CHAPTER 4

UNIT 1
 CHAPTER 4 – DESIGNING THE FUTURE
UNIT 1 – BUILDING WITH NATURE

Building with Nature

WARM-UP

Discuss the following questions in pairs.

1. What does “Natural Building” mean to you? Have you heard it before?

2. Over the last decade, there has been a paradigm shift from “building in nature” to “building
with nature”. Do you think building with nature differs from building in nature? If so, how?

3. What are some of the positive changes that “building with nature” could induce?

SCREENING

Part 1: You are going to watch a video about a sustainable green house. Before watching the video, have
a look at the questions below and brainstorm about the topic.

1. What comes to your mind when you think of a green building?

2. What kind of materials do you think can be used to construct green buildings?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQYPq_nPMAo
Part 2: Check the questions below and take some notes about them while watching the video.

1. What is Cob? Where is it mainly used in this green house?

2. What other materials have been used in the house?

3. How is the house heated?

4. This house has been rated as the fourth-most wish listed property on Airbnb. What
conclusion can you make about this?

5. Would you like to live in a house like this? What did you like most about it?
VOCABULARY STUDY-1

Matching Definitions

The words in Column A have been chosen from the text. First check their word form from the text
and then match them with the meanings given in Column B.

Column A Word Form Column B

1. unprocessed a. harmless; safe

2. biodegradable b. problem; difficulty

3. inherently c. natural; raw

4. benign d. soften; cushion

5. adversity e. ecological; environmentally friendly

6. buffer f. exist widely; be in force

7. advocate g. by nature; fundamentally

8. prevail h. be exposed to danger; weakened

9. compromised i. pollute; contaminate

10. thrive j. supporter; proponent

11. foul k. manage to survive; be able to exist

12. reverse l. bend; divert

13. deflect m. mark; engrave in memory

14. imprint n. converse; change in the opposite direction

 READING

Read the text and answer the comprehension questions.

Building with Nature

by Kelly Hart

1. "Natural building" has become a catch phrase for a variety of building techniques that generally
employ unprocessed natural materials, such as earth, stone, and straw. The focus is mainly on the
material itself, and to some extent the methods that are used to work with the material, rather than
the architectural design or other aspects of building that might be explored. If the phrase is reversed
to "building naturally," this opens up a whole new level of consideration. Just what does it mean to
build naturally, or to build with nature?

2. If we use the natural world as a guide for

how to build our homes, we could look
to other animals and see how they do it.
Whatever they use to build with will be
found locally; they don't waste energy
carrying things great distances. All of the
housing that animals create is
biodegradable. Given time, the sticks in
the dam will rot, as will the bird's or
wasp's nests. There is no buildup of
waste materials that would litter or
pollute the environment. Sometimes
things are recycled, such as a hermit
crab claiming a castoff shell for a home.
Furthermore, the homes that animals
create are inherently non-toxic,
because they build from entirely benign natural materials. The use of toxic materials would clearly not
be appropriate for a species over time.

3. In the natural world animals tend to find elegant solutions for dealing with the adversity of climate.
Many of them go underground for protection and comfort. This is a sensible approach, since the earth
can buffer the extremes of temperature amazingly well, while also providing a secure and dry nesting
place. Advocates of underground architecture know this, and also appreciate that building
underground can release much of the utilized land back to nature for the use of plants and animals.

4. There is an efficiency and economy of nature that prevails because it works overtime. Those animals
that operate beyond this law eventually find themselves extinct or severely compromised in their
vitality. If a species overpopulates an area to the point of depleting some of the natural resources that
they depend on, then obviously they will have to move on to thrive and this strategy may only work
for a while. Eventually all ecology must come into some degree of balance and equilibrium.

5. We humans must take a serious look at how we acquire and utilize available resources for materials
and energy. We have been fouling our nest with industrial pollution, over-harvesting available
resources, and adversely affecting the climates and environments that all species depend on for
survival.
 6. Building with nature means being aware of how much embodied energy exists in the materials that
we use, so that we don't waste fossil fuels unnecessarily and contribute to global warming. It means
building compactly so as to not waste materials and energy. It means using materials that are
biodegradable or recyclable. It means designing our homes in ways that use the sun and the earth to
heat and cool them. It means utilizing forms of renewable energy wherever possible. It means
incorporating greenhouses and naturally cooled pantries in our homes to help feed us.

