Intermediate discourse markers. 45 questions on subtle connector distinctions, sequence and exemplification markers, and cohesion across paragraphs.
What this test covers
- Sequence and Exemplification Markers
- Subtle Contrast and Concession Distinctions
- Cohesion Devices Across Paragraphs
Answer the 45 questions below. Each answer is checked straight away, with an explanation. Press Submit at the end to get your score and save it to your dashboard. Answers are not kept if you leave before submitting.
All 45 questions with answers
Pick an answer for each question to see if you are right, with the explanation. Submit when you are done; you can submit before answering them all.
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Q1The project requires careful planning. ___, we must identify the primary objectives before allocating any budget.
Answer: D. Firstly
Use the sequence marker 'Firstly' to introduce the very first point or step in a list of requirements. The phrase 'primary objectives' acts as a context clue, signaling that this is the initial stage of the process.
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Q2The committee reviewed the initial proposals. ___, they requested further documentation from the applicants.
Answer: B. Subsequently
'Subsequently' is a formal adverb meaning 'afterwards' or 'later.' It is the correct choice here because it links two chronological events: first the review, and then the request for more documents. 'First and foremost' is used for importance, not chronological order.
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Q3We need to discuss the marketing strategy, the budget, and our staffing requirements. ___, we must consider the timeline.
Answer: A. Last but not least
'Last but not least' is a cohesive device used to introduce the final item in a list while emphasizing that it is just as important as the previous items. Since 'timeline' follows a list of three other major topics, this marker fits perfectly. 'Nevertheless' is a concession marker used to show contrast or overcome an obstacle, which does not fit a simple list continuation. 'Firstly' and 'To start with' are opening markers that signal the beginning of a list, directly contradicting the position of the timeline as the last item.
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Q4Many industries have been affected by the new regulations. ___, the construction sector has seen a sharp decline in activity.
Answer: B. In particular
'In particular' is used to single out one specific example from a larger group ('many industries') to show it is especially relevant. 'Nevertheless' is a concessive marker implying contrast, but the construction sector's decline is consistent with the general trend — not a contrast. 'Namely' introduces a complete, exhaustive list of all members, whereas here only one sector is mentioned. 'That is' is used to rephrase or clarify, not to single out an example.
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Q5Identify the error in: 'Such as the UK and Germany, these countries have adopted strict environmental policies.'
Answer: B. For example, the UK and Germany have adopted strict environmental policies.
'Such as' introduces examples embedded within a sentence after a noun; it cannot start a main clause. 'For example, the UK and Germany ...' is the correct fix: it replaces 'Such as' with 'For example' and restructures the sentence so that the UK and Germany become the explicit grammatical subjects. 'Like the UK and Germany, these countries have adopted strict environmental policies.' and 'Including the UK and Germany, these countries have adopted strict environmental policies.' use 'Like' and 'Including' respectively — both change the intended meaning by implying 'these countries' refers to a group that is similar to, or inclusive of, the UK and Germany rather than being the UK and Germany themselves. 'Such as the UK and Germany, these countries have adopted strict environmental policies.' repeats the original error.
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Q6The software update includes several new features. ___, the enhanced security protocols will protect user data.
Answer: D. In particular
'In particular' is used here to focus on one specific feature among the 'several new features' mentioned. It adds emphasis to the 'enhanced security protocols.' 'Consequently' signals a cause-and-effect relationship, but the security protocols are a feature of the update, not a result of it. 'Namely' is used to list all the items previously mentioned, not just one. 'That is to say' is used for clarification or rephrasing, not for singling out an example.
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Q7We are looking at three main candidates. ___, Sarah, James, and Elena have been shortlisted for the role.
Answer: C. Namely
'Namely' is a marker used to provide specific names or details for a group mentioned previously. Because the first sentence mentions 'three main candidates' and the second sentence lists exactly three names, 'Namely' is the correct choice to identify them.
