Language Proficiency Discourse Organization and Cohesion — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the sentence pair 'The experiment failed. It had not been properly calibrated,' what cohesive device links the two sentences?
- A logical connector (however)
- Lexical repetition of a key noun
- Pronoun reference — 'it' refers back to 'the experiment' (Correct answer)
- Ellipsis — a word has been omitted
Correct answer: Pronoun reference — 'it' refers back to 'the experiment'
Pronoun reference is a cohesive device that replaces a previously mentioned noun (the antecedent) with a pronoun. Here, 'it' refers to 'the experiment,' creating a grammatical link between the sentences without repetition.
Question 2: Which transitional expression signals a CONCESSION — acknowledging an opposing point before continuing with the main argument?
- Furthermore
- As a result
- Admittedly (Correct answer)
- In other words
Correct answer: Admittedly
'Admittedly' introduces a concession, signaling that the writer acknowledges a valid point on the other side before reasserting their own position. 'Furthermore' adds information, 'as a result' shows cause-effect, and 'in other words' signals reformulation.
Question 3: A paragraph begins: 'Renewable energy offers significant economic benefits.' The sentences that follow discuss job creation, reduced fuel costs, and long-term investment returns. What structural role does the opening sentence play?
- Concluding sentence — it wraps up the paragraph's argument
- Topic sentence — it states the main idea that the rest of the paragraph develops (Correct answer)
- Supporting detail — it provides evidence for a broader claim
- Transitional sentence — it connects this paragraph to the next
Correct answer: Topic sentence — it states the main idea that the rest of the paragraph develops
The opening sentence is the topic sentence: it announces the paragraph's controlling idea ('economic benefits'), and every subsequent sentence (jobs, costs, investment) supports and develops that idea. A topic sentence orients the reader before evidence is presented.
Question 4: What is the difference between cohesion and coherence in a text?
- Cohesion refers to spelling accuracy; coherence refers to grammar accuracy
- Cohesion refers to surface-level linguistic links (pronouns, connectors, repetition); coherence refers to the logical flow and relevance of ideas (Correct answer)
- Cohesion refers to paragraph length; coherence refers to sentence length
- They are synonymous terms used interchangeably in linguistics
Correct answer: Cohesion refers to surface-level linguistic links (pronouns, connectors, repetition); coherence refers to the logical flow and relevance of ideas
Cohesion is the surface 'glue' — the grammatical and lexical devices that link sentences (pronouns, conjunctions, lexical chains). Coherence is deeper — it concerns whether the ideas actually make logical sense and progress in a meaningful way. A text can be cohesive but incoherent (grammatically linked but logically jumbled).
Question 5: Which of the following is an example of lexical cohesion through COLLOCATION?
- Using 'she' to refer to 'Maria' mentioned in the previous sentence
- Writing 'However, the results differed' to contrast two paragraphs
- Repeating the phrase 'climate change' three times across one paragraph
- Using the word 'conducted' alongside 'research' because they frequently co-occur (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Using the word 'conducted' alongside 'research' because they frequently co-occur
Collocation is a form of lexical cohesion in which words that habitually appear together (e.g., 'conduct research,' 'make a decision') create a sense of semantic relatedness within the text. This is distinct from simple repetition, pronoun reference, or conjunctions.
Question 6: A student's essay jumps from discussing the causes of deforestation to the history of paper manufacturing without any linking sentence. This is primarily a problem of:
- Vocabulary range — the student needs more academic words
- Grammar accuracy — the student is making tense errors
- Coherence — the text lacks a clear logical connection between the two topics (Correct answer)
- Cohesion — the student needs more pronouns to connect the sentences
Correct answer: Coherence — the text lacks a clear logical connection between the two topics
When ideas shift without logical justification or a bridging statement, the text loses coherence — the reader cannot follow the progression of thought. This is an organizational/logical problem, not primarily a grammar or vocabulary issue.
Language Proficiency Discourse Organization and Cohesion
In the sentence pair 'The experiment failed.
It had not been properly calibrated,' what cohesive device links the two sentences?