4. The use of short paragraphs for readability

Explanation

Argumentation requires a contestable claim that is defended with reasoning and evidence, which is what makes it persuasive rather than merely descriptive. Imagery, anecdote, and paragraph length are stylistic choices that can appear in many kinds of writing.

Question 9Composing (Paper 1)

A student's paragraph reads: 'Cities should invest in public transport. Buses reduce congestion. Trains are also efficient. Many commuters own cars.' Which revision best improves the paragraph's unity around a single point?

  1. Add a further example of a car-owning commuter.
  2. Remove the sentence about car ownership and link the transport examples to the congestion claim. Correct answer.
  3. Split the paragraph into four one-sentence paragraphs.
  4. Insert a quotation about the history of the motor car.

Explanation

Paragraph unity requires every sentence to develop the stated point, so the car-ownership sentence should go and the examples should be explicitly tied to the congestion claim. Adding unrelated material or fragmenting the text does not create a coherent line of reasoning.

Question 10Composing (Paper 1)

Which sentence uses a colon correctly in an academic composition?

  1. The study revealed three barriers: cost, access, and distrust. Correct answer.
  2. The study revealed three barriers, cost: access and distrust.
  3. The study revealed three barriers; namely: cost, access, and distrust.
  4. The study revealed: three barriers of cost, access, and distrust.

Explanation

A colon introduces an explanation, list, or amplification after a complete independent clause. Only the first option places a full clause before the colon and a list after it, which is the standard pattern.

Question 11Composing (Paper 1)

A candidate writes: 'The council's decision was unpopular. It was, however, legally sound.' Which technique is being used to manage emphasis?

  1. End-weighting to place new information last
  2. Parenthetical interruption to qualify the main assertion Correct answer.
  3. Fronting the adverb to soften the claim
  4. Nominalisation to compress the clause

Explanation

The commas around 'however' create a parenthetical interruption that qualifies the main assertion while keeping the sentence's core intact. Fronting would move the adverb to the start, end-weighting concerns the final position of information, and nominalisation converts verbs into nouns.

Question 12Composing (Paper 1)

Which revision best removes the ambiguity in 'The committee praised the researcher because her findings were rigorous and she was persistent'?

  1. The committee praised the researcher because her findings were rigorous, and she was persistent.
  2. The committee praised the researcher, because her findings were rigorous and she was persistent.
  3. The committee praised the researcher whose rigorous findings and persistence had impressed them. Correct answer.
  4. The committee praised the researcher; because her findings were rigorous and she was persistent.

Explanation

The original leaves unclear whether 'persistent' describes the researcher or explains the committee's praise. The relative clause in the second option ties both qualities directly to the researcher and removes the ambiguity.

Question 13Composing (Paper 1)

A candidate wants to strengthen an argumentative composition by anticipating objections. Where should a concession paragraph most logically appear?

  1. After the writer's main arguments have been developed Correct answer.
  2. As the first sentence of the introduction
  3. Before the thesis is stated in the introduction
  4. Inside the conclusion, replacing the restatement

Explanation

Conceding and rebutting an opposing view works best once the writer's own case has been established, so the rebuttal can draw on arguments already made. Placing it before the thesis or inside the conclusion disrupts the essay's logical progression.

Question 14Composing (Paper 1)

Which sentence demonstrates effective use of a subordinate clause to create sentence variety in a composition?

  1. The storm arrived and the town lost power and repairs took days.
  2. The storm arrived, the town lost power, repairs took days.
  3. The storm arrived. The town lost power. The repairs took days.
  4. When the storm arrived, the town lost power, and repairs took days. Correct answer.

Explanation

Beginning with a subordinating clause ('When the storm arrived') varies the sentence opening and clarifies the temporal relationship between events. The other options are either a series of short simple sentences, a comma splice, or a monotonous chain of 'and' clauses.

Question 15Composing (Paper 1)

A student writes 'The implementation of the policy resulted in a reduction in emissions.' Which revision best reduces unnecessary nominalisation while keeping the formal register?

  1. There was a reduction in emissions due to the policy's implementation.
  2. Implementing the policy reduced emissions. Correct answer.
  3. The policy's implementation resulted in emissions being reduced.
  4. The implementing of the policy resulted in reducing emissions.

