2. Setting up expectations about thematic formation of the text

Reading tasks:

1. Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage?

True if the statement agrees with the information in the passage;

False if the statement contradicts the information;

Not given if there is no information on this.

a) Stress was originally an important way of keeping humans safe……..

b) If stress continues for a long time, all of the body organs are affected…….

c) The study into the psychological effects of stress involved people with a history of depression…….

d) The association between stress and eating is weaker.

2. Reassemble sequences of lines to provide cohesion and coherence of the text in the form of a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h:

…………… Work situations where men lack control, as well as marital problems encountered by women pose a high risk for health.

…………….Adaptation for meeting natural threats dates back to prehistoric times.

Elevated levels of stress chemicals are related both to obesity and weight loss.

Under the influence of stress, people with biological predisposition may suffer from different pains.

Increase of stress hormones leads to low quality of sleep.

Experience in stressful situations reduces feelings of satisfaction and pleasure.

The stress response can be an asset for raising levels of performance.

There is no clear cut relationship between stress and heart disease.

3. Scan the text for keywords and phrases essential to your understanding of the theme?

4. The author recognizes the fact that

a) stress can be harmful in certain situations;

b) response to stress is similar in different genders;

c) the effects of stress are controversial.

5. Which of the sentences best summarizes what the text is about?

a) Causes. diagnosis and prevention of stress are claimed to be an essential part of human’s knowledge.

b) Stress can have varying effects on body and mind.

c) Quality of life fully depends on stress response unequally realized bt men and women.

Key phrases to talk about thematic formation:

The text aims at a psychological influence on the reader to convince him of the reality and authenticity of the described topic\subject;

This is achieved by means of …;

… by the use of coherent logical structures\by reference to events, personalities

The article deals with\focuses on…;

This is disclosed by…;

The extract is aimed at acquainting the reader with some disputable problems of social\political\economic aspects of life;

The article on the subject of …;

This piece of information clearly concerns…;

It is a lively account of the circumstances and the factors which led to the development of …;

The information is helpful to illustrate the point that…

The text shares a theme common…;

The author emphasizes the importance of …;

The main concern in the text is …;

The extract makes sense to think…;

… reflects modern society\reaffirms the role of\proves that…;

… makes judgements about;

… to identify topic links and associated words and phrases;

… the way the writer develops his ideas;

… to figure out what sort of topic he might cover;

The information contained in the text enables to work out the thematic items…;

The author is concerned about moral issues…;

The writer is basically describing…;

This is an evident answer to the problem of…;

…makes explicit statements about…;

The article covers\focuses on\tackles the problem of…

The main point that interests the writer is…;

The reader is made fully aware of the theme;

The author brings together…;

What really matters is…;

… forms the setting and the main theme of…;

In the present case the subject-matter is unmistakably discerned in …;

The theme allows of broad generalizations concerning…;

This means saying much more\less than there is to say on the given subject;

It is made quite clear that …;

The effect is further enhanced…;

The excerpt is of interest because…;

By way of commenting on the subject it might be of interest to point out that….

3. Making guesses about the author’s tone and intention

Reading tasks:

1. The writer implies that

a) stress cannot influence people’s performance;

b) stress diminishes quality of life;

c) there is no association between stress and heart problems;

d) job dissatisfaction and depression are linked to mental disorder.

2.Which phrases from the text help you understand the author’s intention:

a) becomes persistent;

b) the onset of depression and anxiety;

c) relationships are threatened;

d) sympathetic nervous system;

e) complain of chest pain;

f) are exposed to stress.

3. How does the writer feels about

a) eating problems;

b) psychological effects;

c) the effects on heart disease;

d) stress as a risk factor

A - controversial

B - worried

C - convinced

D - doubtful

Key phrases to make guesses about the author’s tone and intention:

The author sounds well-intentioned\eccentric\rather hypocritical\condecsending\dismissive\critical\disapproving\embarressed\suggestible\insensitive\concerned\convincing\doubtful\false\logical\enthusiastic\unconvincing\patronizing\lighthearted\detached\moody\unpredictable\aloof\hostile…;

The author’s attitude is not that of admiring\sympathetic\... but that of…;

This impression is achieved by…;

It is really important to understand the writer’s tone if you are to understand the subtleties of meaning;

…to recognize the author’s style, tone, reason for writing;

… makes us think about the implications of the information with the author’s tone and purpose considered;

When describing…the tone of the writer is basically…;

… are rendered with a quiet restrained manner\

The objectivity of this information is inseparable from…;

... to recognize the writer’s tone;

His own attitude towards the subject-matter of his description is most clearly expressed in…;

… to read between lines;

… the effect the author wants to have on the reader;

… to bring home to the reader;

…by using the clues;

The information contained in the text helps to work out the author’s intent…;

The writer appeals un\fairly to…;

