CENTRE FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF LANGUAGE COMPETENCE

FINAL EXAMINATION
First Semester of 2021/2022

SET A

COURSE NAME : ACADEMIC WRITING

CODE : LPE2501

PROGRAMME : ALL

DATE : 12 FEBRUARY 2022

TIME : 0830 - 1030 DURATION : 2 HOURS

INSTRUCTIONS :

1. Answer ALL the questions in the ANSWER BOOKLET.

2. Submit the ANSWER BOOKLET to your PutraBlast within the stipulated time.
3. Ensure all personal particulars in the question paper have been filled.
4. Do not share or disseminate the exam questions and answers. If detected, you will
be penalised.

Name : Programme :

Matric No. : Lecturer’s name :

Group No. : Signature :

This paper consists of 9 pages including the front page.

@ UPM All rights reserved

This paper consists of 12 pages including the front page.

 UPM-CALC/SEM1/2021-22/FE/LPE2501/SET A

SECTION A
[34 marks]

ITEMS 1-2
Read the paragraph below and answer the questions that follow.

1Public speaking is an important skill that builds confidence and provides the ability
to take on leadership roles. 2Public speaking also offers one of the most effective
ways to get one’s point across, demonstrate knowledge and influence others. 3By
incorporating several public speaking tips into daily life, people can steadily
improve your skills and become more comfortable when giving presentations and
speeches.

4One of the ways to improve public speaking skills is by watching and learning from
exceptional speakers. 5This can be done by searching for examples of great public
speakers on websites such as YouTube and TED Talks. 6When watching these
individuals, people should take note of the speaker’s body language, which usually
remains open and inviting. 7The speakers use their arms and hands in ways that
accentuate their key points. 8They also avoid unnecessary fidgeting and wisely
use the space provided to you to capture the audience's attention. 9Nowadays,
social media influencers are shaping the retail world by becoming brand
ambassadors. 10These influencers require a high number of followers to promote
their brands.

11Special attention should also be paid to how speakers pace themselves when
speaking. 12They tend to take their time and deliver their words intentionally.
13Additionally, they use pauses to keep the audience engaged and do not rush
themselves.

1. Identify the sentences that affect paragraph unity. Write the sentence number.

a. Sentence number

b. Sentence number

(2 marks)

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2. Identify the sentences that contain inconsistent pronouns. Write the sentence
number and rewrite the sentence using a consistent pronoun.

a. (i) Sentence number

(ii) Correct sentence

(2 marks)

b. (i) Sentence number

(ii) Correct sentence

(2 marks)
ITEMS 3-8
Improve the coherence of the paragraph below by filling in the blanks with the most
appropriate transition signals.

Floods can strike quickly and with little warning in many parts of the world. Surviving
a flood is a combination of preparation and appropriate action as soon as the
disaster begins. There are several safety steps that can be taken during a flood.
(3) ____, as soon as there is a flood warning, victims should immediately assemble
an emergency supplies kit which includes basic necessities such as food, water
and medication. (4) ____, flood victims must evacuate dangerous areas
immediately and head to designated shelters. It is important to move to higher
ground away from the water especially away from areas with storm drains, streams,
creeks or rivers. (5) ____, it is important to remember to avoid crossing through
moving water as even water up to the ankles can be dangerous. (6) ____, six
inches of water is enough to reach the bottom of cars and cause stalling
(7) ____12 inches of water will float away most vehicles. (8) ____, moving water
is never safe to approach. The current is usually stronger than it appears and even
a slight current is strong enough to carry off adults and vehicles.

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3. 6.

4. 7.

5. 8.

(6 marks)

ITEMS 9-13
Read the paragraph below and answer the questions that follow.

1Hiking is a great activity that involves exploring the outdoors and keeping fit. 2In
fact, hiking provides many physical health benefits it is also great for mental health.

3In terms of physical health benefits, hiking an incredible way to build strong muscles
and bones. 4Each hiking trail has different terrain and slope angles, hikers will have
to utilise different muscle groups of the body while hiking. 5Whether it is a gradual
climb, steep ascent, rolling hills or anything in between, each hike presents the body
with a new challenge that strengthens the body’s muscles.