Explanation

Heavy nominalisation turns actions into abstract nouns, which weakens the prose. Converting 'implementation' and 'reduction' back into verbs produces a direct, active sentence that keeps the formal tone.

Question 16Composing (Paper 1)

In a composition, which sentence best functions as a counter-argument rather than as support for the writer's claim?

  1. Critics contend that later start times disrupt transport schedules. Correct answer.
  2. Schools that start later report improved attendance.
  3. Surveys show that most students favour later start times.
  4. Later start times align with adolescent sleep research.

Explanation

A counter-argument presents an opposing position that the writer must then answer. The sentence attributing a concern to critics does exactly that, whereas the other options offer evidence supporting the writer's case.

Question 17Composing (Paper 1)

Which sentence uses a dash appropriately to add emphasis in a formal composition?

  1. The result - was clear the experiment had failed.
  2. The result was - clear the experiment had failed.
  3. The result was clear - the experiment had failed. Correct answer.
  4. The result was clear, the experiment - had failed.

Explanation

A dash can introduce a dramatic amplification or explanation after a complete clause, which is how it functions in the first option. The other options break the clause at points where the dash interrupts grammatical units and creates confusion.

Question 18Composing (Paper 1)

A candidate's conclusion reads: 'In conclusion, pollution is bad. It affects everyone. We must act.' Which weakness most undermines this conclusion in a Paper 1 composition?

  1. It introduces a new source of evidence.
  2. It offers vague generalities instead of synthesising the specific argument. Correct answer.
  3. It repeats the thesis word for word.
  4. It uses the phrase 'In conclusion'.

Explanation

An effective conclusion synthesises the specific claims the essay has established and states their significance. This conclusion relies on broad, unsupported generalities that could close almost any essay on the topic.

Question 19Composing (Paper 1)

Which sentence best demonstrates the use of a rhetorical question to advance an argument in a composition?

  1. Did you know that libraries exist?
  2. Have you ever been to a library?
  3. Is it fair that rural students travel two hours to reach a library? Correct answer.
  4. What is a library?

Explanation

A rhetorical question advances an argument when it frames a contestable issue and invites the reader to accept the implied answer. The first option poses a question of fairness that the following argument can develop, while the others are trivial or purely conversational.

Question 20Composing (Paper 1)

A student wants a paragraph to move from a general claim to a specific illustration. Which organisational pattern is being used?

  1. Inductive reasoning from examples to a generalisation
  2. Chronological narration of events
  3. Comparison organised by alternating points
  4. Deductive structure from claim to supporting instance Correct answer.

Explanation

Beginning with a general claim and then supplying a specific instance follows a deductive movement from the general to the particular. Inductive reasoning runs the other way, while chronological and alternating comparison patterns organise material by time or by alternating subjects.

Question 21Composing (Paper 1)

Which sentence avoids a dangling modifier when opening a composition paragraph?

  1. Having reviewed the evidence, it was clear that a conclusion had been reached.
  2. Having reviewed the evidence, the conclusion seemed clear to the researcher.
  3. Having reviewed the evidence, the researcher reached a clear conclusion. Correct answer.
  4. Having reviewed the evidence, clarity was reached about the conclusion.

Explanation

An introductory participial phrase must modify the subject of the main clause. Only the second option makes the researcher, the one who reviewed the evidence, the subject of the main clause.

Question 22Composing (Paper 1)

A candidate writes: 'The proposal is not without merit, but its costs are not insignificant.' Which feature of style does this sentence display?

  1. Litotes used to create understatement and nuance Correct answer.
  2. Zeugma joining two incongruous objects
  3. Hyperbole used to exaggerate the proposal's merits
  4. Personification of the proposal as an agent

Explanation

Litotes affirms something by denying its opposite, as in 'not without merit' and 'not insignificant'. The construction produces deliberate understatement and nuance rather than exaggeration, personification, or a yoking of incongruous objects.

Question 23Composing (Paper 1)

A paragraph opens with a broad claim, then presents an objection, then answers it, and closes by restating the claim with added force. Which description best captures this structure?

  1. Claim, concession, rebuttal, reinforced claim Correct answer.
  2. Narrative hook, climax, resolution, epilogue
  3. Comparison, contrast, definition, exemplification
  4. Cause, effect, further cause, final effect

Explanation

The sequence names a claim, acknowledges a concession, rebuts it, and returns to the claim with greater force, which is the classic concession-rebuttal structure. The other descriptions name narrative, definitional, or causal patterns that do not match the sequence given.

