Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one. Some sentences have two correct answers. Choose both.
1Given the limited sample size, the results ............... be interpreted with caution.
Wrong!
Use a hedging modal that fits formal academic advice about being careful with conclusions.
2I ............... be wrong, but his tone sounded more defensive than confident.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
The natural hedging phrase is 'I may be wrong' to soften your opinion.
3From the way she avoided eye contact, she ............... have known more than she admitted.
Wrong!
Use a modal of possibility with 'have' to hedge about a past situation.
4If the figures are accurate, the delay ............... be due to a supplier issue rather than poor planning.
Wrong!
After 'If', use a possibility modal to hedge a tentative explanation.
5To avoid overclaiming, we ............... say the policy improved satisfaction, not that it transformed the service.
Wrong!
Use a modal that politely recommends a cautious wording choice.
6The sudden drop in sales ............... indicate a reporting error, so we should double-check the dashboard.
Wrong!
Use a hedging modal that suggests a possible interpretation, not a certainty.
7There ............... be a slight mismatch between the two datasets, but it is hard to tell without the raw files.
Wrong!
Use an existential hedging structure to suggest a possibility.
8The committee ............... have overlooked the conflict of interest, but we cannot assume bad faith.
Wrong!
Use a possibility modal with 'have' to hedge about what happened in the past.
9If we are being completely honest, the proposal ............... be a little too ambitious for this budget.
Wrong!
Use a hedging modal that expresses a tentative judgement in a polite way.
10To put it diplomatically, we ............... want to revisit the timeline before we commit in writing.
Wrong!
Use a modal that softens a suggestion and makes it sound less direct.
11With more context, we ............... be able to explain the anomaly, but right now it is speculation.
Wrong!
Use a modal that hedges ability in the future rather than stating certainty.
12Given the early evidence, the new onboarding flow ............... reduce churn, but it is too soon to call it a trend.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both 'may' and 'might' are acceptable hedges for a tentative prediction here.
Done.
Score: 0/12
Answers
- Given the limited sample size, the results should be interpreted with caution.
- I may/might be wrong, but his tone sounded more defensive than confident.
- From the way she avoided eye contact, she might have known more than she admitted.
- If the figures are accurate, the delay could be due to a supplier issue rather than poor planning.
- To avoid overclaiming, we should say the policy improved satisfaction, not that it transformed the service.
- The sudden drop in sales may indicate a reporting error, so we should double-check the dashboard.
- There might be a slight mismatch between the two datasets, but it is hard to tell without the raw files.
- The committee could have overlooked the conflict of interest, but we cannot assume bad faith.
- If we are being completely honest, the proposal might be a little too ambitious for this budget.
- To put it diplomatically, we might want to revisit the timeline before we commit in writing.
- With more context, we might be able to explain the anomaly, but right now it is speculation.
- Given the early evidence, the new onboarding flow may/might reduce churn, but it is too soon to call it a trend.
