Using Linking words for the IELTS test – 2

An aspect of the last week of teaching in Taiyuan, Shanxi Provience , China, has been identifying key linking words in a text, and practicing their use.

For short answer questions, students also practiced predicting the kind of information we expect to look for, in both the reading and listening test, according to the question.

Using linking words for meaning and clarity

By the end of this class you should be able to:

• Use linking words for contrast accurately, both in terms of meaning and grammar.
• Use more academic alternatives for and, but and so, in academic writing.

Task 1: Study the sentences below and answer the questions.

Last year, the dam was built. This year, the people in the valley had to move.

What happened first?

What happened after?

Why did the people have to move?

What happened because the dam was built?

Answers

Task 2: In the following pairs of sentences underline the reasons and highlight the results?

1. She installed solar panels then her roof collapsed.
2. He lost his job in a traditional power plant after the new wind farm was opened.
3. After her neighbour installed wind turbines on his land, the price of her house fell.
4. The prices of solar PV have decreased. Solar PV has gained in popularity.
5. Humanity has increasingly burned fossil fuels over the last two centuries, and temperatures on the planet have increased.

Answers

 

Task 3: Combine the sentences from task 1 into one sentence using either because, since or as.

Last year, the dam was built. This year, the people in the valley had to move.

Answer

 

Task 4: Combine the sentences from task 1 into one sentence using either because of or due to.

Last year, the dam was built. This year, the people in the valley had to move.

Answers

 

Task 5: Now rewrite the sentences in task 2 using linking words for reasons.

1. She installed solar panels then her roof collapsed. (Use because)

Answer

 

2. He lost his job in a traditional power plant after the new wind farm took was opened. (Use because of)

Answer

 

3. After her neighbour installed wind turbines on his land, the price of her house fell. (Use as)

Answer

 

4. The prices of solar PV have decreased. Solar PV has gained in popularity. (Use due to)

Answer

 

5. Humanity has increasingly burned fossil fuels over the last two centuries, and temperatures on the planet have increased. (Use since)

Answer

 

Task 6: Combine the sentences from task 1 into one sentence using so.

Last year, the dam was built. This year, the people in the valley had to move.

Answer

 

Task 7: Now rewrite the sentences in task 2 using so.

1. She installed solar panels then her roof collapsed.

Answer

 

2. He lost his job in a traditional power plant after the new wind farm took was opened.

Answer

 

3. After her neighbour installed wind turbines on his land, the price of her house fell.

Answer

 

4. The prices of solar PV have decreased. Solar PV has gained in popularity.

Answer

 

5. Humanity has increasingly burned fossil fuels over the last two centuries, and temperatures on the planet have increased.

Answer

 

Task 8: Underline the linking words in the following paragraph, and put them under the right meaning in the table.

 

Wind power has many advantages for the environment. No harmful gases are released in its production. Therefore, it does not contribute to global warming. In addition, no transport of raw materials is required. Consequently, no CO2 emitting trucks or lorries are used. Nevertheless, there are some who claim that wind power has negative effects on the environment. Wind turbines need to be constructed in windy places. As a result, they are often built on mountains and hills. This ruins the landscape. Besides, they can alter the natural flow of groundwater which may result in water shortages. Furthermore, large amounts of concrete are needed to create the foundations of the turbines. During the production of concrete a lot of CO2 is released into the atmosphere. Wildlife may also be threatened. Birds and bats may fly into the rotating turbine blades. However, the noise produced by the turbine blades sometimes actually chases away these animals. Therefore, it seems that wind power is not as environmentally friendly as some may claim. On the other hand, it can be argued that it is at least not as polluting as fossil fuels.

Answers

 

Complete the table with expressions that have the same meaning in the heading

Meaning and	Meaning but	Meaning so

Answers

 

Task 9: Below are two paragraphs on the advantages and disadvantages of solar PV. Put the right linking words in the blanks.

Use all the linking words in the box above each paragraph. Be careful of your grammar and punctuation.

 

Paragraph A:

 

because, since, as, in addition, consequently, as a result

 

A major advantage of solar (PV) is that it can be used in remote areas that do not have access to mains electricity                                 solar (PV) can be used on a small scale without the need for expensive development of power stations and power lines to transport the generated electricity.                     solar (PV) panels can be attached to a building and the electricity generated used to power small electronic items in the building, solar PV is much cheaper than trying to extend power lines to remote areas.                                       , according to REN21 (2016), some of the fastest growing markets are in Africa and the Middle East                                              they need to expand energy access in remote areas, both for business use, for example in remote farms, and for domestic use in rural towns and villages.                                        , this small-sale advantage is also being exploited in developed countries to provide power to light things like bus stops and road signs                                the large expense of digging up ground to lay power lines which is otherwise required.

 

Answers

 

Paragraph B:

although, however, despite, on the other hand, because, besides, furthermore, therefore, as a result

 

                                           , a major disadvantage of solar (PV) is that it can only generate power whilst the sun is shining.                                                , during the night solar (PV) is not generating electricity which is a major problem                                               people use their lights and often heating or cooling systems more at night.                                            energy demands tend to increase at this time.                                    , solar (PV) systems are less efficient when there is cloud cover, and                                               they can still generate electricity, the amount is greatly reduced.                                               , solar (PV) is best to suited to places that have long hours of direct sunlight.                                         , developments in solar (PV) technology are now allowing the cells to produce more energy from less sunlight.                                       , producing energy at night is becoming less of an issue                                  developments in batteries that can be used to store energy produced by solar (PV) during the day. Indeed,                                 not being a sunny place, in 2015 the UK had the fourth highest solar (PV) capacity in the world (REN21, 2016).

 

Answers