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Texts: Chapter 2
1.
BASIC UNITS
Fill in the gaps:
A text is a set of _______ combined according to certain _______.
Which is the basic component of texts?
What do you need to combine in order to produce a word?
What do you obtain when you put two or more words together?
Do you know any linguistic unit smaller than a morpheme?
What do you get with you combine together units larger than single words?
2.
3.
4.
Look at the pictures above and then fill in the blanks in these sentences (one missing word
per blank). Each sentence corresponds to the picture with the same number:
5.
Mark the subject and verb in both clauses in these sentences. Then underline the subordinate
clause and find the word signalling the type of subordination involved:
1. After Liz gets up, she takes a shower.
2. She makes her own lunch because she wants to save money.
3. While she makes her lunch, she listens to the news.
4. When she gets off the bus, she stops at a stand to pick up coffee.
5. Before Liz has her lunch, she does paperwork.
6. Lizs daily routine is very helpful although it is often boring.
Notice that two of the sentences above do not have commas. How are they different from the
others? Rewrite them, using commas.
6.
Now complete these complex sentences by adding a main clause. Use a comma when necessary:
7.
Now write a paragraph. Form complex sentences with the sixteen sentences you read after the
picture and add the sentences and phrases below where suitable.
1. Lizs weekday routine is often monotonous, but it helps her deal with her busy life.
2. Liz Lee is a busy person with a useful daily routine.
3. Lizs Weekday Routine
4. at 5 p.m.
5. At 5:30 p.m.
6. About 10 p.m.
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8.
9.
Work with a partner and take turns in interviewing each other using the questions below. When
you finish, think of two or three opinion adjectives. You will use them later in your topic and
concluding sentences.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Now write a paragraph about your partners routine day using your notes from the interview.
Follow these instructions:
Use a title.
Begin with a topic sentence that includes your opinion of your partners routine.
Remember to use time indicators (now, then, afterwards...) to show the chronological
order of events.
Write a concluding sentence that repeats the opinion adjective(s) in your topic sentence.
Exchange your paragraph with a partner. Read your partners text and comment with him/her any
mistakes you find in it.
10.
Step 1. Look at the following list of writing topics. Add more possible topics.
quick
easy
stupid
boring
dangerous
humorous
modern
successful
polite
inexpensive
________
_________
_________
Step 3. Now choose a topic to write and take 10-15 minutes to write a first draft of your
short paragraph (75-120 words) about your topic, using the previous outline and a formal style. Do
not worry about grammar mistakes or vocabulary at this point; leave a blank or use a Spanish word
if you cant think of the word in English.
Step 4. Once you finish writing, read the following paragraph carefully. Compare it with
yours as far as style and content are concerned. Use the paragraph as a model for any changes you
may think necessary in the text you wrote.
Step 5. Exchange your draft with a partner. Read your partners essay and answer the
following questions about formal style:
Does the paragraph have correct format (centred title, margins, double spaced, no
underlining or other unnecessary ornaments, correct font size...)?
Is it written in third person? Third person is ideal for formal stuff, whereas first and second
person pronouns tend to make the text more informal.
Step 6. Now revise your draft and take a few minutes to make any changes necessary to it.
When you are done, hand it in to your teacher.
What is the main of this paragraph? Give your answer in few words.
What are the points made about Texas? Mark them in the text and say what sentences are
devoted to each.
Is there any difference between the topic sentence and the concluding sentence?
In conclusion, Texas is an interesting place because of its varied geography, its cultural
heritage, and the strong pride of its people. When I travel outside Texas or meet international visitors
in Texas, I know the stereotypic images of Texas that they probably have. Therefore, I make sure to
tell them that Texas is very diverse and has much more to see than cowboys and oil wells.
Find and underline the sentences from the dictation in the long version of the text.
Of particular importance is the first paragraphs last sentence, for it states the main idea of
the essay and introduces the paragraphs to follow.
12.
How are the three main ideas enlarged and elaborated on?
COHESION
Once upon a time, there was a house on top of a hill, looking down on a large valley. The house
was indeed a very old one. It belonged to an elderly gentleman who had inhabited it for more than
thirty-five years. This gentleman's name was Sir John Judicious, Earl of Theramore. He was a whitehaired, tender-hearted widower who had one main passion: his niece Aurora. She also lived in the
house with her uncle, but spent long periods of time away from it due to her job as a teacher.
Unfortunately, the grumpy old nobleman did not approve of his favourite niece's occupation and that
caused frequent quarrels between the two.
13.
COHESION
Read the following text (sentences have been numbered for your convenience).
1.
Allow the fruit to steam in its own juice for a further 15 minutes.
2.
So she hated it when that infuriating Keith Scott seemed to go out of his way to suggest
that her heart wasnt in the affair.
3.
4.
Put them into a fireproof dish with the water, and a tablespoon of the sugar.
5.
She knew that he loved her in a calm settled way rather than any grand passion and
that he would make her a good, kind husband.
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6.
Ensuring that the lid is tightly sealed, put the dish into a preheated oven, Gas Regulo 6.
7.
So that way, you can have your cake and eat it too.
8.
9.
10.
Mix juice with the brandy, mulled wine, and rest of the sugar.
11.
We do, too.
12.
Wash and core the apples, taking care to remove all pips.
13.
In short, when she became engaged to him she knew exactly what she was doing.
14.
Spoon out the cooked apples and arrange them attractively in round on a serving plate.
15.
Do you feel that you never get a fair slice of the capital cake?
16.
Slice finely.
17.
Portfolio is a high interest investment account that makes your money work for you,
while still giving you instant access to your capital.
18.
14.
PAPER FORMAT
Consider the following texts:
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15.
REGISTER
To enable you to see what formality of vocabulary might mean in practical terms, read the
following texts. In each one, the level of formality has been disrupted at various points by the
insertion of inappropriate vocabulary. Can you pinpoint where this happens, and suggest some
vocabulary in each case which would be more in keeping with the style of the passage? Try also to
identify the different types of text and provide a context for each. Explain your answers.
A.
Dear Ms Allen,
Thank you for your letter of 1st September, requesting overdraft facilities of 500. In order that this
overdraft facility can be granted we would first need sight of your contract of employment. Would
you therefore kindly inform us of the School at which you will now be earning your daily crust.
Yours sincerely,
A. Curtis
B.
James needs to realise that success is the result of hard work and consistent effort. At present, he is
being a real pain because he is so bone idle in class. If he wishes to do well in the examination, and
achieve a grade which will do justice to his considerable ability, he must pull his socks up and
sharpish.
C.
The hotel endeavours to have rooms ready to receive guests by noon, and it is hoped that departing
guests will courteously assist in making this possible by getting a move on and not hanging about in
bedrooms on the day of departure.
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