ELC1411

Unit 4 Supplementary Materials

Supplementary Materials Contents

1. Pairwork Error Correction

2. Pairwork Hedging techniques

3. Pairwork Crossword – vocabulary related to ‘importance’

4. Vocabulary Crossword with clues and key

5. Grammar Exercises (remove answers at bottom before printing)

• Intermediate 28 Reported speech and passive forms

• Intermediate 48 Modals of probability
• Intermediate 51 verbs: passive and general
• Advanced 32 Punctuation: the colon and semi-colon
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Unit 4 Supplementary Materials
Exercise 1 Pairwork Error Correction
Student A

Work with student B. Read out the first sentence. Listen to student B reading out
their sentence. Decide which sentence is correct.

1. In this essay, we will look into the problems and possible solutions, and
make a conclusion at the end.

2. As a result, children would not think seriously for any problem.

3. There is no doubt that children need to be protected.

4. In this essay, I will discuss those views.

5. When children face failure and give too much help…

6. The society tends to be face the problem of less children being born.

7. There are increasingly dangerous youth problems such as drug and

alcohol abuse to make the youth loss their life easily.

8. Some points that agree I mention at the next paragraph.

9. They just want to provide a safe environment for them.

10. No risk needs to be taken is a simple reason for the parents’ approach.

11. The issue of over-protection towards children depends on how their

parents bring up the child.

12. I would like to talk about the opinions of those people who agree that the
parents are too protective of their children.

13. Due to over-protective, their children might not be able to experience the
world around them.

14. The parents can give more guidance to their children when they face to
the fast changing world.

15. I agree that the children have been too protected.

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Unit 4 Supplementary Materials
Exercise 1 Pairwork Error Correction
Student B

Work with student A. Read out the first sentence. Listen to student A reading out
their sentence. Decide which sentence is correct.

1. In this essay, we will look into the problems and solutions, and draw a
conclusion at the end.

2. As a result, children would not think seriously about any problem

3. There is no doubt that children are need to be protected.

4. In this essay, I will discuss on those views.

5. When children face failure and are given too much help…

6. The society tends to face the problem of less children being born.

7. There are increasingly dangerous youth problems such as drug and alcohol
abuse to make the youth lose their life easily.

8. Some points that agree I mention in the next paragraph.

9. They just want to provide a safety environment for them.

10. No risk needs to take is a simple reason for the parents’ approach.

11. The issue of over-protective towards children depends on how their parents
bring up the child.

12. I would like to talk about the opinions of those people who agree that the
parents are too protective their children.

13. Due to over-protection, their children might not be able to experience the
world around them.

14. The parents can give more guidance to their children when they face the fast
changing world.

15. I agree that the children have been too protective.

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Unit 4 Supplementary Materials
Exercise 2 Hedging Techniques: Student A

The aim of this text is to explain and revise hedging techniques. You have 10 words missing
from your text (a-j). Your partner will explain the words to you. You should explain the 10 words
(1-10) underlined to your partner.

• It means…
• It’s similar to…
• It begins with…
• It’s a noun/adjective/ verb

When you discuss ideas or data in your ________________ (1) assignments, you should use cautious
rather than assertive language if you are not completely certain of the reasons. This means that you
should avoid (a) expressions such as:

clearly obviously without a doubt certainly

undoubtedly definitely there is no doubt that absolutely

Compare:

The experiment clearly demonstrates that water boils at 100 C. 

The experiment might demonstrate that water boils at 100 C. 

You should also ________________ (2) when using words like always, never, every and all because
this suggests absolute certainty which can be inappropriate in assignments.

1. Hedging verbs

The following ‘hedging’ verbs are often used in academic (b) writing:

suggest indicate estimate assume imply

The results indicate that the situation in which ________________(3) students use English least
is in interactions with their grandparents.

The verbs appear and seem are used when a writer wishes to ‘distance’ (c) himself/herself from the
findings (and therefore avoid making a strong claim).

On the evidence of the findings presented in Figure 1, it would appear that tertiary students in
Hong Kong generally have little need to speak in English outside the classroom.

Note that the writer also ‘________________ (4)’ himself/herself by using the phrase on the evidence
of. These expressions are used in a similar way: according to, on the basis of, based on.

2. Modal (d) verbs

Another way of appearing ‘confidently uncertain’ is to use modal verbs ________________ (5) may,
might, could and can.

In the case of younger relatives (e.g. cousins), it is possible that they have no knowledge of
Cantonese, while older relatives (e.g. uncles, aunts) may feel more comfortable using their
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adopted language.
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3. Adverbs

The following adverbs are often used when a writer wishes to express (e) caution.

probably possibly perhaps maybe

apparently seemingly presumably conceivably

This finding is perhaps not ________________ (6) as census data indicate that the
overwhelming majority of people in Hong Kong speak Cantonese (Cheung et al., 2003).

4. Adjectives

Another technique (f) is to use an adjective.

probable possible uncertain unlikely

One possible factor behind the use of English in this ________________ (7) is that their
relatives live in an English-speaking country.

5. Nouns

The following nouns are often used in academic writing:

probability possibility assumption evidence likelihood claim

The evidence suggests that undergraduates (g) rarely ________________(8) with their
parents or grandparents in English.

6. Generalisation

There are several (h) ways in which you can qualify a generalisation.

(i) You can use the verb tend or the noun (have/be a) tendency (to).

While the data in Figure 1 suggest that tertiary students tend not to speak English very
________________ (9) outside class, there are apparently several situations where spoken
English has some degree of importance in the subjects’ lives.

