08 findings.conjunctions.doc

Armstrong Hilton Corporate Language TrainingPage 1 Findings Cause and Effect You are going to read a short article on overcrowding in cities titled The problems caused by overcrowding in modern cities Can you predict the endings to these sentences taken from the article 1 Cities face a number of problems which are due to 2 The consequences of too dense a population is that 3 Owing to being over populated Britain s main cities all have 4 Once effect of such a lifestyle is that 5 A city crowded with people leads to 6 In a city light heat transport and food must all be supplied artificially as 7 The greater the population the more natural resources are burnt up and consequently 8 We are part of an unhealthy consumerist and throwaway society which creates Now find the correct ending for each sentence Session 8 Armstrong Hilton Corporate Language TrainingPage 2 With your partner put the sentences from the article in order Then fill in the analysis worksheet below Analysis Worksheet 1 Write the appropriate sentence letters for each heading Introduction sentences Paragraph one first problem Paragraph two second problem Paragraph three first solution Paragraph four second solution 2 Underline all the words or phrases which are used to express a relationship between a cause and an effect Underline any more words which show contrast 3 Fill in the table below Go back to the first exercise with the cards Can you link up the two cards using different words and phrases now ContrastCause ReasonEffect Consequence Armstrong Hilton Corporate Language TrainingPage 3 The problems caused by overcrowding in modern cities The twentieth century saw a major increase in the world s population Yet large parts of the globe remain uninhabitable so people are drawn towards living in existing towns and cities As a result our modern day cities face a number of serious problems which are due to overcrowding Cities teeming with people are put under great strain to supply housing health care education jobs and a certain quality of life for the inhabitants The consequence of too dense a population is that one or all of these areas must suffer Owing to being over peopled Britain s main cities all have a number of people living on the streets Life must be extremely hard for these people and one effect of such a lifestyle is that drug abuse and crime rates rise Cities are environmentally unfriendly places This is because light heat travel and food must all be supplied artificially as one is removed from nature Hence the greater the population the more natural resources are burnt up and consequently the more pollution is created A city crowded with people leads to roads crawling with cars The effect of the consequent levels of carbon monoxide in the air is said to in cities as crowded as Mexico City be equivalent to smoking twenty cigarettes a day Living in a city therefore forces us to be part of an unhealthy consumer throwaway society which creates illness and environmental crisis rather than curing it It is the Government s responsibility to find solutions for these problems As a result a lot of taxpayer s money is spent on trying to keep the effects of overcrowding under control More housing is built more roads are planned This tactic might alleviate some symptomatic problems at high cost However it will never solve the problem of overpopulation For this reason we must look to the cause of the problem which is simply an unchecked epidemic of people Thus Governments must educate people to limit the size of their family In China couples are penalized financially as a consequence of having more than one child This may seem cruel but the one child policy is beginning to have an effect on the world s most populous nation Similar such policies may also be necessary in other overcrowded nations and this in turn would eventually result in solving the problem of overcrowding in cities Armstrong Hilton Corporate Language TrainingPage 4 Language Focus Conjunctions Because of or because 1 Look at the use of because of and because in the following extract Which do we use a before a verb b before a noun Overcrowding in cities is common because of the increase in world populations It s made worse because more and more people are leaving the countryside to look for work 2 Complete the following sentences Use because of or because 1 The price went up production costs increased 2 we were unable to send them on time the strike 3 Unfortunately I can t come I have an appointment However or although 3 Read sentences 1 and 2 and answer the questions Is the meaning of 1 and 2 the same or different How do we express a contrast using however 1 Although we tried to get a discount from the supplier they wouldn t go lower than their original offer 2 The supplier wouldn t go lower than their original offer However we tried to get a discount 4 Link the following pairs of sentences in two ways first using although and second using however 1 Hong Kong is an easy place to do business with China Many multinationals are opening offices in Shanghai 2 It sometimes rains in April in Hong Kong April is a good month to visit Hong Kong Armstrong Hilton Corporate Language TrainingPage 5 In spite of despite the fact that despite and although 5 In which of the following sentences can we use although instead of the words in bold without making any other changes 1 In spite of Despite its unpopularity the governing center left coalition of Socialists and Christian Democrats is expected to remain in power 2 In spite of Despite being unpopular the governing center left coalition of Socialists and Christian Democrats is expected to remain in power 3 Despite the fact that it is unpopular the governing center left coalition of Socialists and Christian Democrats is expected to remain in power 6 Link each of the following pairs of sentences in three different ways Use despite the fact that verb In spite of Despite gerund In spite of Despite noun 1 Opinion polls predicted gains for the far right The far right did not increase its share of the votes 2 Four senior socialist ministers resigned because of a corruption scandal The Socialists did not lose any votes Armstrong Hilton Corporate Language TrainingPage 6 Practice Complete the sentences by choosing a reason purpose below and using one of the conjunctions above difficult trading conditions assess the costs of photocopies poor maintenance unclear terms of reference low staff attendance improve training methods 1 A report was made E g A report was made in order to assess the costs of photocopiers 2 The training centre was established 3The report was a failure 4The training course was cancelled 5Output went down 6The photocopier was inefficient Armstrong Hilton Corporate Language TrainingPage 7 Link the following ideas in a similar way 1 Unclear terms of referenceUnsatisfactory report E g Unclear terms of reference resulted in an unsatisfactory report 2 Low demandExpensive product 3 The high level of leasingHigher level of taxation 4 Lack of interest in the SuggestionLow staff morale scheme 5 The success of the reportCareful planning Armstrong Hilton Corporate Language TrainingPage 8 Expand the notes below to make a sentence with two linked ideas or two separate sentences Link the sentences or ideas together using the connectors E g a Last five years serious accidents nuclear power stations b now lot of people close down all nuclear power stations In the last five years there have been several serious accidents at nuclear power stations Consequently a lot of people now think that they should all be closed down Or A lot of people now feel that all nuclear power stations ought to be closed down because there have been a number of serious accidents during the last five years You can write the sentences in any way you like add any verbs nouns articles etc that you need 1a nowadays a lot of mothers young children carry on working b my opinion government provide more creches and nursery sc