Exercises C1 : use Academic vocabulary in English (answers)

These exercises will help you practise the academic vocabulary introduced in the course, focusing on precise, formal, and neutral language that elevates your written English to C1 level.

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Exercice 1 — Academic Vocabulary in Context

Choose the most appropriate academic word or phrase to complete each sentence.

1. The research paper ___ that current climate models may underestimate the rate of glacial retreat.
2. The committee's decision was ___ by a lack of empirical evidence supporting the proposed policy.
3. Scholars have long ___ whether economic growth and environmental sustainability can coexist.
4. The findings ___ a significant correlation between socioeconomic status and academic achievement.

Correction

1. B) posits — The research paper posits that current climate models may underestimate the rate of glacial retreat.
2. C) undermined — The committee's decision was undermined by a lack of empirical evidence supporting the proposed policy.
3. B) debated — Scholars have long debated whether economic growth and environmental sustainability can coexist.
4. C) demonstrate — The findings demonstrate a significant correlation between socioeconomic status and academic achievement.

Exercice 2 — Formal vs. Informal: Match the Equivalents

Match each informal or everyday expression on the left with its formal academic equivalent on the right by identifying the correct pair.

1. Match the informal expression 'to look into something' with its academic equivalent from the following: (A) to scrutinise, (B) to investigate, (C) to glance at, (D) to skim through.
2. Match the informal expression 'to go against' with its academic equivalent from the following: (A) to challenge, (B) to fight, (C) to ignore, (D) to dismiss.
3. Match the informal expression 'to back up an idea' with its academic equivalent from the following: (A) to repeat, (B) to copy, (C) to substantiate, (D) to mention.
4. Match the informal expression 'to bring about a change' with its academic equivalent from the following: (A) to cause, (B) to engender, (C) to start, (D) to push.

Correction

1. The correct match is (B): 'to look into something' corresponds to 'to investigate', as in 'The study seeks to investigate the underlying causes of the phenomenon.'
2. The correct match is (A): 'to go against' corresponds to 'to challenge', as in 'These results challenge the assumptions of the prevailing theoretical framework.'
3. The correct match is (C): 'to back up an idea' corresponds to 'to substantiate', as in 'The author attempts to substantiate the central argument with quantitative data.'
4. The correct match is (B): 'to bring about a change' corresponds to 'to engender', as in 'Rapid urbanisation has been shown to engender significant shifts in cultural identity.'

Exercice 3 — Complete the Academic Sentences

Fill in each blank with the most appropriate academic word or phrase to produce formal, precise, and neutral prose.

1. The author ___ that previous interpretations of the data have overlooked a critical variable.
2. A growing body of literature ___ the need for more rigorous methodological standards in social science research.
3. The concept of cultural capital, as ___ by Bourdieu, refers to the non-financial social assets that promote social mobility.
4. It is ___ to acknowledge the limitations of the present study before drawing any broad conclusions.

Correction

1. The author contends that previous interpretations of the data have overlooked a critical variable.
2. A growing body of literature underscores the need for more rigorous methodological standards in social science research.
3. The concept of cultural capital, as theorised by Bourdieu, refers to the non-financial social assets that promote social mobility.
4. It is imperative to acknowledge the limitations of the present study before drawing any broad conclusions.