Question 24Composing (Paper 1)

Which sentence best illustrates effective parallelism in a formal composition?

  1. The policy aims to cut costs, improving access, and the raising of standards.
  2. The policy aims to cut costs, to improve access, and to raise standards. Correct answer.
  3. The policy aims to cut costs, access improvement, and raising standards.
  4. The policy aims at cost cutting, to improve access, and standards raised.

Explanation

Parallelism requires items in a series to share the same grammatical form. Only the first option presents three parallel infinitives, while the others mix infinitives, gerunds, and noun phrases within a single list.

Question 25Composing (Paper 1)

A writer wants to signal that a paragraph's claim is more tentative than the previous one. Which revision of 'This proves the policy works' best achieves that shift while remaining formal?

  1. This definitely shows the policy works.
  2. This proves the policy works, obviously.
  3. This proves beyond doubt that the policy works.
  4. This suggests that the policy may be working. Correct answer.

Explanation

Hedging verbs and modals such as 'suggests' and 'may' calibrate the strength of a claim to the evidence, which is essential in academic argument. The other options intensify certainty and therefore move in the opposite direction from the intended shift.

Question 26Composing (Paper 1)

In a Paper 1 composition, which element most reliably signals to an examiner that a paragraph is developing a single controlling idea?

  1. A closing sentence that introduces a fresh line of argument
  2. A topic sentence that states the paragraph's claim before evidence is introduced Correct answer.
  3. A quotation from a named authority placed in the middle of the paragraph
  4. A repeated keyword appearing in every sentence of the paragraph

Explanation

Paper 1 paragraphs are judged on unity of purpose, and a topic sentence makes that purpose explicit before supporting material follows. Evidence placed later then reads as support rather than as an isolated fact. A closing sentence should consolidate rather than open new ground.

Question 27Composing (Paper 1)

A candidate's composition opens: 'Technology has changed everything.' Which revision best converts this into a defensible thesis for a Paper 1 argument?

  1. Technology has changed everything, and this is a very important topic today.
  2. Technology has changed everything in ways that are far too complex to discuss here.
  3. Technology has changed everything, as everyone who uses a phone will agree.
  4. Technology has transformed communication, but its effect on genuine understanding remains contested. Correct answer.

Explanation

A defensible thesis must be specific enough to be argued and narrow enough to be supported within the word limit. Naming a domain and conceding a contested element gives the essay a line of reasoning to develop. Sweeping claims and self-limiting statements give the examiner nothing to assess.

Question 28Composing (Paper 1)

Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly within a Paper 1 composition?

  1. The report was thorough; because the data were complete.
  2. The report was thorough; and it was also submitted late.
  3. The report was thorough; submitted late.
  4. The report was thorough; however, it was submitted late. Correct answer.

Explanation

A semicolon may join two independent clauses, and a conjunctive adverb such as 'however' is followed by a comma. The semicolon marks the boundary between two complete statements. Coordinating conjunctions and subordinators belong with commas or with no punctuation at all.

Question 29Composing (Paper 1)

A paragraph in a Paper 1 composition ends: 'These figures matter.' Which revision best improves the paragraph's closing sentence?

  1. These figures matter more than anything else in this essay.
  2. These figures matter a great deal to many people.
  3. These figures matter, and they are worth considering carefully.
  4. These figures matter because they show that rural clinics lose a third of their funding each year. Correct answer.

Explanation

An effective closing sentence ties the paragraph's evidence back to the claim by explaining why the evidence counts. Supplying the specific consequence converts a vague assertion into analysis. Merely intensifying the assertion adds emphasis without reasoning.

Question 30Composing (Paper 1)

Which sentence best demonstrates an appropriate academic register for a Paper 1 composition on urban planning?

  1. Planners have been pretty clueless about public space, haven't they?
  2. Planners have overlooked how residents actually use public space. Correct answer.
  3. Planners, like, ignore how residents use public space.
  4. Planners have totally dropped the ball on how people use public space.

Explanation

Academic register favours precise, measured verbs and avoids slang, filler and appeals to the reader. The other options import colloquial idiom, hesitation markers or a tag question. Consistency of register across the composition is part of what examiners assess.

