GAMSAT (Graduate Medical School Admissions Test) · Written Communication

Argument, Structure and Style

83 practice questions, each with the answer and an explanation.

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Random questions from this topic, one at a time. You see the answer and the explanation straight after each one.

All 83 questions

  1. A student must write on the statement 'Technology isolates us.' Which sentence works best as a thesis?
  2. 'Everyone I know prefers the new timetable, so the whole school must prefer it.' What is the main weakness?
  3. 'Either we ban all cars from the city centre or we accept that the air will never be clean.' Which fallacy is it?
  4. Which revision of 'Due to the fact that the experiment failed, the team made the decision to repeat it' is most concise without losing meaning?
  5. 'The mayor cannot be trusted on transport because he was once fined for speeding.' What is the flaw?
  6. A writer argues: 'Since cities with more ice cream sales have more drownings, banning ice cream will save lives.' Which analysis is most complete?
  7. Which sentence has a misplaced modifier?
  8. What is the main job of a topic sentence in a body paragraph?
  9. Which sentence best links these two paragraph ideas? Paragraph 1: school start times harm teenage sleep. Paragraph 2: later starts raise transport costs.
  10. Which statement is the strongest piece of evidence for the claim 'Public libraries support literacy'?
  11. 'Students should not be allowed phones in class because phones are not permitted in class.' What is wrong?
  12. Which word best completes the sentence so the tone is formal? 'The committee will ___ the proposal at its next meeting.'
  13. A writer claims: 'Because the new law reduced theft in the first year, it is clearly effective, and critics are simply opposed to law and order.' Which two flaws appear?
  14. Which sentence is parallel in structure?
  15. Which concluding sentence best ends an essay arguing that cities should plant more street trees?
  16. What is the best way to deal with a strong counter-argument in an argumentative essay?
  17. 'Cutting the arts budget saves money. Money saved can fund science. Science drives growth. Therefore arts cuts help growth.' What hidden assumption is needed?
  18. Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?
  19. Which of these is a complete sentence?
  20. Which opening is the most effective for an essay on volunteering?
  21. 'Many experts say the policy is dangerous.' Why is this weak support for a claim?
  22. Which revision removes ambiguity in 'The manager told the engineer that he would be promoted'?
  23. Which sentence is written in the active voice?
  24. Which is the best reason to place the strongest argument last in a persuasive essay?
  25. 'If we allow one student to submit late, soon nobody will hand work in on time.' What is this fallacy?
  26. A good paragraph in an essay should have which feature?
  27. A writer wants to argue that a city should cap rents. Which thesis best anticipates the most serious objection?
  28. Which sentence best fits a formal academic style?
  29. Which edit corrects the comma splice in 'The survey closed on Friday, the results were published on Monday'?
  30. Which paragraph is most coherent on the topic of urban bees?
  31. 'Our product is the best because it is the most popular, and it is the most popular because it is the best.' What is wrong?
  32. Which sentence correctly uses 'affect' or 'effect'?
  33. A writer's argument is easier to follow when the essay has which feature?
  34. A candidate must respond to the quotation "Progress is impossible without change." Which opening best states a position?
  35. A student argues: "Everyone I know supports the new road, so it must be a good idea." Which fallacy is this?
  36. A writer claims: "If we allow students to use calculators, soon they will not be able to do any mental arithmetic at all." Which fallacy is this?
  37. A writer responds to an argument by attacking the person who made it rather than the argument itself. Which fallacy is this?
  38. A writer misrepresents an opponent's view as more extreme and then attacks that version. Which fallacy is this?
  39. Which sentence is the best topic sentence for a paragraph about the benefits of public libraries?
  40. Which of the following is the best way to end an argumentative essay?
  41. Which linking word best shows contrast? "The proposal is cheap; ----, it is unlikely to work."
  42. Which linking word best shows result? "The funds ran out; ----, the project was abandoned."
  43. Which of the following is a feature of formal academic writing?
  44. Which of the following is a counterargument?
  45. Which statement is the strongest thesis?
  46. Which of the following is evidence rather than opinion?
  47. Which of the following sentences is concise?
  48. Which sentence uses the active voice?
  49. Which word best replaces 'a lot of' in formal writing?
  50. Which of the following is a rhetorical question?
  51. Which of the following best defines 'bias' in writing?
  52. What is the main purpose of a paragraph break?
  53. Which of the following is the best response to the quotation "The pen is mightier than the sword"?
  54. A prompt reads: "Success is a matter of luck." Which approach shows the best understanding?
  55. A prompt reads: "Technology brings us closer together." Which approach is best?
  56. A prompt reads: "Silence can be more powerful than words." Which approach most directly addresses it?
  57. Which of the following is a coherent sequence of ideas for a paragraph?
  58. Which sentence uses parallel structure?
  59. Which of the following is an example of a metaphor?
  60. Which of the following is an example of an analogy?
  61. Which of the following makes writing more persuasive?
  62. Which of the following describes the tone of: "Surely no reasonable person could support such a reckless plan."?
  63. Which of the following is most likely to appeal to the reader's emotions?
  64. Which of the following sentences contains a cliche?
  65. Which of the following is a synonym of 'advocate' as a verb?
  66. Which of the following is the most appropriate register for a letter to a newspaper editor?
  67. Which of the following sentences shows cohesion with the previous sentence? "The mine closed in 1990. ----"
  68. Which of the following is the best revision of the wordy phrase 'due to the fact that'?
  69. Which of the following is an example of a generalisation that is probably too broad?
  70. When a writer repeats the same point in different words without adding anything new, the writing is:
  71. Which of the following is a hook for an introduction?
  72. Which of the following is the best way to handle a quotation in an essay?
  73. Which sentence has the most appropriate tone for a reflective essay on loss?
  74. Which of the following is the most logical order for the stages of an argument?
  75. Which of the following sentences is correctly punctuated?
  76. Which of the following is an appropriate way to acknowledge an opposing view?
  77. Which of the following would a reader most likely find convincing in an essay on climate?
  78. Which of the following is the most appropriate title for an essay on the value of sleep?
  79. Which word best completes: "The report's findings were ---- with the evidence from earlier studies."
  80. Which of the following contains a false dilemma?
  81. Which of the following is a reason for using specific examples in an essay?
  82. Which of the following is a formal way to begin a letter to an unknown recipient?
  83. A paragraph has three sentences about cats and one about cars. What problem does it have?

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