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1.6 Reading and Use of English Part 6

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1.6 Reading and Use of English Part 6

For part 6 of the FCE Reading and Use of English exam, we are given a piece of text from which 6 sentences have been removed. We are also given a set of 7 sentences, which include the 6 sentences that were removed and 1 extra sentence.


We are required to replace the missing sentences.


This exercise tests the student's understanding of the coherence of a piece of text.


The most efficient way of doing this exercise is as follows:

1 READ THE TEXT TO GET A FEEL FOR THE IDEAS IN THE TEXT.

2 IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA DISCUSSED IN EACH PARAGRAPH.

3 LOOK AT THE GIVEN SENTENCES.

4 HIGHLIGHT ALL CONNECTING PRONOUNS LIKE THIS, THEY, THEIR OR IT.

5 LOOK AT THE KEY WORDS IN THE SENTENCES.

6 TRY AND MATCH THE KEY WORDS WITH THE PARAGRAPH IDEAS FOR EACH PARAGRAPH.

7 USE THE PRONOUNS TO CONFIRM THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE TEXT ABOVE AND BELOW THE SPACES AND THE SENTENCES.


Let's apply these ideas to a typical exam question:


TEXT:

One of the most spectacular natural phenomena in the world is the annual migration across North America of the Monarch butterfly.

(1) ..................................................................................................................................

In practice, however, no individual butterfly completes the entire round trip. Female Monarchs lay eggs for the next generation during the northward migration, and at least five generations are involved in the annual cycle.
There are many different migration routes, both in the northern and southern hemispheres, but the eastern population starts its journey in Canada and finishes in Mexico.

(2) ..................................................................................................................................

Storms earlier this year blew down more than a hundred acres of forests where migrating Monarch butterflies spend the winter in central Mexico. These storms also appear to have frozen or killed about 7m of the estimated 84m butterflies that wintered there.

(3) ..................................................................................................................................

This highlights just how fragile these forests are, and how fragile the Monarchs are.

(4) ..................................................................................................................................

They depend on finding relatively well-preserved forests, where millions of the orange-and-black butterflies hang in clumps from the branches, and mate. The trees, and the clumping, help to protect the butterflies from cold rains and steep drops in temperature.

(5) ..................................................................................................................................

Conservationists have tried to convince the largely impoverished farm and mountain communities, which actually own most of the land, that the forest is worth more to them in terms of tourism when left standing, instead of being cut down.

(6) ..................................................................................................................................

The future looks bleak indeed for these intrepid and elegant travellers.


SENTENCES:

A, THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME SUCH A COMBINATION OF HIGH WINDS, RAIN AND FREEZING TEMPERATURES HAD OCCURRED IN THIS AREA.

B, THE BIGGEST DANGER TO THE THEIR HABITAT COMES FROM ILLEGAL LOGGING.

C, MANY OF THE BUTTERFLIES ARE EATEN BY BIRDS.

D, THEY HAVE HAD LIMITED SUCCESS IN THIS ENDEAVOUR.

E, IN THEORY, THESE SMALL INSECTS COVER A ROUND TRIP OF OVER 15,000 KM.

F, THESE BEAUTIFUL CREATURES TRAVEL ENORMOUS DISTANCES FOR ONE REASON.

G, THIS IS WHERE SOME EXTREMELY SAD NEWS COMES FROM.


1 READ THE TEXT TO GET A FEEL FOR THE IDEAS IN THE TEXT.


TEXT

One of the most spectacular natural phenomena in the world is the annual migration across North America of the Monarch butterfly.

(1) ..................................................................................................................................

In practice, however, no individual butterfly completes the entire round trip. Female Monarchs lay eggs for the next generation during the northward migration, and at least five generations are involved in the annual cycle.
There are many different migration routes, both in the northern and southern hemispheres, but the eastern population starts its journey in Canada and finishes in Mexico.

(2) ..................................................................................................................................

