Reviewing a research report

The deciding clue is “[1] _____ the draft report, the reviewers asked the authors to explain their sampling method.”. Use having + past participle to express a completed action explicitly preceding the main-clause event. In this task, the completed sentence is “Having examined the draft report, the reviewers asked the authors to explain their sampling method.”.

The deciding clue is “The original argument had been based [2] _____ responses from a small online group.”. The collocation is based on for a basis, or place emphasis on for a focus. In the completed sentence, on introduces the stated basis or focus. In this task, the completed sentence is “The original argument had been based on responses from a small online group.”.

The deciding clue is “Before requesting a new survey, the authors [3] _____ that some age groups were missing.”. Use had + past participle to express an event completed before a later reference point in the past. In this task, the completed sentence is “Before requesting a new survey, the authors had realised that some age groups were missing.”.

The deciding clue is “This raised questions about the [4] _____ of the conclusions to people outside that group.”. After the, before of the findings/conclusions, the gap names a property: applicability, meaning how far the results apply beyond the original sample. In this task, the completed sentence is “This raised questions about the applicability of the conclusions to people outside that group.”.

The deciding clue is “[5] _____ the responses were genuine, the sample did not represent the whole community.”. Use although/even though + finite clause to express a concession followed by a subject and finite verb. In this task, the completed sentence is “Although the responses were genuine, the sample did not represent the whole community.”.

The deciding clue is “The reviewers recommended [6] _____ how participants had been recruited.”. Propose/recommend followed directly by an action takes an -ing complement here. The plan is the action itself, not a finite tense or an inserted to-infinitive. In this task, the completed sentence is “The reviewers recommended documenting how participants had been recruited.”.

The deciding clue is “They also asked for a clear distinction [7] _____ a reported preference and an observed action.”. Make a distinction between A and B names two concepts whose difference matters; between completes that comparison frame. In this task, the completed sentence is “They also asked for a clear distinction between a reported preference and an observed action.”.

The deciding clue is “A researcher, [8] _____ objections had initially been overlooked, proposed a follow-up interview study.”. The relative clause starts with a noun associated with the antecedent, such as work, family or objections. Whose marks that possessive connection while the following noun remains in place. In this task, the completed sentence is “A researcher, whose objections had initially been overlooked, proposed a follow-up interview study.”.

The deciding clue is “Not until the revised analysis had been checked [9] _____ the authors submit the final version.”. Use only after/until + clause; inverted main clause to express inversion in the main clause, not inside the clause introduced by after or until. In this task, the completed sentence is “Not until the revised analysis had been checked did the authors submit the final version.”.

The deciding clue is “Had they kept the original wording, they [10] _____ a stronger claim than their evidence supported.”. Use would have + past participle to express the unreal past result of a condition that did not happen. In this task, the completed sentence is “Had they kept the original wording, they would have made a stronger claim than their evidence supported.”.

The deciding clue is “The revised conclusion focused on describing the responses, [11] _____ than predicting everyone’s future behaviour.”. Rather than contrasts the intended action with the alternative being rejected; the two actions have parallel grammatical roles. In this task, the completed sentence is “The revised conclusion focused on describing the responses, rather than predicting everyone’s future behaviour.”.

The deciding clue is “The most [12] _____ improvement was the separation of results from speculation.”. The gap describes the following finding/discovery/improvement; an adjective, significant, is needed after the most. In this task, the completed sentence is “The most significant improvement was the separation of results from speculation.”.