His assertions about …are quite founded;

His allegations about …are completely unfounded;

The writer does not want to be taken literally;

He deliberately attends to… in order to put a point across more clearly;

…to draw the picture in the reader’s mind to make a description more vivid;

The writer is implying that…;

It makes an essential contribution to …;

He has a more practical outlook on…;

The author finds the attitude towards …irritating\distracted\challenging\impartial;

Sometimes the tone is implied rather than stated explicitly;

The reader needs to look beyond the words and use his intelligence to infer the author’s intention;

There is quite a lot of evidence in the text to support the view that..;

The writer intends this to be…;

…expects the reader to try to understand the details…;

…makes it easy for the reader to guess…;

… has difficulty making himself understood;

When it comes to the question of the writer’s tone,…;

General ideas are inferred, if a question is focused on the author’s tone;

The writer’s main feeling about…;

…uses exaggeration\humour\irony\ to emphasize his point.

4. Deducing meanings and ideas

Reading tasks:

1. Look out for the gist. Which of the statements best fits your guesses?

a) Some stress may be beneficial despite its obvious harmful effect.

b) Inability to deal with stress is associated with the onset of depression and other psychological disorders, irrespective of genders;

c) Awareness of stress threatening well-being and accomplishment leads to low stress response;

d) Different stress factors may affect genders differently.

2. Pick up the appropriate heading from the following:

a) Tensions of unresolved stress.

b) Prevention of stress.

c) Stress: a curse? a threat? a benefit?

d) Psychological effects of stress.

3. Classify the following as referring to:

Women A

Men B

Both C

a) a higher risk for suicide;

b) no risk for heart disease;

c) weaker association between stress and heart disease;

d) be more heart-protective;

e) eat more healthily;

f) marital stress;

g) work stress.

4. Which expressions are essential to your understanding of the main idea of the text?

a) all parts of the body’s stress apparatus;

b) inability to deal with stress;

c )tensions of unresolved stress;

d) muscle contractions;

e) stress management techniques;

f) thyroid gland;

g) clearly link job satisfaction and depression to stress;

h) critical for feelings of well-being;

i) reduce feelings of pleasure and accomplishment.

Key phrases to talk about main ideas and issues:

The author confines himself to …;

He endows the reader with the ideas that…;

… to understand the real meaning of the text;

… to read between the lines;

The excerpt presents the view on…;

… to read for the gist;

The gist of the text can be worked out…;

The passage is crucial for comprehension of…;

By using the clues…;

The reader’s brain and imagination is provoked to get to work to help him find the main meaning…;

The information contained in the text helps to work out the meaning …;

…is concerned with moral issues;

The author puts a point across clearly…;

The main ideas are inferred…;

It makes sense to think that…;

When skimming the extract for general ideas,…;

The text contains the specific information we need …;

… to consider the way the writer develops his ideas;

This information is helpful to illustrate the point which…;

If you are to understand the subtleties of the gist, keep in mind …;

Enough details are included to emphasize the author’s views…;

The passage offers a wonderful example of the way in which the author renders…;

Arguments about …and their interrelation are embodied in a series of extracts…;

Ideas are reproduced with great precision testifying to …;

Due to the great attachment of…;

This effect is achieved in a very peculiar way by pointing out that…;

The adequate understanding of the content is heightened by…;

The gist is based on a broad generalization of the issues related to..;

It seems to be a battlefield of conflicting ideas…;

From the information there is a clearly perceptible approach…;

These ideas associated with … perfectly suggest for the reader that…;

It looks as if it were the exposure of\revelation of…;

The would-be solution to the problem is seen as the only way to true morality and…;

Based on perfect knowledge of all aspects of life, …;

The excerpt brings forth the main points of the issues…;

New values are brought home to us in…;

We are made sensitive to…;

The main interest of the extract lies in …;

It affords an example…;

… brings to light…;

The passage is also significant as it sets forth the conception of …;

… ideas illustrative of the gravest issues of the time;

… sums up two widely different viewpoints;

… throws light upon the most vital problems of …;

…the given information produces a definite effect of making the issues more vivid to the eye;

The author’s standpoint sounds to be more convincing;

The development of understanding is further on enhanced by…;

It makes the reader feel how …;

Guesses are supported by reference to…;

Within the first lines…;

The reader gets a vivid notion of…;

The effect of adequate understanding of problems is achieved by means of facts …;

… are to be traced in the author’s outlook;

Problems embedded in the text…;

…is concerned with moral issues;

It provides the opportunity for new insights into …;

We are encouraged to make certain judgements…;

What comes as the matter of the biggest concern is that…;

The issues put forward by the author cover the areas …;

Judging from … it would seem that …;

Problem-solving activities are supposed to organize the arguments for and against…;

This excerpt allows scope for personal involvement and the opportunity to express the personal response to …