7. In terms of architectural design, nature offers a kaleidoscope of inspiring forms. The shapes of shells,
flowers, crystals, molecules, feathers, coral, planets, galaxies, and everything in between, can inform
our architectural choices. Given this, it seems strange to me that we have generally been content to
live in rectangular boxes, a form that nature rarely uses. Why do we think in such straight lines?
Maybe we feel that it puts us above nature, which is certainly a tendency of modern man.

8. There is good reason why nature prefers round forms: they tend to be much stronger than their planar
cousins. A curved shape resists
deformation, whereas flat shapes can
more easily be deflected. Think of the
rigidity of an eggshell as compared to a
piece of paper of the same thickness.

9. Mostly, people build according to

tradition. If you ask a child to draw a
house, he will usually produce the
conventional box with a gabled roof, a
window, a door and maybe a chimney
with smoke coming out of it. Our culture
has imprinted this on our minds. There is
nothing inherently home-like about this;
it is just what we are familiar with. I
encourage you to think "out of the box" and let nature be your guide for how to create your home
and live your life.

READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1. According to paragraph 2, which of the following is NOT a characteristic of an animal’s nest?

a. environmentally friendly

b. energy consuming

c. recyclable

d. litter-free
2. According to paragraph 3, what is one of the advantages of building underground?

a. It offers wise solutions for accommodation.

b. It can provide some space for the living areas of animals and plants.

c. It can release much of the extreme temperature.

d. It helps them stay away from danger.

3. According to Paragraph 4, species that do not follow the natural norms are likely to
____________.

a. die out

b. ensure their survival

c. live in overcrowded places

d. preserve natural resources

4. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a reason for environmental pollution in

paragraph 5?

a. waste caused by industrial activities

b. overuse of the existing resources

c. employing existing resources

d. climate change

5. In paragraph 6, the writer defines Building with Nature in different ways some of which are as
follows:
(Do not copy any sentence from the text and make sure to paraphrase them.)

a. ___________________________________________________________________
b. ___________________________________________________________________
c. ___________________________________________________________________
d. ___________________________________________________________________
e. ___________________________________________________________________
f. ___________________________________________________________________
6. According to paragraphs 5 and 6, we can infer that _________________________.

a. we are struggling for the environmental problems in vain as the nature always wins in this
battle

b. using recyclable materials is the only way to stop environmental destruction

c. using renewable energy sources may not guarantee the conservation of the environment

d. if we make smart choices in construction materials, we can prevent some environmental

problems.

7. In paragraph 7, what does the writer mean by saying “Given this, it seems strange to me that
we have generally been content to live in rectangular boxes, a form that nature rarely uses”?
Make sure to paraphrase your answer.

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

8. The word “rigidity” in paragraph 8 is closest in meaning to _________________________.

9. What does “this” refer to in the last paragraph?

10. Which of the following is the best restatement of the sentence “In terms of architectural design,

nature offers a kaleidoscope of inspiring forms.”?

a. Inspiration comes when an architectural designer wanders in the nature.

b. Architectural design has turned its face to the nature more than ever.

c. An architect can come up with a wide range of design ideas inspired by nature.

d. It is possible to see a variation of natural building designs in today’s architecture.

VOCABULARY STUDY-2

Using Words in Context

Read the following sentences and fill in the blanks by using the suitable words from the table.

unprocessed adversity buffer advocates imprint

inherently deflected fouled prevail benign

reversed biodegradable thrive compromised

1. The chemical waste and gas leakage from the factory have severely ____________ the
coastline and left irreversible traces behind. As a result, several bird species have already gone
extinct and some others are under serious threat due to the pollutants released into air and
natural surroundings.

2. Bamboo is increasing in popularity as a building material as it is a ____________, natural

composite material with a higher compressive strength than wood, brick or concrete. It is also
preferred for its sustainability because it grows quickly with almost no expense.