6In addition to strengthening muscles, hikes is also one of the best workouts for
strengthening bones. 7According to the National Institute of Health America (NIHA),
weight-bearing exercises, which require to work against gravity are excellent for
bone health. 8This is because bone, just like muscle, is living tissue that becomes
stronger with exercise. 9Thus, workouts such as hiking, walking and to jog help to
increase bone density and overall bone mass.

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Write the number of the sentence which contains the stated sentence error. Then write
the correct sentence.

9. Sentence error: Subject-Verb Agreement

(i) Sentence number

(ii) Correct sentence

(2 marks)

10. Sentence error: Fragment

(i) Sentence number

(ii) Correct sentence

(2 marks)

11. Sentence error: Run-On

(i) Sentence number

(ii) Correct sentence

(2 marks)

12. Sentence error: Comma Splice

(i) Sentence number

(ii) Correct sentence

(2 marks)

13. Sentence error: Non-Parallel Structure

(i) Sentence number

(ii) Correct sentence

(2 marks)

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ITEMS 14-15
Read the paragraph below and answer the questions that follow.

1
Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials that would
otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products.
2
Recycling is especially benefit to protect the environment. 3The manufacturing
of new materials from raw materials required mining, quarrying and logging, all
of which create air and water pollution. 4Recycling reduced the need for all these
activities as manufacturers do not have to look for new materials because they
can reuse old ones to create new materials. 5In the year 2019, countries such as
Japan and Hong Kong estimate that more than 2 million tonnes of raw materials
were recycled, which helped in reducing pollution.

6
Recycling also helps in the reduce of greenhouse gas emissions. 7When
recycling products, energy is saved, which results in less greenhouse gas
emissions. 8Greenhouse gases are also responsibility for the increase in global
warming, which is also detrimental to the environment.

14. Identify and correct the word form errors. Write the number of the sentence and
the wrong word form. Then write the correct word form.

Sentence Wrong word form Correct word form

number
a.
b.
c.

(6 marks)

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15. Identify and correct the verb tense errors. Write the number of the sentence and
the wrong verb tense. Then write the correct verb tense.

Sentence Wrong verb tense Correct verb tense

number
a.
b.
c.

(6 marks)

SECTION B
[8 marks]

ITEMS 16-17
Improve the flow of the sentences in the paragraph below by combining the sentences.

1Plagiarism is defined as using someone else’s words or ideas without properly

crediting the original author. 2Sometimes plagiarism involves deliberately stealing
someone’s work, but often it happens accidentally through carelessness or
forgetfulness. 3Writers usually write an academic paper by referring to the works of
others. 4They use various sources for information and evidence to establish
credibility in their work. 5To avoid plagiarism, writers must correctly incorporate
these sources into their work. 6Plagiarism can cause serious consequences. 7It is
important to take the necessary steps to avoid plagiarism when writing academic
texts.

8One of the best ways to avoid plagiarism is by quoting or paraphrasing the original
text and citing the source. 9Quoting means copying a piece of text word-for-word,
enclosed in quotation marks and correctly attributed to the original author. 10Writers

need to decide appropriate situations to use quotations. 11Writers may tend to

overuse quotations in their work. 12For example, quotations are best used for an
exact definition introduced by the original author. 13Quoting seems to be simpler.
14Paraphrasing is better than quoting especially for longer texts. 15It shows that
writers have fully understood the meaning of the original text and ensures that their
own voice is dominant in their paper.

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16. Combine the sentences below to form compound sentences using appropriate
coordinators or conjunctive adverbs and correct punctuation.

a.
Sentence 3 Writers usually write an academic paper by referring to the
works of others.

Sentence 4 They use various sources for information and evidence to

establish credibility in their work.

(2 marks)

b.
Sentence 6 Plagiarism can cause serious consequences.

Sentence 7 It is important to take the necessary steps to avoid plagiarism

when writing academic texts.

(2 marks)

17. Combine the sentences below to form complex sentences using appropriate
subordinators and correct punctuation.

a.
Sentence 10 Writers need to decide appropriate situations to use
quotations.

Sentence 11 Writers may tend to overuse quotations in their work.

(2 marks)

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b.
Sentence 13 Quoting seems to be simpler.

Sentence 14 Paraphrasing is better than quoting especially for longer texts.

(2 marks)

THIS IS THE END OF THE QUESTION PAPER.

TOTAL MARKS

PO3 /42m