Academic-Reporting-Verbs-Practice-Quiz

1.

Academic Reporting Verbs & Nouns

2.

Understanding Academic Reporting Verbs
Direct Statements
Tentative Suggestions
Firm Claims
explains Morton explains how
claims / asserts / contends /
information technology is
tentatively) Kon suggests that
maintains / declares (says
changing society.
all poets are strongly
something is true directly and
describes Schmidt describes
influenced by their childhood.
firmly, often used when others
implies (suggests indirectly)
disagree) Uvarov claims that
the process of language
suggests (says indirectly or
change.
Van Ek implies that other
states (says directly) Lee states
historians have misinterpreted
that problems arose earlier
than was previously thought.
the period.
the causes of the revolution
can be traced back to the 18th
century.

3.

More Academic Reporting Verbs
Reasoning & Emphasis
Observation & Demonstration
Brief Reference & Focus
argues (suggests the writer gives
observes / notes / comments /
reasons for their view) Patel
points out (states without
book, Dean mentions new
argues that governments should
developing at length) Levack
research in the field.
continue to fund space research.
points out that there are
contradictions in Day's
mentions (refers to briefly) In the
interpretation of the poem.
emphasises / highlights /
stresses (gives particular
demonstrates / shows Kim
importance to) Greenberg
demonstrates how Bach's music
emphasises the importance of
draws on earlier composers'
taking a liberal approach.
work.
proves (shows something must
be true) Gray proves there is a
link between obesity and genes.
pinpoints (focuses in on)
McIntosh pinpoints the key
features of the period in
question.

4.

Proposing & Questioning
Proposing Ideas
advances / puts forward / proposes (used with ideas,
Expressing Doubt
casts doubt on (suggests something is inaccurate)
Davidson casts doubt on previous research in the
theories, hypotheses) Vatz proposes a new theory.
field.
questions (expresses doubt about) Gerhard questions
previous interpretations of the play.
Choose the most appropriate reporting verb to complete each sentence based on the meaning and context. Each
question has one correct answer.

5.

Question 1
Dean ________ new research in the
field, but does not explore it in detail.
a) demonstrates
b) mentions
c) argues
d) proves

6.

Question 2
Patel ________ that governments
should continue to fund space
research.
a) questions
b) argues
c) highlights
d) notes

7.

Question 3
Gray ________ there is a link between
obesity and genes.
a) suggests
b) proposes
c) proves
d) maintains

8.

Question 4
Kon ________ that all poets are
influenced by their childhood.
(said tentatively)
a) states
b) implies
c) suggests
d) contends

9.

Question 5
Lee ________ that problems arose
earlier than previously thought.
(said directly)
a) suggests
b) states
c) questions
d) observes

10.

Remaining Questions
Question 6
Question 8
Van Ek ________ that other historians have misinterpreted the
Davidson ________ previous research in the field, suggesting it
period. (indirect suggestion)
is inaccurate.
a) implies b) shows c) puts forward d) argues
a) highlights b) casts doubt on c) proposes d) notes
Question 7
Question 9
McIntosh ________ the key features of the period in question.
Uvarov ________ that the causes of the revolution can be
(focuses in on)
traced back to the 18th century. (firm statement)
a) questions b) describes c) pinpoints d) maintains
a) describes b) suggests c) claims d) demonstrates

11.