Storms earlier this year blew down more than a hundred acres of forests where migrating Monarch butterflies spend the winter in central Mexico. These storms also appear to have frozen or killed about 7m of the estimated 84m butterflies that wintered there.

(3) ..................................................................................................................................

This highlights just how fragile these forests are, and how fragile the Monarchs are.

(4) ..................................................................................................................................

They depend on finding relatively well-preserved forests, where millions of the orange-and-black butterflies hang in clumps from the branches, and mate. The trees, and the clumping, help to protect the butterflies from cold rains and steep drops in temperature.

(5) ..................................................................................................................................

Conservationists have tried to convince the largely impoverished farm and mountain communities, which actually own most of the land, that the forest is worth more to them in terms of tourism when left standing, instead of being cut down.

(6) ..................................................................................................................................

The future looks bleak indeed for these intrepid and elegant travellers.


2 IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA DISCUSSED IN EACH PARAGRAPH.


TEXT

One of the most spectacular natural phenomena in the world is the annual migration across North America of the Monarch butterfly. - (DISTANCES TRAVELLED)

(1) ..................................................................................................................................

In practice, however, no individual butterfly completes the entire round trip. Female Monarchs lay eggs for the next generation during the northward migration, and at least five generations are involved in the annual cycle.
There are many different migration routes, both in the northern and southern hemispheres, but the eastern population starts its journey in Canada and finishes in Mexico. - (THE WEATHER)

(2) ..................................................................................................................................

Storms earlier this year blew down more than a hundred acres of forests where migrating Monarch butterflies spend the winter in central Mexico. These storms also appear to have frozen or killed about 7m of the estimated 84m butterflies that wintered there. - (EXTREMELY LOW TEMPERATURES)

(3) ..................................................................................................................................

This highlights just how fragile these forests are, and how fragile the Monarchs are. - (REASONS FOR TRAVELLING)

(4) ..................................................................................................................................

They depend on finding relatively well-preserved forests, where millions of the orange-and-black butterflies hang in clumps from the branches, and mate. The trees, and the clumping, help to protect the butterflies from cold rains and steep drops in temperature. - (CONSERVATION ISSUES)

(5) ..................................................................................................................................

Conservationists have tried to convince the largely impoverished farm and mountain communities, which actually own most of the land, that the forest is worth more to them in terms of tourism when left standing, instead of being cut down. - (THE FUTURE)

(6) ..................................................................................................................................

The future looks bleak indeed for these intrepid and elegant travellers.


3 LOOK AT THE GIVEN SENTENCES.


A, THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME SUCH A COMBINATION OF HIGH WINDS, RAIN AND FREEZING TEMPERATURES HAD OCCURRED IN THIS AREA.

B, THE BIGGEST DANGER TO THE THEIR HABITAT COMES FROM ILLEGAL LOGGING.

C, MANY OF THE BUTTERFLIES ARE EATEN BY BIRDS.

D, THEY HAVE HAD LIMITED SUCCESS IN THIS ENDEAVOUR.

E, IN THEORY, THESE SMALL INSECTS COVER A ROUND TRIP OF OVER 15,000 KM.

F, THESE BEAUTIFUL CREATURES TRAVEL ENORMOUS DISTANCES FOR ONE REASON.

G, THIS IS WHERE SOME EXTREMELY SAD NEWS COMES FROM.


4 HIGHLIGHT ALL CONNECTING PRONOUNS LIKE THIS, THEY, THEIR OR IT.


A, THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME SUCH A COMBINATION OF HIGH WINDS, RAIN AND FREEZING TEMPERATURES HAD OCCURRED IN THIS AREA.

B, THE BIGGEST DANGER TO THE THEIR HABITAT COMES FROM ILLEGAL LOGGING.

C, MANY OF THE BUTTERFLIES ARE EATEN BY BIRDS.

D, THEY HAVE HAD LIMITED SUCCESS IN THIS ENDEAVOUR.

