Text Cohesion
C1 Lesson 3: Navigating Dense Information
Goal:
Decode complex academic texts by tracking Reference Words (this, that, which) and Connectors.
1. Linguistic Tools
Cohesion
How ideas are "glued" together using grammar and vocabulary.
Anaphora
Referring back to a previously mentioned word (e.g., "The car... it").
Antecedent
The original word that a pronoun refers to.
Discourse Marker
Words that signal the flow of logic (e.g., "Conversely," "Furthermore").
2. The Web of Ideas
In advanced texts, sentences are not isolated islands. They are connected like a spiderweb. To understand the text, you must follow the threads.
Antecedent (The Idea)
...text...text...text...
Pronoun (The Thread)
If you lose the thread (the pronoun), you lose the meaning.
3. Interactive Lab: Follow the Thread
Click the bold words to see what they refer to.
While autonomous vehicles promise to revolutionize urban transport, their integration poses significant challenges. These include legal liability and infrastructure adaptation. Conversely, proponents argue that such experts overlook the potential for reduced traffic congestion. This benefit alone could outweigh the initial costs.
4. Mastery Check
"The government implemented strict regulations on emissions. This move sparked controversy among manufacturers."
1. What does "This move" refer to?"Urbanization is accelerating. Consequently, housing prices are soaring."
2. What is the function of "Consequently"?