3. In green design, ultimate care is given to the materials used in construction in order not to
cause any harm on the nature. Designers mainly make use of ____________ materials which
can decompose naturally in the environment.

4. According to scientists, no one has been able to find a precise prescription to fix the global
warming problem yet, but they suggest that the current global warming trends could be
____ ________ by promoting renewable energy and by taking some steps to reduce carbon
footprint.

5. There is a close link between climate change and extinction of some species.
Most plants and animals live in areas with very specific climate conditions that enable them
to ____________. Any change in the climate of an area can pose a threat for the survival of
the plants and animals living there.

6. Animal ____________ are volunteers working hard to uphold animal rights. They believe that
animals have the same right as human beings to exist without fear of abuse, exploitation or
extermination and they put all their efforts into the fight for the protection of animals.

7. According to experts, constructing a building in the vicinity of a riverbank is ____________

risky as it may be prone to any kind of potential hazards such as flooding or erosion.

8. In order to make your dreams come true, first you need to believe in yourself, your abilities
and talents. Then, your inner strength will enable you to ____________ over life’s obstacles
and you will reach your ultimate goals.
 9. We tend to be easily overwhelmed by a (n) ____________; however, if we can change our
mindset and consider any obstacle as an opportunity to learn something in life, it can enrich
us personally and pave the way for better things.

10. Sustainable designers make use of some alternative techniques to protect the buildings from
external factors. For example, they prefer green roofs to protect houses from the hot
summer sun or they prefer building green walls to ___________ the noise of traffic or any
other sound coming from outdoors.

11. According to pedagogues, negative events experienced in childhood can leave long-lasting
effects on young children. For example, children who have witnessed domestic violence at
home can ____________ all these negative acts on their minds and carry the traces of such
traumas all throughout their lives.

12. Rainbows are formed when light shines through water, like when the sun shines through the
rain. This light is bent and ____________, like a reflection in a mirror, and this causes all of
the amazing colors that you see.

13. In the recent years, the raw food diet, often called raw foodism or raw veganism has become
a rising trend. Principally, it is based on the consumption of mostly or completely raw and __
__________ foods. In other words, the food consumed in this diet should not be refined,
pasteurized or processed in any way.

14. If you think your email account has been ____________ by hackers, you should run a full
system virus scan on your computer and then reset your email password. Changing your email
password will cut off any connection a third party may have to your email account.

LANGUAGE PRACTICE & WRITING

PART 1 - SUMMARIZING: How To Summarize a Longer Text

Summarizing a text or distilling its essential concepts into a paragraph or two, is a useful study tool as
well as good writing practice.

A summary has two aims:

(1) to reproduce the overarching ideas in a text, identifying the general concepts that run through the
entire piece

(2) to express these overarching ideas using a precise, specific language.

When you summarize, you cannot rely on the language the author has used to develop his or her
points, and you must find a way to give an overview of these points without your own sentences
becoming too general. You must also make decisions about which concepts to leave in and which to
omit, taking into consideration your purposes in summarizing and also your view of what is important
in this text. Here are some methods for summarizing:
 1. First, prior to skimming, use some of the previewing techniques.
2. Include the title and identify the author in your first sentence.
3. The first (or second) sentence of your summary should contain the author’s thesis, or the central
concept, stated in your own words. This is the idea that runs through the entire text–the one
you’d mention if someone asked you: “What is this piece/article about?”
4. When summarizing a longer article, try to see how the various stages in the explanation or
arguments are built up in groups of related paragraphs. Divide the article into sections and write
a sentence or two to cover the key ideas in each section.
5. Omit ideas that are not really central to the text. Don’t feel that you must reproduce the author’s
exact progression of thought. (On the other hand, be careful not to misrepresent ideas by
omitting important aspects of the author’s discussion).
6. In general, omit minor details and specific examples. (In some texts, an extended example may
be a key part of the argument, so you would want to mention it).
7. Avoid writing opinions or personal responses in your summaries (save these for active reading
responses or tutorial discussions).
8. Be careful not to plagiarize the author’s words. If you do use even a few of the author’s words,
they must appear in quotation marks. To avoid plagiarism, try writing the first draft of your
summary without looking back at the original text.