E, IN THEORY, THESE SMALL INSECTS COVER A ROUND TRIP OF OVER 15,000 KM.

F, THESE BEAUTIFUL CREATURES TRAVEL ENORMOUS DISTANCES FOR ONE REASON.

G, THIS IS WHERE SOME EXTREMELY SAD NEWS COMES FROM.


5 LOOK AT THE KEY WORDS IN THE SENTENCES.


A, THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME SUCH A COMBINATION OF HIGH WINDS, RAIN AND FREEZING TEMPERATURES HAD OCCURRED IN THIS AREA.

B, THE BIGGEST DANGER TO THE THEIR HABITAT COMES FROM ILLEGAL LOGGING.

C, MANY OF THE BUTTERFLIES ARE EATEN BY BIRDS.

D, THEY HAVE HAD LIMITED SUCCESS IN THIS ENDEAVOUR.

E, IN THEORY, THESE SMALL INSECTS COVER A ROUND TRIP OF OVER 15,000 KM.

F, THESE BEAUTIFUL CREATURES TRAVEL ENORMOUS DISTANCES FOR ONE REASON.

G, THIS IS WHERE SOME EXTREMELY SAD NEWS COMES FROM.


6 TRY AND MATCH THE KEY WORDS WITH THE PARAGRAPH IDEAS FOR EACH PARAGRAPH.


TEXT

One of the most spectacular natural phenomena in the world is the annual migration across North America of the Monarch butterfly.

(1) ......E, IN THEORY, THESE SMALL INSECTS COVER A ROUND TRIP OF OVER 15,000 KM. ......(DISTANCES TRAVELLED)..

In practice, however, no individual butterfly completes the entire round trip. Female Monarchs lay eggs for the next generation during the northward migration, and at least five generations are involved in the annual cycle.
There are many different migration routes, both in the northern and southern hemispheres, but the eastern population starts its journey in Canada and finishes in Mexico.

(2) .....G, THIS IS WHERE SOME EXTREMELY SAD NEWS COMES FROM. .....(THE WEATHER).

Storms earlier this year blew down more than a hundred acres of forests where migrating Monarch butterflies spend the winter in central Mexico. These storms also appear to have frozen or killed about 7m of the estimated 84m butterflies that wintered there.

(3) ....A, THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME SUCH A COMBINATION OF HIGH WINDS, RAIN AND FREEZING TEMPERATURES HAD OCCURRED IN THIS AREA. ......(EXTREMELY LOW TEMPERATURES)

This highlights just how fragile these forests are, and how fragile the Monarchs are.

(4) ..... F, THESE BEAUTIFUL CREATURES TRAVEL ENORMOUS DISTANCES FOR ONE REASON. ........(REASONS FOR TRAVELLING)

They depend on finding relatively well-preserved forests, where millions of the orange-and-black butterflies hang in clumps from the branches, and mate. The trees, and the clumping, help to protect the butterflies from cold rains and steep drops in temperature.

(5) ...... B, THE BIGGEST DANGER TO THE THEIR HABITAT COMES FROM ILLEGAL LOGGING. ..........(CONSERVATION ISSUES)

Conservationists have tried to convince the largely impoverished farm and mountain communities, which actually own most of the land, that the forest is worth more to them in terms of tourism when left standing, instead of being cut down.

(6) ...... D, THEY HAVE HAD LIMITED SUCCESS IN THIS ENDEAVOUR. .........(THE FUTURE)

The future looks bleak indeed for these intrepid and elegant travellers.


7 USE THE PRONOUNS TO CONFIRM THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE TEXT ABOVE AND BELOW THE SPACES AND THE SENTENCES.


TEXT

One of the most spectacular natural phenomena in the world is the annual migration across North America of the Monarch butterfly.

(1) ......E, IN THEORY, THESE SMALL INSECTS COVER A ROUND TRIP OF OVER 15,000 KM. ............

