Bac English: justify your answer with a line from the text

The rule

When a question asks you to justify a true or false answer, copy the short, exact line from the text that proves it and put it in quotation marks. Don't explain in your own words, and don't copy the whole paragraph.

Many learners explain the answer in their own words, or copy a whole paragraph to be safe. But justify here means show the words in the text that prove it, and one short line does this clearly.

Examples

In a conversation

A: How do I justify this one? The statement says Adam lives alone.

B: Find the line that proves it's false and copy it.

A: So I write: False, “He lives with his two brothers.”

B: Exactly. Short, exact and in quotation marks.

Practice

Choose the best answer. The answers are at the end of the lesson.

1. Text: “Adam started running at fifteen. Today he runs every morning.” Statement: Adam doesn't run any more. False. Justify: ___
   • a) Because he still runs a lot.
   • b) “Adam started running at fifteen.”
   • c) “Today he runs every morning.”
2. Text: “Karim works in a bank. He doesn't like his job, but the pay is good. He wants to be a teacher.” Statement: Karim enjoys his job. False. Justify: ___
   • a) “He doesn't like his job”
   • b) He wants a different job.
   • c) “He wants to be a teacher.”
3. Text: “Hiba lives with her family. She takes the bus to university every day.” Statement: Hiba drives to university. False. Justify: ___
   • a) Because she has no car.
   • b) “She takes the bus to university”
   • c) “Hiba lives with her family.”

Tip

Copy only the words you need, exactly as they are, with the same spelling. If the statement is false, copy the line that says the opposite.

Answers

1. c) “Today he runs every morning.”. This exact line proves the statement is false.
2. a) “He doesn't like his job”. These words from the text say the opposite directly.
3. b) “She takes the bus to university”. Copy the line that proves it, not your own reason.

Exam names are trademarks of their owners. This lesson is independent preparation.

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