SAMPLE FORMAT

Introduction: You need to start your summary by telling the name of the article and the author. Here
are three examples of how to do that (pay close attention to the punctuation):

1. In “How the Civil War Began," historian John Jones explains...

2. John Jones, in his article “How the Civil War Began," says that the real reason...
3. "How the Civil War Began," by historian John Jones, describes....

The First Sentence: Along with including the article's title and author's name, the first sentence should
be the main point of the article. It should answer the question: What is this essay about?

Example:

In "How the Civil War Began" by John Jones, the author argues that the real reason for the start of the
Civil War was not slavery, as many believe, but was instead the clash of cultures and greed for cash.
The Rest of Summary: The rest of your summary is going to give the reasons and evidence for that
main statement. In other words, what is the main point the writer is trying to make and what are the
supporting ideas he or she uses to prove it?

Tips to keep in mind as you are writing your summary.

✔ Include the title and author’s full name.

✔ Explain the main ideas being presented.
✔ Do not go into specific details unless they relate to your response.
✔ Minimize the use of quotes.
✔ Write in the present tense.
✔ Use strong verbs like “claims,” “supports,” “analyzes,” and “discusses” instead of “says” or
“talks.”
✔ Be objective and do not include your opinion.
✔ Be concise and avoid wordiness.
✔ Make your summary clear so that someone who has not read the original material can still
understand.

SUMMARY CHECKLIST yes no

Was the name of the author included in the first sentence?

Was the title of the article included in the first sentence?

Is the length of the summary one-third of the original text?

Were the key points in the original text underlined?

Were all the details and examples excluded?

Were the synonyms of the original words used?

Were the structures of the sentences changed?

Were the forms of the words changed?

WRITING

STEP 1: Matching the Key Points

Read the text Building with Nature once more and check the following key points selected from the
text and match them with the correct paragraph number.

_____ There is some balance for the smooth operation of things in nature, and species which violate
this norm and consume the existing resources inattentively are doomed to fail in the long run either
by dying out or becoming extinct.

_____Human beings tend to follow traditional models in construction instead of adopting nature as
a model to build homes, but they should start considering alternative ways instead of merely sticking
to conventional methods.

_____Nature provides a wide array of options for designers and can be a source of inspiration for
alternative materials and adaptation of some common, natural shapes or patterns in architecture.

_____Natural world can be taken as a reference on how to build homes and animals can be a source
of inspiration for people with their natural living areas made with eco-friendly materials.

_____There is a reason for why there is a dominance of round patterns rather than straight or
rectangular ones as they are more resistant against deformation.

_____ There are different issues covered under the term “Building with Nature” such as having
awareness about the embodied energy in the materials, constructing compact living areas, using
environmentally safe and recyclable materials and alternative energy sources.

_____As human beings, we have to pay serious attention to the available resources and how to
make use of them wisely.

_____Animals can set a good model for human beings with their smart solutions to sort out some
problems with climate and they can pave the way for underground architecture.

_____ “Natural Building” refers to the usage of various techniques which are mainly based on the
materials that are natural and not processed and whose main focus is on the materials employed
rather than architectural design.

Step 2: SUMMARIZING
By using the key points given in Step 1 and by highlighting some more key points from the text (if
necessary), write a suggested summary for the text. Make sure to use appropriate transition words to
connect your sentences.

Your Summary
PART 2 – TRANSITION WORDS: Connecting sentences, parts of sentences, and ideas.

Transition/Linking words help you to connect ideas and sentences so that people can follow your
ideas.

Giving examples

For example For instance Namely

The most common way of giving examples is by using for example or for instance.

Namely refers to something by name.

"There are two problems: namely, the expense and the time."

Adding information

And Too In addition to

In addition Furthermore Besides
As well as Moreover
Also Apart from

Ideas are often linked by and. In a list, you put a comma between each item, but not before and.

