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Academic Vocabulary — Answers

Answer sheet with model answers and success criteria for the Year 8 vocabulary worksheet.

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Year 8 · English · Vocabulary

Academic Vocabulary — Answers

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Part A — Task words

These words appear in exam questions and essay tasks. Circle the correct meaning.

1.analyse
  1. Aexamine in detail to understand how the parts work
  2. Bcopy exactly
  3. Cignore
  4. Dsummarise briefly

Answer: examine in detail to understand how the parts work

To analyse is to break something down and examine it closely.

2.evaluate
  1. Adescribe
  2. Bjudge the value or quality of
  3. Clist
  4. Drepeat

Answer: judge the value or quality of

Evaluating means making a judgement, supported by reasons.

3.significant
  1. Atiny
  2. Bimportant or meaningful
  3. Cconfusing
  4. Dquick

Answer: important or meaningful

A significant result matters.

4.hypothesis
  1. Aa proven fact
  2. Ba testable explanation or prediction
  3. Ca final conclusion
  4. Da measurement

Answer: a testable explanation or prediction

A hypothesis is tested; it is not yet proven.

5.contrast
  1. Ashow the differences between
  2. Bshow the similarities between
  3. Csummarise
  4. Dprove

Answer: show the differences between

Compare looks at similarities and differences; contrast focuses on differences.

6.justify
  1. Agive reasons or evidence to support
  2. Bdisagree with
  3. Cshorten
  4. Drewrite

Answer: give reasons or evidence to support

To justify is to show why something is right or reasonable.

7.summarise
  1. Aexplain in great detail
  2. Bgive the main points briefly
  3. Cargue against
  4. Dcompare

Answer: give the main points briefly

A summary is short and covers only the key points.

8.infer
  1. Astate directly
  2. Bwork out from clues and evidence
  3. Cmeasure
  4. Ddefine

Answer: work out from clues and evidence

Inferring means reading between the lines.

Part B — Choose the academic word

Write the word that fits the sentence.

9.The data that temperatures are rising. (indicates / wonders)

Answer: indicates

10.Scientists a clear trend in the results. (identified / invented)

Answer: identified

11.The author that fast fashion harms the environment. (argues / sings)

Answer: argues

12.The two experiments were ; they used the same method. (consistent / random)

Answer: consistent

13.There is evidence to support the claim. (sufficient / absent)

Answer: sufficient

14.The study's was to measure sleep in teenagers. (purpose / purchase)

Answer: purpose

Part C — Upgrade the phrase

Replace the bold everyday words with more formal, academic alternatives.

15.The experiment showed that plants grow faster in sunlight.

Answer: demonstrated (or revealed, indicated)

16.The author talks about the dangers of social media.

Answer: discusses (or examines, explores)

17.A lot of people think the policy is unfair.

Answer: Many (or A significant number of) people believe the policy is unfair.

18.The results were really different.

Answer: The results differed significantly (or varied considerably).

19.The writer uses short sentences to make tension.

Answer: The writer employs short sentences to create (or build) tension.

Part D — Write analytically

20.Write an analytical paragraph (5–6 sentences) answering: Should mobile phones be banned in Australian high schools? Use at least five of these words: analyse, evaluate, significant, evidence, justify, infer, consistent, indicate, argue, however.

Model answer: Several Australian states have banned mobile phones in high schools, and the evidence so far indicates a significant drop in classroom distraction. Supporters argue that students concentrate better and socialise more at lunch. However, critics justify their opposition by pointing to students who rely on phones for medical monitoring or safety. When we evaluate both positions, the benefits appear consistent across different schools, while the drawbacks can be managed with exemptions. It is reasonable to infer that a ban with sensible exceptions is the strongest option.

Success criteria:

  • Five to six sentences
  • At least five of the listed words used accurately
  • A clear position supported by reasons
  • Formal, academic tone maintained
  • Correct punctuation throughout
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