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Q8The company is planning to pivot its business model. ___, it intends to move away from retail and focus on wholesale.
Answer: C. That is
'That is' (often abbreviated as i.e.) is used to clarify or explain the preceding statement in different words. Moving from retail to wholesale explains exactly what 'pivoting the business model' means in this specific context.
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Q9We must address the safety concerns immediately. ___, we need to evacuate the building to ensure everyone's well-being.
Answer: C. First and foremost
'First and foremost' is an idiomatic expression used to emphasize the most important or urgent action in a series. Since the context mentions addressing concerns 'immediately' for 'well-being,' it signals that this is the top priority.
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Q10Please fill out the application form. ___, you will need to submit it to the HR department for processing.
Answer: B. Next
'Next' is a sequence marker used to describe the following step in a process. Filling out the form is the first step, and submitting it to HR is the logical subsequent action.
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Q11Many students struggle with academic writing, ___ those who are studying in a second language.
Answer: D. such as
'Such as' is a prepositional phrase used to introduce specific examples of a noun (in this case, 'students'). It functions within the clause to narrow down the group being discussed.
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Q12Which sentence uses sequence markers correctly in a formal report?
Answer: A. Firstly, the data was collected. Following this, the analysis began.
This option correctly uses 'Firstly' and 'Following this' as sentence-starters with proper punctuation (commas after the markers). The other options are either run-on sentences, missing necessary commas, or contain punctuation errors (comma splices).
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Q13Which sentence uses exemplification correctly?
Answer: B. The company faces many issues, namely, low morale and high turnover.
'Namely' is correctly used here to specifically identify the 'many issues' mentioned. It introduces a list that defines the general term used earlier. 'Such as the employees, they were...' is incorrect because 'Such as' cannot start a sentence like a standalone adverb.
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Q14The instructions were finally confusing. First, we opened the box. Then, we checked the contents.
Answer: A. initially
'Initially' means 'at the beginning.' The context provides a sequence: 'First, we opened... Then, we checked...' Therefore, the confusion must have occurred at the start of the process, making 'initially' the logical choice.
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Q15The report highlights several key issues, namely the lack of funding, the poor infrastructure, and the staff shortages.
Answer: A. namely
'Namely' is the most precise choice here because it introduces an exhaustive list of the 'several key issues' just mentioned. It defines the specific issues that make up the group.
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Q16The weather was terrible. ___, the outdoor event proceeded as planned.
Answer: C. Nevertheless
'Nevertheless' is a transition word (like 'however' or 'therefore') used to show contrast or concession. It indicates that despite the bad weather (the obstacle), the event still happened. 'Furthermore' would incorrectly suggest the second sentence adds more of the same type of information.
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Q17The team worked through the night to finish the report. ___, it remained incomplete by the deadline.
Answer: C. However
'However' is used to introduce a statement that contrasts with the previous one. Working all night (effort) contrasts with the report being incomplete (result). 'Consequently' would imply the report was incomplete because they worked all night, which is illogical.
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Q18I was reading a book ___, my brother was watching television in the other room.
Answer: B. while
'While' is a subordinating conjunction used to describe two actions happening at the same time. Here, reading and watching television are simultaneous events.
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Q19The northern region is known for its mountains, ___ the southern region is famous for its beaches.
Answer: C. whereas
'Whereas' is a subordinating conjunction used to highlight a direct, balanced contrast between two parallel facts (mountains vs. beaches), making it the standard formal choice for this pattern within a single sentence. 'Additionally' is an additive marker meaning 'also', which does not express contrast at all. 'Yet' is a connecting word (like 'and', 'but', or 'so') that can join two clauses, but it signals an unexpected or surprising contrast (e.g., 'He trained for years, yet he lost'), which does not match this simple, balanced comparison of two regions. 'However' is a transition word (like 'however' or 'therefore') that normally starts a new sentence or follows a semicolon (e.g., '...mountains; however, the southern...'); placing it directly after a comma like this would create a comma splice rather than a standard formal link.
