Text: Advocates call the tax a simple cure for congestion; the trial data point to a far narrower effect. What is the writer’s attitude to the advocates’ claim?

Text: Some commentators praise remote work as universally liberating; the evidence, however, suggests its benefits depend heavily on job security. How does the writer view the praise?

Text: Ministers describe the recycling scheme as a breakthrough; in practice, it has merely shifted waste from one contractor to another. What is the writer’s stance on the description?

Text: Industry leaders present automation as an inevitable blessing; the recent closures make that optimism look careless. What attitude does the writer take towards their view?

Text: Campaigners portray the law as a victory for tenants; the loopholes, though, leave many renters almost exactly where they were. What does the writer imply about the campaigners’ portrayal?

Text: The company calls its packaging a green revolution; such language seems generous for a thinner plastic wrapper. How does the writer regard the company’s claim?

Text: Supporters label the app a safeguard against loneliness; at best, it offers occasional distraction from it. What is the writer’s attitude to the label?

Text: Economists often argue that subsidies preserve rural jobs. This report, however, finds training grants a more durable solution. Which view does the writer endorse?

Text: Developers claim high-rise housing automatically cuts car use. The figures instead link lower driving mainly to proximity to rail stations. What is the writer’s own view?

Text: Reviewers have blamed falling museum visits on ticket prices. Yet the sharper decline began after evening openings were cut. Which explanation does the writer prefer?

Text: Officials insist the river is recovering because fish have returned. The writer notes that chemical levels remain unsafe. Which position is the writer taking?

Text: Some parents say tablets improve homework by making it faster. The writer argues that speed is a poor measure if recall declines. What does the writer believe?

Text: Travel writers celebrate the new airport as a gateway to the region. For residents, the more significant change is the loss of night-time quiet. Which view is the writer’s?

Text: It would be premature to call the literacy project a failure, though the first results are undeniably weak. Statement: The writer believes the project has already failed.

Text: The council’s plan is not a complete answer, but it is a necessary start. Statement: The writer supports beginning with the council’s plan.

Text: The survey may have missed part-time workers, so its headline figure should be treated cautiously. Statement: The writer thinks the survey team acted dishonestly.

Text: Although the ban reduced litter in parks, it did little to address waste from cafés. Statement: The writer thinks the ban solved the wider waste problem.

Text: The new curriculum is demanding, and that is precisely why it is worth keeping. Statement: The writer sees the curriculum’s difficulty as a reason to retain it.

Text: The article praises the clinic’s shorter waiting times but says nothing about its treatment costs. Statement: The writer believes the clinic is now cheaper for patients.

Text: Critics are right that the bridge exceeded its budget. That, however, is a reason to improve cost controls, not to abandon the route. What does the first sentence do?

Text: The trial was small, and its results should not be overstated. Still, the pattern is too consistent to ignore. What role does the first sentence play?

Text: It is tempting to blame tourists for the erosion. Yet poor drainage has done greater damage. What is the first sentence doing in the argument?

Text: Admittedly, the software saves staff time. The real question is whether that saving justifies the loss of public access. What is the function of the first sentence?

Text: The figures appear impressive at first glance. Closer inspection shows most gains came from one unusually mild winter. What does the first sentence do?

Text: Few would deny that the policy is popular. Popularity, however, is not the same as effectiveness. What role does the first sentence have?