Question textTask 3 Read the following text and decide which hedging / boosting strategy is used in the sentences where words are bolded. Select one of the following from the drop-down menu. A = Hedge, indicating that information is not a verified fact B = Hedge, discussing a possibility / probability C = Booster, emphasizing the magnitude of quality / quantity D = Booster, increasing the force of claim There is also a question of whether sub-degree programs are the final destination for students before entering the job market or just a stepping stone to 4-year universities. Many Answer 1 Question 1[select: , A, B, C, D] students have regarded Answer 2 Question 1[select: , A, B, C, D] sub-degree programs as a potential step to gaining entry into traditional undergraduate degree programs, although they are difficult to get into since they are so Answer 3 Question 1[select: , A, B, C, D] competitive. This is mainly Answer 4 Question 1[select: , A, B, C, D] because the value of sub-degrees for employment has yet to be clearly Answer 5 Question 1[select: , A, B, C, D] established in Hong Kong. However, if it does not become regarded as a qualification for employment and there are difficulties in articulation, sub-degrees could become Answer 6 Question 1[select: , A, B, C, D] visualized as an expensive route to “nowhere”. Furthermore, since sub-degree programs have rapidly developed in a short time period, some Answer 7 Question 1[select: , A, B, C, D] believe that there is already a surplus of sub-degree programs, which lowers the quality and relevance of program. In particular Answer 8 Question 1[select: , A, B, C, D], there is an overconcentration of sub-degree programs in certain Answer 9 Question 1[select: , A, B, C, D] popular disciplines such as business and marketing, which might not Answer 10 Question 1[select: , A, B, C, D] necessarily reflect and meet the long-term manpower requirements of Hong Kong The equity issue here could be discussed in terms of the articulation between sub-degree and bachelor’s degree programs in Hong Kong. Unlike U.S. community colleges, which have a large proportion of older students looking to obtain continuing education, Hong Kong’s associate degree programs are primarily provided for secondary school-leavers at ages 17–19. Only about 17 % of an age group gain entry to one of the eight universities publicly funded in Hong Kong, and a substantial Answer 11 Question 1[select: , A, B, C, D] proportion of an age group fail to enter one of them in each year and they choose sub-degree programs as a second choice. Many Answer 12 Question 1[select: , A, B, C, D] sub-degree graduates want to continue further studies to compete with their peers who have completed bachelor degrees. This is clear Answer 13 Question 1[select: , A, B, C, D] when we look at the number of transitioning sub-degree graduates … The elitism of publicly funded degrees is even Answer 14 Question 1[select: , A, B, C, D] reinforced with an increase of sub-degree programs, as educational opportunities in publicly funded universities are only Answer 15 Question 1[select: , A, B, C, D] allocated to the top secondary students who obtain the highest examination scores, and self-financing programs are considered a second choice to students.. (Jung & Postiglione, 2015, pp. 131-134). Source: Jung, J., & Postiglione, G. (2015). Massification towards the post-massification of higher education in Hong Kong. In J. Shin, G. Postiglione, & F. Huang (Eds.), Mass higher education development in East Asia: Strategy, quality, and challenges (pp. 119-136). Springer. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12673-9_7