WRITING TASK III 过渡词与篇章的连接

一个好的段落或一篇好的文章必须在表达形式上和意义上连贯一致。过渡词就可以起到这样的作用。比较下面两个段落，并找出带有过渡词的部分。

Paragraph 1:

A difference among the world’s seas and oceans is that the salinity varies in different climate zones. The Baltic Sea in Northern Europe is only one-fourth as saline as the Red Sea in the Middle east. There are reasons for this. In warm climates, water evaporates rapidly. The concentration of salt is greater. The surrounding land is dry and does not contribute much fresh water to dilute the salty sea water. In cold climate zones, water evaporates slowly. The runoff created by melting snow adds a considerable amount of fresh water to dilute the saline sea water.

Paragraph 2:

Another difference among the world’s seas and oceans is that the salinity varies in different climate zones. For example, the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe is only one fourth as saline as the Red Sea in the Middle East. There are two reasons for this. First of all, in warm climate zones, water evaporates rapidly; therefore, the concentration of salt is greater. Second, the surrounding land is dry and, consequently, does not contribute much fresh water to dilute the salty sea water. In cold climate zones, on the other hand, water evaporates slowly. Furthermore, the runoff created by melting snow adds a considerable amount of fresh water to dilute the saline sea water.

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常用的连接词

表关系 连接词 并列连词 从句连词 其他关联词

表递进 furthermore and another (＋名词） moreover an additional (＋名词） in addition

表转折 on the other hand but although in spite of (＋名词） however yet though despite(＋名词） in contrast even though whereas while 表选择 otherwise or if unless

引出事例 for example an example of (＋名词） for instance such as(＋名词） e.g. 重述 i.e.

表结尾 in conclusion in summary to conclude to summarize

连接词按其作用可分为上述四类，用法如下：

1．连接词如however, therefore, furthermore, for example, on the other hand, in addition, still, otherwise的用法：可连接两个简单句，多用逗号或分号隔开，也可放在句首、句中、句末，后加逗号。

I dislike mushrooms; therefore, I never eat them.

Mushrooms are good for you; however, I never eat them. Therefore, I never eat them.

On the other hand, mushrooms are good for you. I, therefore, never eat them.

Mushrooms, on the other hand, are good for you. I never eat them, therefore.

如连接词仅为一个单词，有时亦可省略， I therefore never eat them.

2. 并列连词and, but, yet, or, nor, for, so用来连接简单句，通常用逗号隔开； 如 Mushrooms are good for you, but I dislike them. I dislike mushrooms, so I never eat them.

3. 从句连词如because, after, since, as, although, if, when 用来连接主从复合句，

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如从句在先，用逗号隔开； 如主句在先，可不用逗号； Although mushrooms are good for you, I dislike them. I dislike mushrooms although they are good for you.

4. 介词短语和修饰词如because of, due to, in spite of , another, additional, final etc. 不涉及单独的标点符号规则

I dislike mushrooms because of a bad experience I once had. Another reason I dislike mushrooms is their rubbery consistency.

Practice 10: Recognizing Transition Signals

Step 1 Circle all of the transition signals in the following paragraphs. There are at least ten in each.

Step 2 Punctuate the transition signals if necessary

Paragraph 1

Genetic research has produced both exciting and frightening possibilities. Scientists are now able to create new forms of life in the laboratory due to the development of gene splicing. On one hand the ability to create life in the laboratory could greatly benefit mankind. For example because insulin is very expensive to obtain from natural sources scientists have developed a method to manufacture it inexpensively in the laboratory. Another beneficial application of gene splicing is in agriculture. Scientists foresee the day when new plants will be developed using nitrogen from the air instead of from fertilizer therefore food production could be increased. In addition entirely new plants could be developed to feed the world’s hungry people.

Not everyone is excited about gene splicing however. Some people feel that it could have terrible consequences. A laboratory accident for example might cause an epidemic of an unknown disease that could wipe out humanity. As a result of this controversy the government has made rules to control genetic experiments. Still many people feel that these rules are not strict enough even though the scientific community may feel that they are too strict.

Paragraph 2

The “women’s lib” movement toward greater equality for women has produced some permanent changes in the vocabulary of English. The first change is that new words have been added. The words “feminist” “sexist” and “male chauvinist” for example became common during the past ten years or so. Another new word is the title Ms which is often used in place of both Miss and Mrs. A second change is that sexist titles of many job occupations have been naturalized. A chairman is now a “chairperson”, a businessman is a “businessperson” and a salesman is a “salesperson”.

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Moreover a mailman is now a “mail carrier” and an airline stewardess is now a “flight attendant.” Finally attempts to give equal treatment to masculine and feminine pronouns in English have led to the search for a new pronoun form to replace he (as he/she ors/he) when referring to the neutral nouns such as the student. In my opinion some of the new words such as Ms are quite useful: you can use Ms to address a woman when you don’t know if she is married. On the other hand the lack of a clear neutral pronoun can lead to awkward sentence construction.

Practice 11: Choosing Transition Signals

Step 1 Choose the transition signal that best shows the relationship between the sentences in each group from the choices given in parentheses. Write the signal in the space.

Step 2 Add punctuation and change capital letters to small letters if necessary

Example A recent article in Era magazine suggested ways to reduce inflation. The article suggested that the president reduce the federal budget; furthermore, it suggested that the government reduce federal, state and local taxes. (however, in contrast, furthermore)

1. The same article said that the causes of inflation were easy to find ________ the cure for inflation was not so easy to prescribe.(however, for example, therefore)

2. Era also suggested that rising wages were one of the primary causes of inflation __________ the government should take action to control wages. (however, therefore, for example)

3. In physics, the weight of an object is the gravitational force with which the Earth attracts it _________ if a man weighs 150 pounds, this means that the Earth pulls him down with a force of 150 pounds. (moreover, therefore, for example)

4. The farther away from earth a person is, the less the gravitational force of the Earth _______ a man weighs less when he is 50,000 miles from earth than when he is only 5,000 miles away. (in conclusion, therefore, however)

5. A “tsunami” is a tidal wave produced by an earthquake on the ocean floor. The waves are very long and low in open water, but when they get close to land, they encounter friction because of the shallow water __________ the waves increase in height and can cause considerable damage when they finally reach land. (on the other hand, as a result, in conclusion)

********* Writing Practice

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