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Joy English · Level C1 · Research and evidencejoy-english.com

Test 1: Research, evidence and doubt

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An advanced mixed test about how scientific claims are weighed, reported and doubted: collocation, linkers, inversion and word formation.

Part 1: Multiple-choice gaps

Choose the word or phrase that best completes each sentence.

  1. Journalists sometimes ___ the significance of a single small study, presenting tentative results as settled fact.
    • a) overturn
    • b) overtake
    • c) overplay
    • d) overhaul
  2. The correlation was strong, but that does not ___ imply that one factor causes the other.
    • a) necessarily
    • b) evidently
    • c) eventually
    • d) hardly
  3. Not until the data had been re-analysed ___ the original error come to light.
    • a) has
    • b) was
    • c) had
    • d) did
  4. The sample was small; ___, the results were consistent across all three sites.
    • a) as a result
    • b) even so
    • c) in that case
    • d) for instance
  5. The authors ___ their claims with several caveats, noting that more work is needed.
    • a) quantify
    • b) qualify
    • c) amplify
    • d) identify
  6. The new theory has been ___ a good deal of scepticism.
    • a) run up
    • b) faced up
    • c) met with
    • d) come across
  7. The research, the findings of ___ are freely available, was funded by a charity.
    • a) whose
    • b) that
    • c) what
    • d) which
  8. Had the researchers ___ the sample earlier, they might have avoided the bias.
    • a) widen
    • b) widened
    • c) been widened
    • d) widening

Part 2: Open gaps

Type one word in each gap.

  1. The report stops ___ of claiming that the drug is completely safe.
  2. The effect, ___ far as the evidence suggests, is modest.
  3. Little ___ the researchers know that their error would be exposed within a week.
  4. Convincing ___ they may seem, the results do not prove a causal link.
  5. The scientists were reluctant to speculate ___ the cause until more data came in.
  6. Rather ___ accept the findings at face value, the editor asked for an independent review.
  7. The journal has a policy ___ which every paper must include a statement on funding.
  8. Whatever the merits of the study, it cannot be taken ___ proof that the treatment works.

Part 3: Word formation

Use the word in CAPITALS at the end of each sentence to form a word that fits the gap. Type one word.

  1. Critics described the sampling as ___ and open to bias. (SYSTEM)
  2. The ___ of the findings has been questioned by several teams. (VALID)
  3. Her claim was never ___ by independent evidence. (SUBSTANCE)
  4. There is widespread ___ with the way results are reported, and many scientists are calling for reform. (SATISFY)
  5. The committee's commitment to ___ reassured the public. (TRANSPARENT)
  6. It would be ___ to draw firm conclusions from so little data. (WISE)
  7. The ___ of the team's approach lay in combining two methods. (ORIGIN)
  8. The figures were ___ presented in the press release. (MISLEAD)

Answer key

Part 1: Multiple-choice gaps

  1. c) overplayTo overplay something is to exaggerate its importance. The other verbs have different meanings.
  2. a) necessarilyDoes not necessarily imply is a fixed pattern. Hardly would create a double negative.
  3. d) didAfter a negative time expression at the start, we invert the subject and auxiliary: did the error come to light.
  4. b) even soEven so introduces a contrast with what has just been said. The other linkers do not fit the logic.
  5. b) qualifyTo qualify a claim means to limit it by adding conditions or cautions.
  6. c) met withBe met with scepticism means people react to something with doubt.
  7. d) whichAfter a preposition (of) we use which for things: the findings of which.
  8. b) widenedThis is an inverted third conditional: Had + subject + past participle. The researchers did the widening, so we use the active widened.

Part 2: Open gaps

  1. shortStop short of doing something means to go almost as far as doing it but not quite.
  2. as / soAs far as and so far as are both correct and mean to the extent that.
  3. didA negative adverb such as little at the start of a sentence needs inversion: did the researchers know.
  4. as / thoughThe pattern adjective + as/though + subject + may/might means however convincing they seem.
  5. about / on / over / upon / regarding / concerningSpeculate about, on, upon or over something are all possible; regarding and concerning also work.
  6. thanRather than + infinitive means instead of doing something.
  7. under / byA policy under which or by which describes a rule that applies to everyone.
  8. asWe take something as proof or as evidence.

Part 3: Word formation

  1. unsystematic / nonsystematic / non-systematicWe need an adjective with a negative meaning: unsystematic (or non-systematic).
  2. validityAfter the we need a noun. The noun from valid is validity.
  3. substantiatedThe passive was never ... by needs a past participle. From substance we form the verb substantiate, so substantiated.
  4. dissatisfactionThe noun needs a negative prefix: dissatisfaction.
  5. transparencyAfter a preposition we need a noun: transparency.
  6. unwiseBe + adjective: the sense is negative, so unwise.
  7. originalityThe subject needs a noun meaning the quality of being new: originality.
  8. misleadinglyWe need an adverb to modify the participle presented: misleadingly.

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