AcAdemic YeAr 2025 | eNG1503 AcAdemic
LANGuAGe ANd LiterAcY iN eNGLish – cOmPLete
AssiGNmeNt ANsWers | Verified uNisA eNGLish
studies Guide | uPdAted semester 2 2025
POrtfOLiO | cOmPreheNsiVe LANGuAGe ANd
cOmmuNicAtiON resOurce fOr sOuth AfricAN
studeNts
Question 1:
Which of the following best defines "academic literacy"?
• A) The ability to read and write in a non-academic context.
• B) The capacity to effectively comprehend, analyze, and produce written
texts in an academic setting.
• C) The skills needed to pass standardized tests.
• D) The capability to communicate effectively in everyday situations.
Correct Option: B
Rationale: Academic literacy involves not just the ability to read and write, but also to
engage critically with texts and produce various forms of academic writing. It focuses
on skills specific to academic contexts, including understanding complex texts and
constructing arguments.
Question 2:
In academic writing, which of the following is an essential characteristic of a thesis
statement?
• A) It should be vague to allow flexibility.
• B) It must present a clear and specific argument.
• C) It should be a question rather than a statement.
• D) It is optional for shorter essays.
Correct Option: B
Rationale: A thesis statement is a crucial element of academic writing that articulates
the main argument or claim of the paper. It must be clear and specific to guide the
reader and provide a framework for the ensuing discussion.
Question 3:
What is the primary purpose of using citations in academic writing?
, • A) To make the writing appear more sophisticated.
• B) To give credit to original sources and support claims made in the text.
• C) To increase the word count of a paper.
• D) To confuse the reader with excessive information.
Correct Option: B
Rationale: Citations are vital in academic writing as they acknowledge the
contributions of other scholars and provide evidence for the claims made, which
enhances the credibility and scholarly integrity of the work.
Question 4:
Which of the following is a common feature of academic texts?
• A) Use of colloquial language and slang.
• B) Formal tone and use of discipline-specific terminology.
• C) Personal anecdotes and subjective opinions.
• D) Simplistic sentence structures.
Correct Option: B
Rationale: Academic texts typically employ a formal tone, avoiding colloquial language,
and they often include discipline-specific terminology to convey complex ideas
accurately and professionally.
Question 5:
Which of the following strategies is most effective for improving reading comprehension
in academic texts?
• A) Skimming through the text to find key terms.
• B) Annotating the text and summarizing key points as you read.
• C) Reading the text multiple times without taking notes.
• D) Relying solely on secondary summaries and analyses.
Correct Option: B
Rationale: Annotating while reading helps engage critically with the material, allowing
for better retention and understanding of the text. Summarizing key points further aids
in clarifying complex ideas and integrating knowledge.
Question 6:
What is the significance of using transitional words and phrases in academic writing?
• A) They are unnecessary and can clutter the text.
, • B) They only serve to fill space in an essay.
• C) They help to guide the reader through the argument and show
relationships between ideas.
• D) They are primarily used in informal writing.
Correct Option: C
Rationale: Transitional words and phrases enhance the coherence of academic writing
by linking ideas, indicating relationships, and guiding the reader through the argument,
thereby improving overall clarity.
Question 7:
In an academic essay, what is the role of a literature review?
• A) To summarize personal experiences related to the topic.
• B) To analyze and synthesize existing research relevant to the topic.
• C) To present new data collected by the author.
• D) To provide recommendations based on personal opinion.
Correct Option: B
Rationale: A literature review critically examines existing research, situating the current
study within the context of prior work and highlighting gaps or areas for further
exploration.
Question 8:
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a well-structured academic paragraph?
• A) A clear topic sentence.
• B) Supporting details and examples.
• C) A concluding sentence that summarizes the main idea.
• D) Lack of coherence between sentences.
Correct Option: D
Rationale: A well-structured academic paragraph requires coherence among
sentences, with each supporting the main idea presented in the topic sentence. Lack of
coherence disrupts the flow and clarity of the argument.
Question 9:
What is the primary purpose of a discussion section in a research paper?
• A) To present the methodology used in the study.
, • B) To interpret the results and explain their significance.
• C) To list references used in the research.
• D) To provide a detailed account of the literature reviewed.
Correct Option: B
Rationale: The discussion section interprets the findings, explaining their implications,
significance, and how they relate to existing literature, thus situating the research within
the broader academic context.
Question 10:
Which citation style is commonly used in the humanities?
• A) APA
• B) MLA
• C) Chicago
• D) IEEE
Correct Option: B
Rationale: The Modern Language Association (MLA) citation style is widely used in the
humanities, particularly in literature, philosophy, and the arts, focusing on authorship
and the medium of the work.
Question 11:
What is the impact of plagiarism on academic integrity?
• A) It has no real consequences in academia.
• B) It can enhance a student’s reputation.
• C) It undermines trust and violates ethical standards in research.
• D) It is a common practice that everyone does.
Correct Option: C
Rationale: Plagiarism violates ethical standards by misrepresenting others' work as
one's own, which undermines trust within the academic community and can lead to
severe consequences.
Question 12:
What should be the primary focus when drafting an academic paper?