"We discussed training, education, and the budget."

Also is used to add an extra idea or emphasis. "We also spoke about marketing."

You can use also with not only to give emphasis.

"We are concerned not only by the costs but also by the competition."

We don't usually start a sentence with also. If you want to start a sentence with a phrase that means
also, you can use In addition, or In addition to this…

As well as can be used at the beginning or the middle of a sentence.

"As well as the costs, we are concerned about the competition."

"We are interested in costs as well as the competition."

Too goes either at the end of the sentence or after the subject and means as well.

"They were concerned too."

"I, too, was concerned."

Apart from and besides are often used to mean as well as, or in addition to.

"Apart from Rover, we are the largest sports car manufacturer."

"Besides Rover, we are the largest sports car manufacturer."

Moreover and furthermore add extra information to the point you are making.

"Marketing plans give us an idea of the potential market. Moreover, they tell us about the
competition."

Summarizing

In short To summarize In conclusion

In brief In a nutshell

In summary To conclude

We normally use these words at the beginning of the sentence to give a summary of what we have
said or written.

Sequencing ideas

The former, … the latter Lastly

Firstly, secondly, finally The following
The first point is
The former and the latter are useful when you want to refer to one of two points.

"Marketing and finance are both covered in the course. The former is studied in the first term and the
latter is studied in the final term."

Firstly, … secondly, … finally (or lastly) are useful ways to list ideas.

It's rare to use "fourthly", or "fifthly". Instead, try the first point, the second point, the third point
and so on.

The following is a good way of starting a list.

"The following people have been chosen to go on the training course: N Peters, C Jones and A Owen."

Giving a reason

Due to/due to the fact that Because of

Owing to / owing to the fact that Since
Because As

Due to and owing to must be followed by a noun.

"Due to the rise in oil prices, the inflation rate rose by 1.25%."

"Owing to the demand, we are unable to supply all items within 2 weeks."

If you want to follow these words with a clause (a subject, verb and object), you must follow the words
with the fact that.

"Due to the fact that oil prices have risen, the inflation rate has gone up by 1%25."

"Owing to the fact that the workers have gone on strike, the company has been unable to fulfil all its
orders."

Because/because of

Because of is followed by a noun.

"Because of bad weather, the football match was postponed."

Because can be used at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence. For example, "Because it was
raining, the match was postponed."

"We believe in incentive schemes, because we want our employees to be more productive."
Since / as

Since and as mean because.

"Since the company is expanding, we need to hire more staff."

"As the company is expanding, we need to hire more staff."

Giving a result

Therefore This means that

So As a result
Consequently

Therefore, so, consequently and as a result are all used in a similar way.

"The company are expanding. Therefore / So / Consequently / As a result, they are taking on extra
staff."

So is more informal.

Contrasting ideas

Nonetheless
But While
However Whereas
Although / even though Unlike
Despite/despite the fact that In theory… in practice
In spite of/in spite of the fact that
Nevertheless
But is more informal than however. It is not normally used at the beginning of a sentence.

"He works hard, but he doesn't earn much."

"He works hard. However, he doesn't earn much."

Although, despite and in spite of introduce an idea of contrast. With these words, you must have two
halves of a sentence.

"Although it was cold, she went out in shorts."

"In spite of the cold, she went out in shorts."

Despite and in spite of are used in the same way as due to and owing to. They must be followed by a
noun. If you want to follow them with a noun and a verb, you must use the fact that.

"Despite the fact that the company was doing badly, they took on extra employees."

Nevertheless and nonetheless mean in spite of that or anyway.

"The sea was cold, but he went swimming nevertheless." (In spite of the fact that it was cold.)

"The company is doing well. Nonetheless, they aren't going to expand this year."

While, whereas and unlike are used to show how two things are different from each other.

"While my sister has blue eyes, mine are brown."

"Taxes have gone up, whereas social security contributions have gone down."

"Unlike in the UK, the USA has cheap petrol."

In theory… in practice… show an unexpected result.

"In theory, teachers should prepare for lessons, but in practice, they often don't have enough time."
CONNECTIVES FLOW CHART
 EXERCISES

Exercise 1: Write a conjunction from the list in each blank.

