The bolded text in the sentence below could be described as which of the following cohesive devices?

Most words are fixated on, but content words much more often than function words.

Question

The bolded text in the sentence below could be described as which of the following cohesive devices?

Most words are fixated on, but content words much more often than function words.

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Question restatement: The bolded text in the sentence below could be described as which cohesive device?

Most words are fixated on, but content words much more often than function words.

Answer options: ellipsis, conjunction, substitute, reference word

Option 1: ellipsis. In cohesive analysis, ellipsis refers to the omission of a word or words that are recoverable from context, used to avoid repetition and create a smoother flow. If the bolded portion stands for a missing or implied element that the reader fills in from prior context, labeling it as ellipsis fits the idea of a gap that is supplied by the listener or reader. Here, if the bolded segment is the omitted content that the rest of the sentence presupposes, calling it ellipsis aligns with the concept of leaving out material that can be inferred.

Option 2: conjunction. Conjunctions are connectors like and, but, or that link clauses or phrases. The sentence provided uses "+but" to contrast two groups, which is more about the relationship between ideas than about using a word to connect elements. Therefore, this choice would mischaracterize the primary cohesive function of potential bolded text if it is not functioning as a linkator between clauses.

Option 3: substitute. A substitute is a word or phrase that stands in for another item (e.g., pronouns taking the place of nouns). If the bolded text were a stand-in replacing a noun or phrase, substitute could apply. However, in this sentence structure, the emphasis seems to be on omission or omission-recovery rather than a stand-in role for a noun or phrase, so substitute is unlikely.

Option 4: reference word. A reference word (such as this, that, such) points back to or forward to the item in discourse. If the bolded text were functioning as a demonstrative or referential pointer, reference would be plausible. Yet the context here does not indicate a clear pointing function to an antecedent or subsequent item, making this option less suitable.

Tip about reasoning flow: A strong approach is to map the device to the operative function in the sentence. If the bolded element signals something omitted but recoverable, ellipsis is the best fit. The other options describe different cohesive roles—conjunction for linking, substitute for replacement, and reference for pointing—that do not match the implied omission or elision suggested by the prompt.

Summary view: The most appropriate description among the provided choices is ellipsis because it captures the idea of an omitted, recoverable element that contributes to cohesion, whereas the other devices correspond to different cohesive functions that are not clearly at play in the given sentence.

LTL383H5 S LEC0101 Weekly Reading Quiz 3: Nation (2009) Chapter 3 and Hu & Nassaji (2014)

The bolded text in the sentence below could be described as which of the following cohesive devices? Most words are fixated on, but content words much more often than function words.

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

Similar Questions

In the sentence below, which word represents explicit cohesion? “Because residents in these areas often rely on fast food and processed meals, they typically consume more calories and fewer nutrients.”

Which sentence relies most on explicit cohesion?

Which of the bolded words in the following sentence helps establish cohesion in the text? A speaker in a recent webinar suggested that living true to oneself is like giving birth to yourself on your own terms. And that is something I will always remember.

In a consumer society, many adults channel creativity into buying things

Economic stress and unpredictable times have resulted in a booming industry for self-help products

People born without creativity never can develop it

A product has a selling price of $20, a contribution margin ratio of 40% and fixed cost of $120,000. To make a profit of $30,000. The number of units that must be sold is: Type the number without $ and a comma. Eg: 20000

Which of the following statement regarding cost is correct:

More Practical Tools for Students Powered by AI Study Helper

Homework AI Solver

Stylized AI Paper Writer

Plagiarism Checker Assistant

Citation AI Academic Writing Tool

In-Class Translation Assistant

AI Note Generator

AI Quiz Answers

Past Exam Questions from University Test Bank

Smart Practice Assistant

Adaptive Practice

Making Your Study Simpler