Question 31Composing (Paper 1)

A candidate wants to show that one cause produced several distinct effects. Which organisational pattern best suits that purpose in a Paper 1 composition?

  1. A comparison of two alternative explanations of the same event
  2. A cause-to-effects structure, with one paragraph per consequence Correct answer.
  3. A problem-solution structure that moves directly to recommendations
  4. A chronological narrative following events in the order they occurred

Explanation

When a single cause has multiple consequences, a cause-to-effects structure lets each consequence receive its own paragraph and its own evidence. This keeps the relationship between cause and consequence visible throughout. Other patterns would scatter the consequences or omit the causal link.

Question 32Composing (Paper 1)

Which sentence best integrates a source into a Paper 1 composition without allowing the source to dominate the writer's voice?

  1. A 2019 transport survey found that commuter rail use rose by 12 per cent.
  2. Commuter rail use rose by 12 per cent, a 2019 transport survey found, and this is a really telling statistic.
  3. According to a 2019 transport survey, commuter rail use rose by 12 per cent, which suggests that fare subsidies can shift behaviour. Correct answer.
  4. It has been said by many surveys that commuter rail use rose by 12 per cent.

Explanation

Integrated evidence names the source, states the finding and then interprets it, so the writer's analysis remains the controlling voice. The interpretive clause converts data into an argument. Uninterpreted data or vague attribution leaves the examiner unsure what the candidate thinks.

Question 33Composing (Paper 1)

A student writes: 'The scheme was expensive. The scheme was unpopular. The scheme was abandoned.' Which revision best improves the style for a Paper 1 composition?

  1. The scheme was expensive. It was unpopular. It was abandoned.
  2. The scheme, being expensive, was unpopular and abandoned.
  3. The scheme was expensive and unpopular, and so it was abandoned.
  4. Expensive and unpopular, the scheme was abandoned. Correct answer.

Explanation

Combining the repeated short sentences into a single complex sentence removes redundancy and places the key information at the end for emphasis. A fronted adjectival phrase also creates sentence variety. The remaining options either repeat the flat structure or distort the logical relationship.

Question 34Composing (Paper 1)

In a Paper 1 composition, which feature most clearly marks a paragraph as evaluative rather than merely descriptive?

  1. It uses more technical vocabulary than other paragraphs.
  2. It lists several facts about the topic in sequence.
  3. It judges the significance or weight of the evidence it presents. Correct answer.
  4. It quotes a source at greater length than other paragraphs.

Explanation

Evaluation requires the writer to weigh evidence, assign significance or qualify a claim, which is what higher-band composition demands. Description reports what is the case without assessing it. Length of quotation or density of terminology does not by itself constitute judgement.

Question 35Composing (Paper 1)

A candidate's argument reads: 'Remote work increases productivity. Therefore, all firms should abandon offices.' Which criticism best identifies the weakness in the reasoning?

  1. The conclusion overgeneralises from a limited premise without addressing costs or exceptions. Correct answer.
  2. The paragraph is too short to satisfy the required word count.
  3. The premise is supported by evidence that the candidate has not cited.
  4. The conclusion introduces a term that was not defined earlier in the paragraph.

Explanation

The leap from a general claim about productivity to a universal prescription ignores counter-evidence and exceptions, which is a failure of reasoning rather than of citation. Strong Paper 1 argument qualifies its conclusions and acknowledges limits. Length and definition are secondary concerns here.

Question 36Composing (Paper 1)

Which sentence best uses a conditional construction to advance an argument in a Paper 1 composition?

  1. If cities fund cycle lanes, everyone will be happy about it.
  2. If cities fund cycle lanes, then that is a good thing to do.
  3. If cities fund cycle lanes, it would be nice.
  4. If cities fund cycle lanes, congestion may fall, provided that parking policy changes too. Correct answer.

Explanation

A conditional advances an argument when the consequent is a specific, qualified prediction that the essay can then test. Adding a proviso signals awareness of limiting conditions. The remaining options attach vague evaluations or unverifiable predictions to the condition.

Question 37Composing (Paper 1)

A paragraph in a Paper 1 composition contains three long quotations and no commentary. Which revision strategy best addresses this weakness?