Time Reason Result Purpose Condition Contrast

when(ever) because so . . . that so that if but

since since such … that in case unless although
as (soon as) as in order to as long as even
though
after so as to
while
until

Time:

1. I didn’t know what love was _______ I met you.

2. _______ I hear this song, I think of my first boyfriend.

3. _______ she saw what the hairdresser had done to her hair, she burst out crying.

4. Joe, come home _______ you can. We’ve been burgled!

5. _______ I was having breakfast, the phone rang.

6. I’ve made a lot of friends _______ I started at this school.

7. _______ we’d eaten, we did the washing-up.

8. I didn’t like George at first, but _______ time passed, I grew to love him more and more.

Reason:

9. I didn’t have any money, _______ I went to the bank.

10. I’m tired _______ I didn’t sleep well last night.

11. _______ you all know, I’m retiring next year.

12. I looked round for a chair, but _______ there wasn’t one, I sat on the floor.

Result:

13. I was _______ tired _______ I fell asleep in front of the television.

14. We had _______ a big meal at lunchtime _______ I didn’t want anything in the evening.
 Purpose:

15. I’ll give you my key _______ you can let yourself in whenever you want.

16. Take your umbrella _______ it rains.

Condition:

17. _______ I happen to be late, I’ll give you a ring.

18. _______ I know where my children are, I don’t worry about them.

19. You’ll fail your exam _______ you do some work.

Contrast:

20. I tried to carry the bag, _______ I wasn’t strong enough.

21. The two boys like each other _______ they’re always fighting or arguing.

22. _______ I can understand French, I can’t speak it.

Exercise 2: Transform the following sentences using the word(s) in brackets and making any
necessary changes.

1. Being an only child, I was often lonely. (because)

2. As I was lonely, my parents bought me a puppy. (so . . . that)

3. She was in a hurry, so she forgot her handbag. (such . . . that)

4. I only had four driving lessons, so I failed my test. (enough)

5. He didn’t go back to work, because he still didn’t feel well. (as)

6. I could never be a teacher, because I’m not patient enough. (too)

7. Her acting was so disappointing that she didn’t get the role she was seeking. (consequently)
 8. They closed the shop early because there weren’t many customers. (so . . . that)

9. Your voice is good. You could train to be an opera singer. (enough for)

10. The book affected me profoundly. It changed my whole life. (such . . . that)

Exercise 3: Look at these pair of sentences (a-h) and decide whether the second sentence in each
pair:

1- expresses a result 4- explains 7- expresses a contrast

2- gives an example 5- changes the subject 8- imposes a condition

3- gives extra information 6- makes a concession 9- contradicts

a-) You must wear a tie. Otherwise, you cannot eat at the restaurant. ____________

b-) Yolanda received maximum marks for every part of her performance in the World
Championship. In other words, she is the highest scoring skater ever. ____________

c-) He has all the qualities that we require for this job. Moreover, he is able to start work almost
immediately. ____________

d-) The aircraft will take off at 9 p.m. and arrive at 2 p.m. local time. By the way, the baggage
allowance on this flight is 50 kilos. ____________

e-) The first two witnesses could scarcely be heard. In contrast, the third one spoke out clearly.
____________

f-) “It is the most significant novel of the twentieth century,” claimed Frank. “On the contrary,”
snapped Anthony. “I wouldn’t light a fire with it.” ____________

g-) He dresses in shabby clothes and, frankly, looks like a tramp. Nevertheless, he is one of our
most brilliant concert pianists. ____________

h-) Your marks put you in Level 3. Therefore, you will have to take the test again in six months’
time. ____________
Exercise 4: Complete each sentence—as in the example—in three different ways, using the words
given.

You will be allowed to join the club because you have been recommended by existing members.

due to your proven commitment.

but only for one year.

1. Michael stayed at the hotel whenever ___________________________.

although ____________________________.

because ____________________________.

2. The police searched the house thoroughly but ___________________________.

in order to ___________________________.

after ___________________________.

