І. Defining and Non-defining Relative Clauses

1. Read through the passage and underline the relative clauses. How many can you find? What kind of word introduces a relative clause?

When your thinking is at its best.

On average, we tend to do best on cognitive tasks-things which require great mental effort-during morning hours, particularly late morning. You’d do well to schedule work that requires complex thinking or organisational skills at that time. Because cognitive skills are high late in the morning, this is also a good time to schedule meetings in which important ideas are discussed.

If you are a morning person, you also should be aware that during late afternoon and early evening your reasoning skills will experience a considerable sag. This is definitely not a good time for you to take on tasks that require considerable complex thinking.

When you are best at simple repetitive tasks.

If all or part of your job requires simple, repetitive tasks, you’ll find that you probably do your best work in mid-afternoon. These are the tasks that are not too complex or don’t require you to draw too much on your memory-such as filing, sorting or photocopying. The tasks must be simple and straightforward to fall into this category.

2. Answer the following questions.

1. Look at these two sentences. Which is the defining and which the non-defining clause? What is the difference in meaning?

Language learners who have the ability to select goals and sub-goals can recognise the stages and sequences of their learning.

Language learners, who have the ability to select goals and sub-goals, can recognise the stages and sequences of their learning

2. In which of these sentences could the relative pronoun be omitted? Why is this possible?

Setting yourself to listen can be practised by creating your own individual listening exercises, which other learners find effective for self-education.

Setting yourself to listen can be practised by creating your own individual listening exercises, which are effective for self-education.

3. In which sentence could you not use that?

Multiple intelligences theory... is framed in light of the biological origins is worth considering by developmental psychologists.

Multiple intelligences theory... is framed in light of the biological origins, is worth considering by developmental psychologists.

4. Why can we not use that in these relative clauses?

Your manual dexterity—the speed and coordination with ... you perform complicated tasks with your hands—is best in the afternoon.

Good language learners are able to analyse the language and develop techniques of practice and memorization, both of... contribute to fluency and accuracy of the speech.

5. What does the relative pronoun refer to in this sentence and what does it mean?

Teachers can diminish the fear of failure by offering activities which are achievable, paying special attention to the level of challenge presented by exercises.

6. What does the relative pronoun refer to in this sentence?

Trying to change the subject of the talk prematurely can get a partner irritated which is understandable.

3. Use a relative clause to join each pair of sentences to form one new sentence. Start your new sentence with the phrase given.

1. The notion of intelligence has a profound effect on one's social status, education opportunities, and career choices. This aspect is frequently misunderstood by the general public.

The notion of intelligence _____________________ .

2. Multiple intelligences theory aroused much interest among educators. It was developed as an account of human cognition.

Multiple intelligences theory ____________________ .

3. It was surprising to learn that Gardner's "Frames of Mind" did not arouse much interest within the discipline of developmental psychology.

Gardner's "Frames of Mind" _______________________.

4. Traditional aptitude tests have been much criticized recently. In the 1950s and 1960s they were believed to predict a student's future progress.

Traditional aptitude tests _______________________.

5. The cognitive tasks are advised to be performed in the morning, if you are a morning type. They require considerable complex thinking.

The cognitive tasks ____________________________.

6. In mid-afternoon you'd probably better do simple, repetitive task -such as filing, sorting or photocopying. They are not complex or don't require you to draw too much on your memory.

In mid-afternoon you'd ____________________.

7. Not surprisingly, we are least alert during the early morning hours, because specifically at 3am-6am our ability to think clearly and react quickly is lowest.

We are least alert ________________________.

4. Could you omit the relative pronoun in any of the sentences you have rewritten?

5. Sentences using defining relative clauses can often be expressed more concisely using clauses with only the -ed or -ing form of the verb. Rewrite the following sentences to make them shorter. The first one is done for you as an example.

Example:

Psychologists consider that learners should develop their cognitive skills which contribute to better learning.

Psychologists consider that learners should develop their cognitive skills contributing to better learning.

1. On average we tend to do best on cognitive tasks- things which require great mental effort during morning hours.

2. I prefer to be spontaneous and open-minded, I don't want pre-formed conclusions which fill my mind.

3. Multiple intelligences theory that is framed in light of the biological origins includes the list of eight intelligences.

4. Teachers who mobilize the full range of human intelligences are more successful in the tailoring the lesson.

6. Clauses with the -ed and -ing forms of the verb can also be used to express non-defining information. Rewrite the following using relative clauses.

Example:

Framed in light of the biological origin, MI theory includes the list of eight intelligences.

MI theory, which is framed in light of the biological origin, includes the list of eight intelligences.

1. Written in 1993, Gardner's work "Frames of Mind" contributed to understanding of cognitive skills.

2. Working discriminately on the things that counted: assignments and exams, Mark McArdle succeeded and held the first-class degree.

3. Encouraged by his family, Mark graduated from university with a First.

4. Requiring considerably complex thinking, the cognitive tasks are advised to be performed in the morning.