  1. Replace some quotations with paraphrase and add sentences explaining their relevance. Correct answer.
  2. Add a fourth quotation so that the evidence base is clearly comprehensive.
  3. Move all quotations to the conclusion so the body paragraphs read smoothly.
  4. Shorten the quotations by cutting words from the middle of each one.

Explanation

Quotation-heavy paragraphs subordinate the writer's analysis to the sources. Paraphrasing and explicit commentary restore the writer's voice and demonstrate understanding. Simply adding or truncating quotations does not supply the missing analysis.

Question 38Composing (Paper 1)

Which sentence uses an apostrophe correctly in a formal composition?

  1. The researchers' findings were contested by several reviewers. Correct answer.
  2. The researchers findings were contested by several reviewers.
  3. The researchers's findings were contested by several reviewers.
  4. The researcher's were contested by several reviewers.

Explanation

A plural noun ending in -s takes an apostrophe after the s to mark possession. The other options either omit the apostrophe, misplace it, or add an unnecessary extra s. Accurate punctuation of possessives is part of the technical accuracy examiners reward.

Question 39Composing (Paper 1)

A candidate wants the composition to move smoothly between paragraphs on transport and paragraphs on housing. Which device best achieves that transition?

  1. Ending the transport paragraph with a rhetorical question about housing.
  2. Inserting a one-line paragraph consisting of the word 'Housing' as a heading.
  3. Starting the housing paragraph with 'Another issue is housing.'
  4. Opening the housing paragraph with a sentence that links both policy areas to a shared cause. Correct answer.

Explanation

Cohesion across paragraphs is strongest when a sentence explicitly connects the previous topic to the new one. A shared cause provides a logical bridge that carries the argument forward. Formulaic openers or bare headings signal a change of topic without explaining the connection.

Question 40Composing (Paper 1)

Which sentence best avoids ambiguity in a Paper 1 composition about a study of two groups?

  1. The tasks given to the older group were simpler, which explains their higher scores. Correct answer.
  2. They performed better because they had easier tasks.
  3. The older group outperformed the younger group because the tasks were simpler.
  4. The group that was older did better because of the tasks being easier.

Explanation

Ambiguity arises when a pronoun or modifier could attach to more than one element. Naming the tasks and the group explicitly, and using 'which' to refer to the whole preceding clause, removes the doubt. The other options leave the referent or the causal link unclear.

Question 41Composing (Paper 1)

In a Paper 1 composition, what is the main risk of opening every paragraph with the same adverbial phrase, such as 'Furthermore'?

  1. It makes the composition exceed the permitted word count.
  2. It forces the writer to use the passive voice in each paragraph.
  3. It prevents the use of evidence within body paragraphs.
  4. It creates a monotonous rhythm and signals mechanical rather than logical connection. Correct answer.

Explanation

Repeated formulaic openers draw attention to the connective rather than to the relationship between ideas, producing a list-like feel. Examiners reward varied and precise signalling of logical links. Word count, voice and evidential use are unaffected by the choice of opener.

Question 42Composing (Paper 1)

A candidate writes: 'The mayor promised reform. Reform did not arrive. Voters noticed.' Which revision best creates a controlled, cumulative sentence suitable for Paper 1?

  1. Although the mayor promised reform, voters noticed that it did not arrive. Correct answer.
  2. The mayor promised reform, reform did not arrive, and voters noticed.
  3. The mayor promised reform; reform did not arrive; voters noticed.
  4. The mayor promised reform but reform did not arrive and voters noticed it.

Explanation

A cumulative sentence subordinates minor information and places the main clause where it carries most weight. Using 'although' signals the concessive relationship and avoids a string of loosely coordinated clauses. The other options either produce a comma splice or pile up conjunctions.

Question 43Composing (Paper 1)

Which sentence best demonstrates nominalisation used effectively rather than excessively in a Paper 1 composition?

  1. There was an assessment, and it was of student performance, which was done.
  2. Assessment of student performance revealed a widening gap between schools. Correct answer.
  3. The implementation of the assessment of the performance of students was undertaken.
  4. The undertaking of the assessment of students was performed by the board.

Explanation

Nominalisation is useful when it names a concept compactly, as in 'assessment of student performance', provided the sentence keeps a clear verb. Stacking several abstract nouns, by contrast, obscures the agent and the action. The remaining options bury the meaning in chains of nouns or empty verbs.

