NBT Academic Literacy: Text Coherence and Discourse Organisation Flashcards

In the passage 'Many students struggle with statistics. This difficulty often stems from weak algebra skills,' what does 'This difficulty' refer to?

Answer: Students struggling with statistics

'This difficulty' is an anaphoric reference that summarises the previous sentence's idea of students struggling with statistics.

Which connector best fills the gap: 'The experiment was carefully designed; ______, the results were inconclusive.'

Answer: nevertheless

'Nevertheless' signals a contrast between careful design and an unexpected inconclusive outcome.

A paragraph begins: 'Urban gardens offer three main benefits.' The following sentences discuss food security, community bonding, and air quality. What is the function of the first sentence?

Answer: It serves as a topic sentence that previews the paragraph's structure

The opening sentence announces the main idea and signals that three points will follow.

Which discourse marker signals that the writer is about to restate an idea in simpler terms?

Answer: In other words

'In other words' introduces a reformulation or clarification of a previous point.

Sentences: (1) As a result, crop yields fell sharply. (2) The region experienced an unusually long drought. (3) Farmers were therefore forced to seek government aid. What is the most coherent order?

Answer: 2, 1, 3

The cause (drought) comes first, followed by its effect (lower yields) and then the consequence (seeking aid).

A text first describes a problem with plastic waste, then outlines recycling schemes, ocean clean-ups and bans. Which organisational pattern does it use?

Answer: Problem–solution

The text identifies a problem and then presents a set of responses to it.

In 'Some researchers favour qualitative methods, whereas others prefer quantitative ones,' what relationship does 'whereas' establish?

Answer: Contrast

'Whereas' sets two opposing preferences against each other.