• A) Personal opinions and experiences.
LANGuAGe ANd LiterAcY iN eNGLish – cOmPLete
AssiGNmeNt ANsWers | Verified uNisA eNGLish
studies Guide | uPdAted semester 2 2025
POrtfOLiO | cOmPreheNsiVe LANGuAGe ANd
cOmmuNicAtiON resOurce fOr sOuth AfricAN
studeNts
Question 1:
Which of the following best defines "academic literacy"?
• A) The ability to read and write in a non-academic context.
• B) The capacity to effectively comprehend, analyze, and produce written
texts in an academic setting.
• C) The skills needed to pass standardized tests.
• D) The capability to communicate effectively in everyday situations.
Correct Option: B
Rationale: Academic literacy involves not just the ability to read and write, but also to
engage critically with texts and produce various forms of academic writing. It focuses
on skills specific to academic contexts, including understanding complex texts and
constructing arguments.
Question 2:
In academic writing, which of the following is an essential characteristic of a thesis
statement?
• A) It should be vague to allow flexibility.
• B) It must present a clear and specific argument.
• C) It should be a question rather than a statement.
• D) It is optional for shorter essays.
Correct Option: B
Rationale: A thesis statement is a crucial element of academic writing that articulates
the main argument or claim of the paper. It must be clear and specific to guide the
reader and provide a framework for the ensuing discussion.
Question 3:
What is the primary purpose of using citations in academic writing?
, • A) To make the writing appear more sophisticated.
• B) To give credit to original sources and support claims made in the text.
• C) To increase the word count of a paper.
• D) To confuse the reader with excessive information.
Correct Option: B
Rationale: Citations are vital in academic writing as they acknowledge the
contributions of other scholars and provide evidence for the claims made, which
enhances the credibility and scholarly integrity of the work.
Question 4:
Which of the following is a common feature of academic texts?
• A) Use of colloquial language and slang.
• B) Formal tone and use of discipline-specific terminology.
• C) Personal anecdotes and subjective opinions.
• D) Simplistic sentence structures.
Correct Option: B
Rationale: Academic texts typically employ a formal tone, avoiding colloquial language,
and they often include discipline-specific terminology to convey complex ideas
accurately and professionally.
Question 5:
Which of the following strategies is most effective for improving reading comprehension
in academic texts?
• A) Skimming through the text to find key terms.
• B) Annotating the text and summarizing key points as you read.
• C) Reading the text multiple times without taking notes.
• D) Relying solely on secondary summaries and analyses.
Correct Option: B
Rationale: Annotating while reading helps engage critically with the material, allowing
for better retention and understanding of the text. Summarizing key points further aids
in clarifying complex ideas and integrating knowledge.
Question 6:
What is the significance of using transitional words and phrases in academic writing?
• A) They are unnecessary and can clutter the text.
, • B) They only serve to fill space in an essay.
• C) They help to guide the reader through the argument and show
relationships between ideas.
• D) They are primarily used in informal writing.
Correct Option: C
Rationale: Transitional words and phrases enhance the coherence of academic writing
by linking ideas, indicating relationships, and guiding the reader through the argument,
thereby improving overall clarity.
Question 7:
In an academic essay, what is the role of a literature review?
• A) To summarize personal experiences related to the topic.
• B) To analyze and synthesize existing research relevant to the topic.
• C) To present new data collected by the author.
• D) To provide recommendations based on personal opinion.
Correct Option: B
Rationale: A literature review critically examines existing research, situating the current
study within the context of prior work and highlighting gaps or areas for further
exploration.
Question 8:
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a well-structured academic paragraph?
• A) A clear topic sentence.
• B) Supporting details and examples.
• C) A concluding sentence that summarizes the main idea.
• D) Lack of coherence between sentences.
Correct Option: D
Rationale: A well-structured academic paragraph requires coherence among
sentences, with each supporting the main idea presented in the topic sentence. Lack of
coherence disrupts the flow and clarity of the argument.
Question 9:
What is the primary purpose of a discussion section in a research paper?
• A) To present the methodology used in the study.
, • B) To interpret the results and explain their significance.
• C) To list references used in the research.
• D) To provide a detailed account of the literature reviewed.
Correct Option: B
Rationale: The discussion section interprets the findings, explaining their implications,
significance, and how they relate to existing literature, thus situating the research within
the broader academic context.
Question 10:
Which citation style is commonly used in the humanities?
• A) APA
• B) MLA
• C) Chicago
• D) IEEE
Correct Option: B
Rationale: The Modern Language Association (MLA) citation style is widely used in the
humanities, particularly in literature, philosophy, and the arts, focusing on authorship
and the medium of the work.
Question 11:
What is the impact of plagiarism on academic integrity?
• A) It has no real consequences in academia.
• B) It can enhance a student’s reputation.
• C) It undermines trust and violates ethical standards in research.
• D) It is a common practice that everyone does.
Correct Option: C
Rationale: Plagiarism violates ethical standards by misrepresenting others' work as
one's own, which undermines trust within the academic community and can lead to
severe consequences.
Question 12:
What should be the primary focus when drafting an academic paper?
• A) Personal opinions and experiences.