In practice, however, no individual butterfly completes the entire round trip. Female Monarchs lay eggs for the next generation during the northward migration, and at least five generations are involved in the annual cycle.
There are many different migration routes, both in the northern and southern hemispheres, but the eastern population starts its journey in Canada and finishes in Mexico.

(2) .....G, THIS IS WHERE SOME EXTREMELY SAD NEWS COMES FROM. .........

Storms earlier this year blew down more than a hundred acres of forests where migrating Monarch butterflies spend the winter in central Mexico. These storms also appear to have frozen or killed about 7m of the estimated 84m butterflies that wintered there.

(3) ....A, THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME SUCH A COMBINATION OF HIGH WINDS, RAIN AND FREEZING TEMPERATURES HAD OCCURRED IN THIS AREA. ..........

This highlights just how fragile these forests are, and how fragile the Monarchs are.

(4) ..... F, THESE BEAUTIFUL CREATURESTRAVEL ENORMOUS DISTANCES FOR ONE REASON. ...........

They depend on finding relatively well-preserved forests, where millions of the orange-and-black butterflies hang in clumps from the branches, and mate. The trees, and the clumping, help to protect the butterflies from cold rains and steep drops in temperature.

(5) ...... B, THE BIGGEST DANGER TO THE THEIR HABITAT COMES FROM ILLEGAL LOGGING. ........

Conservationists have tried to convince the largely impoverished farm and mountain communities, which actually own most of the land, that the forest is worth more to them in terms of tourism when left standing, instead of being cut down.

(6) ...... D, THEY HAVE HAD LIMITED SUCCESS IN THIS ENDEAVOUR. ..............

The future looks bleak indeed for these intrepid and elegant travellers.


Looking in a bit more detail at why each sentence fits in each space:


The first paragraph talks about the distances the butterflies cover, which matches the information in sentence E. There is another connection with the phrases in theory, in practice, and there is a third connection with the phrase these small insects, which matches the phrase Monarch butterfly.


One of the most spectacular natural phenomena in the world is the annual migration across North America of the Monarch butterfly.

(1) ......E, IN THEORY, THESE SMALL INSECTS COVER A ROUND TRIP OF OVER 15,000 KM. ......(DISTANCES TRAVELLED)..

In practice, however, no individual butterfly completes the entire round trip. Female Monarchs lay eggs for the next generation during the northward migration, and at least five generations are involved in the annual cycle.


The second paragraph talks the weather and storms and mentions that a forest was blown down, which connects with the key words sad news in sentence E. There is another connection with the words this is where and Mexico.


There are many different migration routes, both in the northern and southern hemispheres, but the eastern population starts its journey in Canada and finishes in Mexico.

(2) .....G, THIS IS WHERE SOME EXTREMELY SAD NEWS COMES FROM. .....(THE WEATHER).

Storms earlier this year blew down more than a hundred acres of forests where migrating Monarch butterflies spend the winter in central Mexico. These storms also appear to have frozen or killed about 7m of the estimated 84m butterflies that wintered there.


The third paragraph mentions frozen butterflies, and sentence A refers to freezing temperatures, so there is a connection there. There is another connection with the words this was the first time and the incident of frozen butterflies, and a third connection with the words fragile to describe the butterflies.


Storms earlier this year blew down more than a hundred acres of forests where migrating Monarch butterflies spend the winter in central Mexico. These storms also appear to have frozen or killed about 7m of the estimated 84m butterflies that wintered there.

(3) ....A, THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME SUCH A COMBINATION OF HIGH WINDS, RAIN AND FREEZING TEMPERATURES HAD OCCURRED IN THIS AREA. ......(EXTREMELY LOW TEMPERATURES)

This highlights just how fragile these forests are, and how fragile the Monarchs are.


The fourth paragraph looks at why these insects make this journey, and that connects with the words and mate. The pronoun they connects with the Monarchs and the words the butterflies.