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Q20The plan seemed perfect on paper; ___, it failed completely in execution.
Answer: D. however
When connecting two independent clauses with a semicolon, we use a transition word (like 'however' or 'therefore') like 'however' to show contrast. 'Whereas' and 'while' are subordinating conjunctions and would not typically follow a semicolon in this structure.
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Q21The results were disappointing. ___, we have learned a great deal from the experience.
Answer: D. All the same
'All the same' is a discourse marker used for concession, meaning 'despite what has just been said.' It acknowledges the disappointment but focuses on the positive outcome of learning.
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Q22The flight was delayed due to technical issues. ___, the airline provided full compensation to all passengers.
Answer: A. As a result
'As a result' signals a cause-and-effect relationship: the compensation was provided because of the delay. 'Even so' expresses concession ('despite this'), implying the compensation happened regardless of the delay rather than because of it — which is logically wrong here. 'Although' is a subordinating conjunction and cannot function as a standalone sentence-opener between two independent sentences. 'Notwithstanding' is a preposition, not a standalone connector.
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Q23The manager wants to hire more staff while the owner wants to reduce costs.
Answer: A. whereas
'Whereas' is the ideal subordinating conjunction for showing a clear, parallel contrast between two people's desires or two different situations within the same sentence.
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Q24The candidate has excellent qualifications. although, she lacks the necessary practical experience for this role.
Answer: A. Nevertheless
'Nevertheless' is a transition word (like 'however' or 'therefore') that can start a new sentence to show contrast with the previous one. 'Although' and 'While' are subordinating conjunctions and must link a dependent clause to a main clause in the same sentence.
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Q25The experiment yielded inconclusive results. ___, the researchers decided to repeat the entire process.
Answer: B. Consequently
'Consequently' signals that repeating the experiment is the direct logical consequence of the inconclusive results. Because the results were inconclusive, the researchers needed to repeat the process — this is cause-and-effect, not concession. 'While' and 'Whereas' are subordinating conjunctions that must join two clauses within a single sentence, so they cannot stand alone with a comma to link two separate sentences like this. 'Yet' signals an unexpected contrast, which would wrongly suggest the researchers repeated the experiment despite the inconclusive results, rather than because of them.
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Q26The city center is crowded during the day. ___, it becomes very quiet at night.
Answer: C. However
'However' is used to introduce a contrasting state or situation. The contrast here is between the 'crowded' daytime and the 'quiet' nighttime.
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Q27Which sentence correctly uses a concession marker?
Answer: D. The car is old; however, it runs well.
This sentence correctly uses 'however' as a transition word (like 'however' or 'therefore'). It is preceded by a semicolon and followed by a comma, which is the standard formal punctuation for joining two independent clauses that contrast.
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Q28Which sentence correctly uses 'whereas'?
Answer: B. I like coffee, whereas he prefers tea.
'Whereas' is a subordinating conjunction used to contrast two ideas. It is typically preceded by a comma when it introduces a contrasting clause at the end of a sentence.
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Q29___ the product was expensive, I bought it anyway.
Answer: C. although
'Although' is a subordinating conjunction that introduces a concessive clause (a clause that shows contrast). It is followed by a subject ('the product') and a verb ('was'). 'Notwithstanding' is usually a preposition, and 'however' is an adverb.
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Q30While the heavy rain, the football match continued.
Answer: B. Notwithstanding
'Notwithstanding' is a formal preposition meaning 'despite.' Because the phrase 'the heavy rain' is a noun phrase (no verb), we need a preposition. 'While' is incorrect because it requires a subject and a verb (e.g., 'While it was raining').
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Q31The government announced new tax measures. ___ changes will affect millions of citizens.
Answer: B. These
The plural demonstrative adjective 'These' is required here because it modifies the plural noun 'changes' and refers back to the 'tax measures' mentioned in the previous sentence.
