English Skills with Readings 9th Edition by John Langan, Zoe Albright

Exercise 14

Identifying Transitions and Other Connecting Words

This activity will give you practice in identifying transitions and other connecting words that are used to help tie ideas together.

Section A—Transitions

Locate the transitional word in each sentence and write it in the space provided.

1.      I decided to pick up a drop-add form from the registrar’s office. However, I changed my mind when I saw the long line of students waiting there.

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2.      In England, drivers use the left-hand side of the road. Consequently, in a car the steering wheel is on the right side.

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3.      Crawling babies will often investigate new objects by putting them in their mouths. Therefore, parents should be alert for any pins, tacks, or other dangerous items on floors and carpets.

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4.      One technique that advertisers use is to have a celebrity endorse a product. The consumer then associates that product with the star qualities of the celebrity.

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Section B—Repeated Words

In the space provided, write the repeated words.

5.      We absorb radiation from many sources in our environment. Our cell phones and microwave ovens, among other things, give off low-level radiation.

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6.      Many researchers believe that people have weight set-points their bodies try to maintain. This may explain why many dieters return to their original weight.

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7.      At the end of the concert, thousands of fans held up lighters in the darkened stadium. The sea of lighters signaled that the fans wanted an encore.

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8.      Establishing credit is important for everyone. A good credit history is often necessary when applying for a loan or credit card.

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Section C—Synonyms

In the space provided, write the synonym for the underlined word.

9. I checked my car’s tires, oil, water, and belts before the trip. But the ungrateful machine sputtered and died about fifty miles from home.

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10. Women’s clothes, in general, use less material than men’s clothes. Yet women’s garments usually cost more than men’s.

11. The temperance movement in this country sought to ban alcohol. Drinking liquor, movement leaders said, led to violence, poverty, prostitution, and insanity.

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12. For me, apathy quickly sets in when the weather becomes hot and sticky. This listlessness disappears when the humidity decreases.

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Section D—Pronouns

In the space provided, write the word referred to by the underlined pronoun.

13. At the beginning of the twentieth century, bananas were still an oddity in the United States. Some people even attempted to eat them with the skin on.

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14. Canning vegetables is easy and economical. It can also be very dangerous.

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15. There are a number of signs that appear when students are under stress. For example, they start to have trouble studying, eating, and even sleeping.

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Step 1 of 15

on Identifying Transitions and Other Connecting Words (102–104)

1.?However