Final answer:
The statement that scholarly reports must always be written in passive voice is false. Both active and passive voices have their place in scholarly writing, with active voice often providing clarity and directness, especially in introductions and conclusions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that scholarly reports MUST always be written in the passive rather than the active voice is false. While it is true that traditionally, the passive voice has been used in scientific and technical writing for objectivity and neutrality, this is not an absolute rule. The choice between active and passive voice should be based on clarity and effectiveness.
For instance, the passive voice can be used when the doer of the action is unknown or unimportant, as seen in the sentence 'A survey of 300 students was conducted at a large state university in the southern United States'. However, active voice is increasingly being used in the introductions and conclusions of scholarly reports, due to its clarity and directness.
Compare 'The student wrote the paper' to 'The paper was written by the student'. Both convey the same message, but the active voice delivers it more succinctly and with greater impact. Utilizing the active voice often makes sentences clearer and can strengthen the writing by showing how subjects perform actions rather than being passive recipients of them.