HiLernity Practice & Tests · C2 Grammar Mastery

C2 Hedging, Stance and Modality Mastery Test

12 questions · 26 minutes · instant feedback

26:00

British English usage: High-level British English uses tense, aspect, modal verbs, adverbs and impersonal structures to calibrate certainty, politeness and academic caution.

Cambridge Grammar reference: Cambridge identifies hedging through tense/aspect, modal expressions, vague language, stance verbs and impersonal passive structures such as ‘It is argued that…’.

Level note: These structures are not claimed to be exclusive to C2. At C2, the focus is flexible, precise and context-appropriate control of complex language.

Source note: HiLernity is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the British Council, Cambridge University Press & Assessment, or the Council of Europe.

Offline test mode

1. Make this less direct: ‘This is the cause.’ → This ___ be the cause.

2. Make this more cautious: ‘The policy will fail.’ → The policy ___ fail.

3. Complete the academic hedge: It ___ that the results may reflect sampling bias.

4. I ___ if I could have a word with you.

5. We ___ that further research is required.

6. Choose the more appropriately hedged academic claim. The findings may indicate a broader trend. The findings prove the universal truth completely.

7. Choose the more polite request. I was wondering if you could help. Help me now.

8. The evidence ___ suggest that the effect is temporary.

9. It is ___ possible that the figures are incomplete.

10. Choose the statement with strongest logical commitment. This must be the explanation. This might be the explanation.

11. Choose the weaker, more cautious claim. The change appears to have had an effect. The change definitely caused everything.

12. Complete the formal hedge: It ___ generally accepted that correlation does not prove causation.