Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1............... that the sample is small, the review still fails to justify excluding the two dissenting studies.
Wrong!
"Granted" signals that the writer concedes a point before arguing that it does not overturn the judgement.
2Three methodological reservations do not constitute ............... for dismissing the objection outright.
Wrong!
"grounds" is the standard plural noun meaning reasons or justification for a claim or decision.
3A responsible assessment should be ............... of treating correlation as proof of causation.
Wrong!
"wary" means cautious and evaluative, so it fits the warning against equating correlation with causation.
4..............., the conclusion is persuasive, though several subsidiary claims remain overstated.
Wrong!
"On balance" is the fixed phrase used when a judgement follows from weighing competing considerations.
5The undisclosed conflict of interest ............... the committee's conclusion.
Wrong!
"calls into question" means casts doubt on a conclusion, which matches the undisclosed conflict of interest.
6The author argues only that the policy was poorly implemented, ............... her critics portray her as rejecting the policy in principle.
Wrong!
"whereas" contrasts the author's narrow claim with the broader claim the critics attribute to her.
7The editorial confuses temporal sequence with ............... and so overstates the evidence for negligence.
Wrong!
"causation" is the usual noun in the critical formula contrasting sequence or correlation with cause-and-effect proof; confusing sequence with 'coincidence' would not overstate the evidence.
8If the premises are true and the inference is valid, the conclusion ............... follow, however unpalatable it may be.
Wrong!
"must" marks logical necessity: if the premises are true and the inference is valid, the conclusion necessarily follows.
9The severity of the report's recommendation is not ............... to the evidence presented.
Wrong!
After 'is not', an adjective is needed: "proportionate" is used for a judgement or response that is appropriately measured against the evidence.
10It is rash to infer public indifference ............... the survey, since half the respondents were never asked the key question.
Wrong!
"on the basis of" introduces the evidence or grounds used to support a conclusion.
11The defence ............... because it assumes what it is meant to prove.
Wrong!
"begs the question" means assumes what it is supposed to prove, as shown by the premise already containing the conclusion.
12............... its rhetorical polish, the speech evades the central ethical objection.
Wrong!
"For all" means despite and introduces a conceded feature before the main negative evaluation.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- Granted that the sample is small, the review still fails to justify excluding the two dissenting studies.
- Three methodological reservations do not constitute grounds for dismissing the objection outright.
- A responsible assessment should be wary of treating correlation as proof of causation.
- On balance, the conclusion is persuasive, though several subsidiary claims remain overstated.
- The undisclosed conflict of interest calls into question the committee’s conclusion.
- The author argues only that the policy was poorly implemented, whereas her critics portray her as rejecting the policy in principle.
- The editorial confuses temporal sequence with causation and so overstates the evidence for negligence.
- If the premises are true and the inference is valid, the conclusion must follow, however unpalatable it may be.
- The severity of the report’s recommendation is not proportionate to the evidence presented.
- It is rash to infer public indifference on the basis of the survey, since half the respondents were never asked the key question.
- The defence begs the question because it assumes what it is meant to prove.
- For all its rhetorical polish, the speech evades the central ethical objection.