3. You are not allowed to operate this machine unless ___________________________.

as ___________________________.

so ___________________________.

4. Professor Helsing was very interested in the paranormal whereas ______________________.

even if ________________________.

despite _______________________.
 5. We will head for the South Pole on foot providing ___________________________.

unless ___________________________.

even though ___________________________.

despite ___________________________.

Exercise 5: In the following witness’s account of a crime, choose the best expressions to complete
the given witness account.

It happened at about 6.00 yesterday evening (A) while/after I was coming home from work.
(B) Because/Whenever I can, I walk to work (C) if not/except when it’s raining, (D) because/so that I
like the exercise. (E) In fact/Anyway, I was coming down Station Road, and (F) just as/since I was
walking past number 38, I heard a noise. It was such a loud noise that I stopped. It sounded (G) as/as
if a chest of drawers had been knocked over. I knew that a lot of old people live alone on this street,
(H) so/so that, (I) naturally/surely, I was a little concerned. (J) Firstly/At first I didn’t know what to
do. I went up to the front door and listened to see (K) unless/if I could hear anything. (L) Of course/In
fact the front door was ajar, (M) so/then I pushed the door and went in. It was (N) so/such dark that
I couldn’t see anything, (O) but/although my eyes soon got used to it.

I went into the dining room, and there on the floor was the body of an old man. He had been
attacked. (P) Even though/As soon as I saw him, I was scared (Q) in case/unless the burglar was (R)
still/always in the house. I knelt down to feel his pulse.

(S) However/Although he had been badly beaten up, he was still alive, (T)
fortunately/obviously. I went to look for a damp cloth (U) because/so that I could bathe his wounds,
then found his phone and dialed 911. I stayed with him (V) until/since the ambulance arrived, and (W)
when/by the time the police came, he had woken up and was talking about the attack. (X)
Apparently/Actually, he had been working in his garden when a man had jumped on him. He didn’t
see him, and he didn’t hear him, (Y) as well/either.

The old man is now in hospital, and (Z) as soon as/as long as he takes things easy, he should
make a complete recovery.
Exercise 6: In the following text, one or two (but not more) of the linking words and phrases are
correct, and the others are incorrect. Circle the correct ones to link the parts of the sentences in a
meaningful way.

Dear Mr. Kennedy

The Principal at the college where I work suggested that I should write to you (A) for/in order
to/so as to/so that find out more information about the Benson Scholarship for advanced students
of English, (B) as/because/for/due to he feels I could be a suitable candidate for this particular
scholarship.

I first visited England eight years ago (C) then/when/as/while I was twenty-one years old,
(D) immediately after graduating/as soon as graduated/following I am graduated/having
graduated in Chemistry at the University of Rio. (E) At first/Then/At the beginning/In the beginning
I could speak no English. (F) Despite this/Nevertheless/But/Although, I managed to find some work.
(G) So/Thus/Unfortunately/Meanwhile, I could only afford language classes twice a week, and (H)
owing to/consequently/as a result/so that I had to rely on my own resources to acquire as much
English as possible. (I) Really/In fact/Presently/Actually, to my surprise I managed to pass
Cambridge First Certificate after only two years, and (J) following/subsequently/after/lately, I took
the Proficiency exam (K) since/just before/ prior to/on leaving England four years ago. (L) On/No
sooner/Having/When returning home, I was lucky enough to find a job teaching English at the
Academy School. I have thoroughly enjoyed my involvement in the profession. (M) But/In
addition/However/Moreover, I now feel the time has come for me to re-acquaint myself with an
English-speaking environment (N) to/in order to/so that/so maintain the standard of my English. (O)
That is why/Furthermore/On the other hand/Moreover, I would very much like to pursue my
growing interest in English literature.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Manola Suarez
 Identifying and Understanding Words That Signal Relationships

Use the italic words to predict what information will follow, circle the letter of the answer that
would best complete each statement.

1. Whereas the fiscal policy of Keynes required the federal government to spend large amounts
of money, economists today…

(A) are looking for ways to utilize the private sector.

(B) are in favor of even more government spending.