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Q32The company CEO resigned unexpectedly. ___ caused panic among the shareholders.
Answer: D. This
The demonstrative pronoun 'This' is often used to refer back to a whole situation or an entire preceding sentence. Here, 'This' refers to the fact that the CEO resigned.
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Q33The unemployment rate rose sharply. ___ alarmed economists, who were not expecting such a rapid shift.
Answer: C. This increase
Since the first sentence uses the singular verb phrase 'rose sharply,' the noun form 'This increase' (singular) provides clear lexical cohesion by summarizing the action described previously.
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Q34The research was inconclusive. ___, we decided to conduct a second study.
Answer: B. Consequently
'Consequently' shows a cause-and-effect relationship. Because the results were not clear (cause), the team decided to do more research (effect). 'On the contrary' would suggest that the second sentence is a correction of the first, which is not the case here.
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Q35The committee reviewed the evidence. ___, they reached a conclusion.
Answer: D. Subsequently
'Subsequently' is a formal way of saying 'afterwards.' It shows that the conclusion was reached as a logical step after the review of the evidence was completed. 'Previously' indicates something that happened before, not after, which reverses the correct logical order here.
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Q36The parties negotiated for weeks. ___, they reached an agreement.
Answer: B. Eventually
'Eventually' is used to describe something that happens after a long time or after a lot of effort. The phrase 'negotiated for weeks' suggests a long process, making 'Eventually' the most suitable marker.
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Q37The new regulations are complex. ___, they pose a challenge for small businesses.
Answer: C. As a result
'As a result' is a transition that introduces a consequence. The complexity of the regulations is the cause, and the challenge for businesses is the direct result.
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Q38The residents were unhappy with the noise. ___, they raised their concerns at the meeting.
Answer: C. Therefore
'Therefore' is a logical connector used to show that the second statement follows naturally from the first. Unhappiness (cause) led to raising concerns (effect).
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Q39The consultant analyzed the data. ___, she made a recommendation.
Answer: A. Following this
'Following this' is a cohesive phrase used to indicate the next step in a sequence. It links the analysis and the recommendation in a chronological order. 'Previously' describes something that happened before, not after, the preceding action.
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Q40Inflation is rising. ___, the government must take measures to curb it.
Answer: C. Consequently
'Consequently' shows that the government's action is a direct result of the rising inflation. 'On the contrary' would be used to disagree with the previous sentence, which doesn't fit the logic of policy-making.
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Q41The new prototype is quite different. ___, it bears no resemblance to the original.
Answer: C. In fact
'In fact' is an intensifying marker. It is used to add more detail or emphasize that the second statement is an even stronger version of the first statement.
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Q42The report was finished. This reports were submitted to the board.
Answer: B. These
'These' is the correct plural demonstrative adjective to modify the plural noun 'reports.' 'This' is singular and grammatically incompatible with the plural noun 'reports.' 'Those' implies greater physical or temporal distance than is intended here. 'They' is a pronoun and cannot directly modify a noun.
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Q43The weather was bad. The improvement ruined our holiday.
Answer: D. deterioration
Lexical cohesion requires a word that fits the context. Since the weather was 'bad' and 'ruined' the holiday, 'deterioration' (the process of getting worse) is the only logical choice. 'Improvement' would be the opposite of what is needed.
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Q44Which sentence is cohesive?
Answer: B. The team won. This victory surprised everyone.
Using a demonstrative like 'This' followed by a summary noun like 'victory' is a highly effective way to create cohesion. It clearly links the second sentence to the event described in the first.
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Q45Which sentence uses a cohesive device correctly?
Answer: A. The project was delayed. Consequently, we missed the deadline.
'Consequently' is used correctly here to show that missing the deadline was the result of the delay. It is used at the start of a new sentence followed by a comma, which is grammatically accurate.
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