TEXT COHESION


Cohesion refers to the way in which words, phrases, sentences and paragraphs link together to create a text that flows logically in structure and meaning from beginning to end.

 

Task One
Words, phrases and ideas in a text often refer back to previous words, phrases and ideas. Take a look at the short text about the power of smiling and answer the multiple choice questions that follow.

New Research on the Power of Smiling

There are any number of sayings about the power of the smile. 'Peace begins with a smile.' 'A smile is the universal welcome.' 'Life is short but a smile only takes a second.' All good advice. But it may not be as simple as 1) that. According to new research, if you want to make a good impression when you meet people, it's not just that you smile. It's how you smile.

2) The study was carried out by the Go Group, 3) a business support organisation based in Scotland. 4) They looked at people's reactions to different 5) grins. They found that 6) responses varied considerably.

Through 7) this they say they have found three types of smile to avoid: The first is 'The Enthusiast', very wide, all teeth showing, possible evidence that you can have too much of a good thing. Then there is the 'Big Freeze', a fixed grin that looks practised and fake. Finally comes 'The Robot', a small, thin smile, lacking in warmth.

The group also warns about smiling too quickly, saying 8) it can make you look insincere. The best smile, they say, is slower and floods naturally across the whole face.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/
wordsinthenews/2010/06/100602_witn_smile.shtml

Reprinted with permission from the bbc.co.uk
1.That refers back to:
  All good advice
Sorry!
  The sayings about the power of the smile
Correct!
2. The study refers back to:
  How to make a good impression when you meet people
Sorry!
  New research
Correct!
3. A business support organisation based in Scotland refers back to:
  The Go Group
Correct!
  The researchers
Sorry!
4. Thay refers back to:
  The researchers
Sorry!
  The Go Group
Correct!
5. Grins refers back to:
  They
Sorry!
  Smiles
Correct!
6. Responses refers back to:
  People’s reactions
Correct!
  People’s grins
Sorry!
7. This refers back to:
  The study
Correct!
  They found that responses varied considerably
Sorry!
8.It refers back to:
  The group
Sorry!
  Smiling too quickly
Correct!

Task Two
Now read the text again that you may have worked with in Text Cohesion: Conjunctions - Task Three. This time it has been divided up into sections. Read each section and pay attention to the words in bold. Highlight the words in the text that each of these bolded words or phrases refers to. Remember to look back to find the connections that make sense. After each section compare your highlighted text to the answer given.

Section One

Section Two

Section Three

Section Four

Section Five

Section Six


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