ELSA Discourse Markers & Text Cohesion 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of reference creates cohesion by pointing forward to something identified later in the text?
- Anaphoric reference
- Exophoric reference
- Cataphoric reference (Correct answer)
- Lexical reference
Correct answer: Cataphoric reference
Cataphoric reference points forward to something that will be explained or named later, unlike anaphoric reference which points backward.
Question 2: In 'John forgot his umbrella. This mistake cost him dearly,' which cohesive device is used?
- Synonymy
- Ellipsis
- Reference (Correct answer)
- Conjunction
Correct answer: Reference
'This mistake' uses demonstrative reference to point back to the event in the previous sentence, creating cohesion.
Question 3: Which sentence best demonstrates ellipsis as a cohesive device?
- Tom likes coffee, and Sarah likes coffee too.
- Tom likes coffee, and Sarah does too. (Correct answer)
- Tom likes coffee. Additionally, Sarah likes coffee.
- Both Tom and Sarah, they both like coffee.
Correct answer: Tom likes coffee, and Sarah does too.
In option B, 'likes coffee' is omitted after 'does,' creating ellipsis—a cohesive device that avoids unnecessary repetition.
Question 4: Which of the following creates cohesion through a lexical chain of synonyms?
- The dog ran fast. The animal moved swiftly across the yard. (Correct answer)
- He was tired. However, she was energetic.
- First, boil water. Then, add pasta.
- She studied. Consequently, she succeeded.
Correct answer: The dog ran fast. The animal moved swiftly across the yard.
Option A uses 'dog/animal' and 'ran fast/moved swiftly' as synonym pairs, creating lexical cohesion through related vocabulary.
Question 5: "_______ the rain, the outdoor event continued as planned." Which word creates a concessive relationship?
- Because of
- Due to
- Despite (Correct answer)
- Owing to
Correct answer: Despite
'Despite' signals that the event continued even though the rain would normally be expected to prevent it, showing a concessive relationship.
Question 6: Which sentence contains a cohesive tie through substitution?
- She bought apples. She also bought oranges.
- He failed the test. The failure upset him.
- Would you like coffee? — Yes, I'd love some. (Correct answer)
- The project was hard. Therefore, they gave up.
Correct answer: Would you like coffee? — Yes, I'd love some.
In option C, 'some' substitutes for 'coffee,' avoiding repetition while maintaining cohesion through substitution.
Question 7: In academic writing, which discourse marker is most appropriate to introduce a specific example?
- On the contrary
- For instance (Correct answer)
- As a consequence
- In addition
Correct answer: For instance
'For instance' is the standard discourse marker used to introduce a specific example that illustrates the preceding claim.
ELSA Discourse Markers & Text Cohesion 2
Which type of reference creates cohesion by pointing forward to something identified later in the text?