(ii) You can use an adverb such as:

generally largely primarily for the most part

predominantly mainly usually to a great extent

This largely stems from the fact that the provision (i) of English-medium secondary education was
limited in the 1940s and 1950s (Li, 2000).

(iii) You can use a qualifying ________________(10) such as most or the majority of.

The majority of citizens in the 60-70 age group are likely to have received only a Chinese-medium
primary education (So, 1992).

(iv) You can identify (j) exceptions by using expressions such as apart from, except for or with the
exception of.

In the intimate family domain, young people understandably have little need or desire to speak
English, apart from special circumstances such as preparing for English language examinations.
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Unit 4 Supplementary Materials
Exercise 2 Hedging Techniques: Student B

The aim of this text is to explain and revise hedging techniques. You have 10 words missing from
your text (a-j). Your partner will explain the words to you. You should explain the 10 words (1-10)
underlined to your partner.

• It means…
• It’s similar to…
• It begins with…
• It’s a noun/adjective/ verb.

When you discuss ideas or data in your written (1) assignments, you should use cautious rather than
assertive language if you are not completely certain of the reasons. This means that you should
________________ (a) expressions such as:

clearly obviously without a doubt certainly

undoubtedly definitely there is no doubt that absolutely

Compare:

The experiment clearly demonstrates that water boils at 100 C. 

The experiment might demonstrate that water boils at 100 C. 

You should also take care (2) when using words like always, never, every and all because this suggests
absolute certainty which can be inappropriate in assignments.

1. Hedging verbs

The following ‘hedging’ verbs are often used in ________________ (b) writing:

suggest indicate estimate assume imply

The results indicate that the situation in which tertiary (3) students use English least is in
interactions with their grandparents.

The verbs appear and seem are used when a writer wishes to ‘________________(c)’ himself/herself
from the findings (and therefore avoid making a strong claim).

On the evidence of the findings presented in Figure 1, it would appear that tertiary students in
Hong Kong generally have little need to speak in English outside the classroom.

Note that the writer also ‘protects’ (4) himself/herself by using the phrase on the evidence of. These
expressions are used in a similar way: according to, on the basis of, based on.
2. ________________ (d) verbs

Another way of appearing ‘confidently uncertain’ is to use modal verbs such as (5) may, might, could
and can.

In the case of younger relatives (e.g. cousins), it is possible that they have no knowledge of
Cantonese, while older relatives (e.g. uncles, aunts) may feel more comfortable using their
adopted language.
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Unit 4 Supplementary Materials
3. Adverbs

The following adverbs are often used when a writer wishes to ________________ (e) caution.

probably possibly perhaps maybe

apparently seemingly presumably conceivably

This finding is perhaps not surprising (6) as census data indicate that the overwhelming majority of
people in Hong Kong speak Cantonese (Cheung et al., 2003).

4. Adjectives

Another ________________ (f) is to use an adjective.

probable possible uncertain unlikely

One possible factor behind the use of English in this situation (7) is that their relatives live in an
English-speaking country.

5. Nouns

The following nouns are often used in academic writing:

probability possibility assumption evidence likelihood claim

The evidence suggests that ________________ (g) rarely communicate (8) with their parents or
grandparents in English.

6. Generalisation

There are ________________ (h) ways in which you can qualify a generalisation.

(i) You can use the verb tend or the noun (have/be a) tendency (to).

While the data in Figure 1 suggest that tertiary students tend not to speak English very frequently (9)
outside class, there are apparently several situations where spoken English has some degree of
importance in the subjects’ lives.

(ii) You can use an adverb such as:

generally largely primarily for the most part

predominantly mainly usually to a great extent

This largely stems from the fact that the ________________ (i) of English-medium secondary
education was limited in the 1940s and 1950s (Li, 2000).

(iii) You can use a qualifying expression (10) such as most or the majority of.

The majority of citizens in the 60-70 age group are likely to have received only a Chinese-medium
primary education (So, 1992).

(iv) You can ________________ (j) exceptions by using expressions such as apart from, except
for or with the exception of.

In the intimate family domain, young people understandably have little need or desire to speak
English, apart from special circumstances such as preparing for English language examinations.
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Unit 4 Supplementary Materials
Exercise 3 Vocabulary Crossword: Student A

Work with student B. You need to explain your words to your partner. Do not say
the word. Explain it.

Example:

Student B: What’s 1 across?

Student A: It means having a lower or less important position. The first letter is
‘s’. It has four syllables.
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Exercise 3 Vocabulary Crossword: Student B

Work with student A. You need to explain your words to your partner. Do not say
the word. Explain it.

Example:

Student A: What’s 1 down?

Student B: It means important or noticeable. The first letter is ‘s’. It has four
syllables.

Exercise 4 Vocabulary Crossword
Complete the crossword using the clues below.
Across
1. having a lower or less important position
3. the middle point or part
5. forming the base, from which everything else
develops; more important than anything else
8. more important, strong or noticeable than
anything else of the same type
9. less important than related things
11. the main or central point of something,
especially of attention or interest
12. very small in amount
13. too slight or small in amount to be of
Importance
14. first in order of importance
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Down
1. important or noticeable
2. more noticeable or important, or larger in
number, than others
4. more important, bigger or more serious than
others of the same type
5. most important or best; leading6emphasis
7. extremely important or necessary
9. describes something less important than
something else with which it is connected
10. more important than anything else; main
15. a smaller number or part
16. the particular importance or attention that
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15. very small in amount or effect you give to something
17. something that is very important and must
18. having little importance, influence or effect,
be dealt with before other things
especially when compared with other things
of the same type
19. having little value or importance
20. the basic and most important part of
something

Exercise 4 Vocabulary crossword KEY

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