Process_Diagram

1. The passive

When you write about processes, use an active verb for:

 Natural process: The sun shines, and the plants grow.
Use passive for:
 Process where who does the action is not important: The tea leaves
are picked.
 The stages of producing something: The tea is dried, and then
packed into boxes.

Exercise 1: Complete these sentences with the passive form of the verb in
brackets.
1 Oranges__________ from Spain, to colder countries in Europe. (export)
2 Coffee beans ____________ in a machine, in order to make coffee powder. (grind)
3 Rice _____________ into bags and then delivered to supermarkets. (put)
4 Coconuts _____________from the trees, and then exported to other countries. (cut)
5 The bars of chocolate __________ in silver paper and put into boxes. (wrap)
Exercise 2: Complete 1-6 with the correct forms of the verbs in brackets.
Limestone is the main ingredient of cement. Firstly, it 1 __________ (extract) from
the ground. Then, at the factory, it 2 __________ (heat) to a high temperature with
other ingredients. After this, it 3 _____________ (cool) with blasts of cold air.

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When warm air 4 ____________ (reach) high ground, it is forced to rise, and as a
result, it 5 ____________ (cool). Moisture in the air 6 ___________ (condense) to form
rain.
 Some rock formations 1 ____________ (hold) large amounts of water. When it 2
__________ (rain), the tiny spaces in the rock gradually 3 ___________ (fill) with water
so that the rock 4 _____________ (become) saturated. The top of this saturated zone
is called the water table. If long periods of rain 5 __________ (occur), the water table
6 _________ (rise). If there is no rain, the rock 7 _________ (begin) to dry out and the
water table 8 ____________ (fall).
Exercise 3: Use the correct form of the verbs in the box to complete the
paragraph below.
Deliver grow grow load pack pick
put put shine sow

Tea 1 __________ in India and Chine. In the first stage, the tea seeds 2 ___________ by
the farmer, and then the sun 3 ___________, and the seeds 4 ______________ into large
tea plants. At this point, the tealeaves 5 __________ and 6 ___________ in a basket, and
then they 7 _________ on a tray in the sun to dry. The nest step is that the dried tea
leaves 8 __________ into boxes, and then the boxes 9 ___________ onto a lorry, and
then 10 _____________ to supermarket, where customers buy them.
2. Sequencers
Exercise 4: Write these linking words and phrases in the correct column of the
table below according to their meaning.
Then First of all Subsequently The first step is that
Finally After that At this point The next step is that
Following this To begin with The following step is that
Initially The last step is and then after which
Next … The first stage is … The last stage is …

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Linking with the present perfect

- Use once, when and after + the present perfect to join the stages
together
The tea is packed into boxes, and then the boxes are loaded onto a lorry. 
Once the tea has been packed into boxes, the boxes are then loaded onto a
lorry.

Exercise 5: Rewrite these sentences using the words in brackets.

1 The tea leaves are picked and then they are put in the sun to dry. (once)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
2 The tea leaves are picked from the tea plants and packed into boxes. (after)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
3 The boxes are loaded onto a lorry and then they are taken to supermarkets.
(when)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
4 You put the tea bag in the cup and then you can pour hot water into it. (once)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Linking with after + -ing

The boxes of tea are taken to supermarkets and then they are sold to customers.
 After being taken to supermarkets, the boxes of tea are then sold to
customers.

Exercise 6: Rewrite the sentences in exercise 5 using after + -ing

1.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
2.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
3.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
4.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Exercise 7: Connect the sentence below. Use the linking words in brackets.

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1. The parts of the car are assembled. The cars are exported. (after)
 ______________________________________________________________________________________
2. The snow falls. It covers the ground with a protective layer. (when)
 ______________________________________________________________________________________
 ______________________________________________________________________________________
3. Her cubs are born. The lioness licks them all over. (as soon as)
 ______________________________________________________________________________________
4. The paper is collected. It is sent for recycling. (once)
 ______________________________________________________________________________________
5. Volcanoes erupt. They send huge amounts of smoke into the air. (before)
 ______________________________________________________________________________________
6. The plants perspire. The air becomes humid. (when)
 ______________________________________________________________________________________
7. The trees are cut down. The forest is gradually destroyed. (and)
 ______________________________________________________________________________________
Exercise 8: Connect these sentences using your own words.
1. The food is processed. It is packaged. It is distributed.
 ______________________________________________________________________________________
2. The cycle is completed. It repeats itself all over again.
 ______________________________________________________________________________________
3. The rubbish is collected. It is sent to a center for sorting. It is recycled.
 ______________________________________________________________________________________
4. A new model of the bicycle is developed. The bicycle is tested.
 ______________________________________________________________________________________
5. The TV is assembled. It is sent to the shops.
 ______________________________________________________________________________________
6. The water is purified. It is bottled.
 ______________________________________________________________________________________
7. The data about the weather is collected. The information is then broadcast.
 ______________________________________________________________________________________

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8. The prototype is tested. It is modified.

 ______________________________________________________________________________________
3. Giving extra information
Exercise 9: Match the stages (1-4) to the corresponding extra details (a-d)
1. The boxes of tea are delivered to a which gives them extra flavor.
supermarkets,
2. The sun shines, b where they are put on the shelves to
be sold
3. Salt and sugar are added to the c in order to be made into sugar for
tomatoes, cooking
4. The sugar cane is taken to a factory, d which helps the plants to grow
Exercise 10: Join each pair of sentences using the words in brackets.
1. The fruit is sent to a factory. It is put into cans there. (where)
 ______________________________________________________________________________________
2. The biscuits are put in the oven. They are cooked. (in order to be)
 ______________________________________________________________________________________
3. The farmer waters the plants. This makes them grow more quickly. (which)
 ______________________________________________________________________________________
4. The mushrooms are stored in a dark room. This helps them to stay fresh. (so
that)
 ______________________________________________________________________________________
4. Writing introduction and overview

The pictures illustrate how tea is produced.

The pictures show the steps involved in making tea.
The diagram highlights the process by which tea is produced.

Exercise 11: Write an introductory sentence for these task 1 questions

1. The diagram shows how to produce potato chips.
 ______________________________________________________________________________________
2. The pictures show how people get a driving license.
 ______________________________________________________________________________________

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Process_Diagram

3. The diagram shows how energy is produced from coal.

 ______________________________________________________________________________________
4. The diagram shows how salt is removed from sea water to make it drinkable.
 ______________________________________________________________________________________

Overview
 Number of stages, and listing the first and last stages
 Different sections of the process (e.g. producing tea/ making a cup of
tea)

5. Practice


 El Nino is the name of a warm ocean current that affects weather patterns of
both sides of the Pacific Ocean. The diagram compares normal conditions in the
Pacific with El Nino conditions.

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