This highlights just how fragile these forests are, and how fragile the Monarchs are.

(4) ..... F, THESE BEAUTIFUL CREATURES TRAVEL ENORMOUS DISTANCES FOR ONE REASON. ........(REASONS FOR TRAVELLING)

They depend on finding relatively well-preserved forests, where millions of the orange-and-black butterflies hang in clumps from the branches, and mate. The trees, and the clumping, help to protect the butterflies from cold rains and steep drops in temperature.


The fifth paragraph mentions conservation issues which connect with the words illegal logging in sentence B. There is another connection with the words their habitat.


They depend on finding relatively well-preserved forests, where millions of the orange-and-black butterflies hang in clumps from the branches, and mate. The trees, and the clumping, help to protect the butterflies from cold rains and steep drops in temperature.

(5) ...... B, THE BIGGEST DANGER TO THE THEIR HABITAT COMES FROM ILLEGAL LOGGING. ..........(CONSERVATION ISSUES)

Conservationists have tried to convince the largely impoverished farm and mountain communities, which actually own most of the land, that the forest is worth more to them in terms of tourism when left standing, instead of being cut down.


The final paragraph talks about the future, and mentions the conservationists trying to convince other people, which connects with the phrase they had limited success. There is another connection with the phrase the future looks bleak.


Conservationists have tried to convince the largely impoverished farm and mountain communities, which actually own most of the land, that the forest is worth more to them in terms of tourism when left standing, instead of being cut down.

(6) ...... D, THEY HAVE HAD LIMITED SUCCESS IN THIS ENDEAVOUR. .........(THE FUTURE)

The future looks bleak indeed for these intrepid and elegant travellers.


This shows how the coherence of a text can be used to identify which elements go where within that text.


The correct answers then are:

1 E)

2 G)

3 A)

4 F)

5 B)

6 D)


The finished document would look like this, which makes it easier to check:


TEXT:

One of the most spectacular natural phenomena in the world is the annual migration across North America of the Monarch butterfly.

(1) ....E.....

In practice, however, no individual butterfly completes the entire round trip. Female Monarchs lay eggs for the next generation during the northward migration, and at least five generations are involved in the annual cycle.
There are many different migration routes, both in the northern and southern hemispheres, but the eastern population starts its journey in Canada and finishes in Mexico.

(2) .....G......

Storms earlier this year blew down more than a hundred acres of forests where migrating Monarch butterflies spend the winter in central Mexico. These storms also appear to have frozen or killed about 7m of the estimated 84m butterflies that wintered there.

(3) ......A......

This highlights just how fragile these forests are, and how fragile the Monarchs are.

(4) ......F......

They depend on finding relatively well-preserved forests, where millions of the orange-and-black butterflies hang in clumps from the branches, and mate. The trees, and the clumping, help to protect the butterflies from cold rains and steep drops in temperature.

(5) .......B......

Conservationists have tried to convince the largely impoverished farm and mountain communities, which actually own most of the land, that the forest is worth more to them in terms of tourism when left standing, instead of being cut down.

(6) ........D.......

The future looks bleak indeed for these intrepid and elegant travellers.


SENTENCES:

A, THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME SUCH A COMBINATION OF HIGH WINDS, RAIN AND FREEZING TEMPERATURES HAD OCCURRED IN THIS AREA.

B, THE BIGGEST DANGER TO THE THEIR HABITAT COMES FROM ILLEGAL LOGGING.

C, MANY OF THE BUTTERFLIES ARE EATEN BY BIRDS.

D, THEY HAVE HAD LIMITED SUCCESS IN THIS ENDEAVOUR.

E, IN THEORY, THESE SMALL INSECTS COVER A ROUND TRIP OF OVER 15,000 KM.

F, THESE BEAUTIFUL CREATURES TRAVEL ENORMOUS DISTANCES FOR ONE REASON.

G, THIS IS WHERE SOME EXTREMELY SAD NEWS COMES FROM.