Question 44Composing (Paper 1)

A candidate wants a composition to acknowledge that the evidence for a claim is limited. Which phrasing best achieves that in an academic register?

  1. The evidence suggests a link, although the sample size limits how far this can be generalised. Correct answer.
  2. The evidence proves the link beyond any doubt whatsoever.
  3. The evidence is what it is, and the link is there.
  4. The evidence is obviously right, and nobody could disagree.

Explanation

Hedging that names the specific limitation demonstrates analytical control and is a hallmark of academic argument. Vague intensifiers or dismissive assertions do the opposite. Naming the constraint lets the writer then state what can still be concluded.

Question 45Composing (Paper 1)

Which sentence uses a relative clause to add essential information without creating a punctuation error in a Paper 1 composition?

  1. The policy that was introduced in 2020, reduced waiting times.
  2. The policy that was introduced in 2020 reduced waiting times. Correct answer.
  3. The policy, that was introduced in 2020 reduced waiting times.
  4. The policy, that was introduced in 2020, reduced waiting times.

Explanation

A restrictive relative clause identifies which policy is meant and therefore takes no commas. 'That' is the usual relative pronoun in restrictive clauses, and the clause runs directly into the main verb. The other options either mispunctuate the clause or use 'that' in a non-restrictive position.

Question 46Composing (Paper 1)

A conclusion to a Paper 1 composition reads: 'So, as I have shown, the policy failed, and that is my opinion.' Which revision best strengthens the conclusion?

  1. In conclusion, the policy failed, and it was a bad policy.
  2. The policy failed because its costs fell on those least able to bear them, which is why the case for redesign is strong. Correct answer.
  3. So the policy failed, and this essay has explained why that matters.
  4. The policy failed, and the reasons are obvious to anyone who looks.

Explanation

A strong conclusion synthesises the reasoning rather than restating the verdict, and it points forward to an implication. Naming the distributive reason and the resulting recommendation gives the ending analytical weight. Mere restatement or appeals to obviousness add nothing.

Question 47Composing (Paper 1)

Which sentence best demonstrates balanced antithesis appropriate to a Paper 1 composition?

  1. The policy promised efficiency, and it did not deliver efficiency.
  2. The policy promised efficiency, which is what policies often do.
  3. The policy promised efficiency, but it delivered delay. Correct answer.
  4. The policy promised efficiency; the policy also promised other things.

Explanation

Antithesis balances contrasting terms in parallel structures, here 'promised efficiency' against 'delivered delay'. The balanced contrast concentrates the argument in a single memorable clause. The other options break the parallel or dilute the contrast with commentary.

Question 48Composing (Paper 1)

A candidate's body paragraph reads: 'Many people support the ban. The ban is supported by many people.' Which problem should the candidate correct first?

  1. The paragraph restates the same proposition instead of advancing the argument. Correct answer.
  2. The paragraph uses the present tense throughout.
  3. The paragraph uses the passive voice in the second sentence.
  4. The paragraph lacks a quotation from an expert.

Explanation

Circular restatement consumes words without developing the claim, which is a substantive weakness in a Paper 1 composition. The writer needs new reasoning or evidence rather than a reworded repetition. Voice, citation and tense are secondary to this failure of progression.

Question 49Composing (Paper 1)

Which sentence best uses a participle phrase to compress information without creating a dangling modifier in a Paper 1 composition?

  1. Having analysed the data, clarity was reached about the conclusion.
  2. Having analysed the data, the conclusion was clear to the researchers.
  3. Having analysed the data, it was clear that a conclusion had been reached.
  4. Having analysed the data, the researchers reached a clear conclusion. Correct answer.

Explanation

A participle phrase must attach to the subject of the main clause, so the entity that analysed the data must be the entity that reached the conclusion. Naming 'the researchers' as subject satisfies that requirement. The other options leave the participle attached to an abstraction.

Question 50Composing (Paper 1)

A candidate wants to signal that a paragraph's claim is narrower in scope than the previous paragraph's claim. Which connective best achieves this?

  1. Nevertheless
  2. Moreover
  3. Specifically Correct answer.
  4. Consequently

Explanation

'Specifically' signals that the following claim narrows or particularises the previous one, which matches the intended movement from general to precise. The other connectives mark addition, contrast or result. Choosing the connective that matches the logical relation is central to cohesion in Paper 1.