2. High-impact aerobics has been associated with high injury rates, and recently instructors have
begun teaching low-impact aerobics. However, it appears that low-impact aerobics is not
void of injuries. In short,…

(A) low-impact aerobics offers people a good alternative for safer exercise programs.

(B) no exercise program is entirely injury-free.

3. Herbicides, like all chemicals sprayed in the environment, have some adverse effects. Not
only have earthworms and other soil microorganisms been killed by some herbicides, but
also…

(A) much needed insect predators have been destroyed by these chemicals.

(B) these chemicals are often used in powder form.

4. However dismal the outlook for world peace today may seem, …

(A) people will continue to search for alternatives to global warfare.

(B) peace will not occur in the next decade.

5. Noam Chomsky, apart from his work as a linguist, …

(A) continues to lecture on language theory.

(B) is well known for his outspoken views in politics.

6. The talks between the labor union and the company's owners seemed hopeless. Even
protests from the workers themselves…

(A) failed to resolve the issues.

(B) helped to bring about a compromise solution.

 7. When FM broadcasting began to develop, the industry treated it as a minor novelty. Its
success today is due to its technical superiority to AM. In particular, …

(A) FM stations are virtually static-free and transmit music with greater fidelity in

stereophonic sound.

(B) FM stations can target their programming to audience segments with special listening

interests.

8. What is disturbing about the projected tax plan is not so much the amount of money to be
raised but the type of tax being proposed. Taxpayers, therefore, are asking for more
information about…

(A) what the tax money will be spent for.

(B) who will be asked to pay the taxes.

Signpost words - Optional Exercise

The following are some of the more common signpost words used in formal writing. Complete the
given samples in a meaningful way considering the definition given for the signpost word. [Adapted
from Panorama, Longman, 1982]

1. However warns the reader that the line of reasoning is about to change course, e.g. Many
people believe that nuclear power will solve our energy crisis. However, it is obvious that they do not
consider the potential dangers.
_________________________________________________________________________________.

2. In fact introduces specific information to support the wider, more general information just
given, e.g. There is always the possibility of a major accident with nuclear power. In fact,
_________________________________________________________________________________.

3. On the contrary reinforces and expands the information just given. (The information in the
sentence before on the contrary is always negative; the information after on the contrary is positive.)
e.g. We have not yet exhausted the amount of land that can support human life. On the contrary,
_________________________________________________________________________.

4. Moreover develops the ideas, facts or reasons already given, by presenting additional ones,
e.g. Scientists and engineers are already draining forest swampland. Moreover,
_________________________________________________________________________________.

5. As a result introduces the result of the information or argument given in the preceding
sentence(s), e.g. Improved varieties of rice and grain are being developed. As a result,
_________________________________________________________________________________.
6. For example gives an example of something just mentioned, e.g. Many countries have
pollution problems. For example, _____________________________________________________.

7. In brief summarizes the preceding reasoning, e.g. The earth is suffering from overpopulation,
resource depletion, pollution, and the danger of intergroup warfare. In brief,
_________________________________________________________________________________.

8. Meanwhile introduces a reference to an event that takes place during the time that the
preceding event takes place, e.g. In the last ten years, oil consumption has more than doubled.
Meanwhile, ______________________________________________________________________.

9. Therefore introduces the reason why the preceding statement, data, etc. was presented, e.g.
The sea provides us with food. Therefore, ____________________________________________

10. Of course reminds the reader of something s/he already knows or assumes, in case s/he has
forgotten or does not fully understand, e.g. Scientists are developing varieties of ‘artificial’ food. Of
course, ___________________________________________________________________________.

11. In other words restates the information just given, but in a different and simpler form, so as
to help the reader understand, e.g. For all practical purposes, the Earth is a closed system. In other
words, ______________________________________________________________________.

12. In conclusion tells the reader that s/he has reached the end of the line of reasoning, e.g. In
conclusion, signpost words __________________________________________________________.
REFERENCES

https://advice.writing.utoronto.ca/researching/summarize/

http://www.naturalbuildingblog.com/building-with-nature/