language bank

Question 1

Giving opinions using impersonal language
It is vital that more is done to prevent the illegal trade in wild animals.
(Compare: We have to do more to stop people trading wild animals illegally.)
It is clear that more needs to be done to protect biodiversity.
(Compare: We clearly need to do more to protect biodiversity.)
It is unfortunate that the practice of keeping monkeys as pets still continues.
(Compare: It’s absolutely terrible that people still keep monkeys as pets.)
It is difficult for many people to understand the reasons why certain individuals choose to hunt animals for sport.
(Compare: I can’t understand why anyone would want to kill animals for fun.)
Unfortunately, it would seem that not enough is being done to support tiger conservation.
(Compare: Governments aren’t doing enough to help tiger conservation.)
There is no doubt that the greatest threat to polar bears comes from global warming.
(Compare: I believe that the greatest threat…)

Question 2

emphasis

Highlighting an important point
This case emphasizes/highlights the importance of honest communication between managers and employees.
Effective communication skills are essential/crucial/vital.
It should be noted that this study considers only verbal communication. Non-verbal communication is not dealt with here.
It is important to remember that/An important point to remember is that non-verbal communication plays a key role in getting your message across.
Communication is not only about the words you use but also your body language and, especially/above all, the effectiveness with which you listen.
I would like to draw attention to the role of listening in effective communication.
Choose your words carefully: in particular, avoid confusing and ambiguous language.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, you must learn to listen as well as to speak.

Question 3

nevertheless

Conceding a point and making a counterargument
While the film is undoubtedly too long, it is nevertheless an intriguing piece of cinema.
It can be argued that the movie is too long. It is nonetheless an intriguing piece of cinema.
The film is undoubtedly too long. Still, it is an intriguing piece of cinema.
Of course, huge chunks of the book have been sacrificed in order to make a two-hour movie, but it is nevertheless a successful piece of storytelling.
Critics are wrong to argue that the film’s plot is too complicated. Certainly there are a couple of major twists, but audiences will have no difficulty following them.
It is true that you cannot make a good movie without a good script, but it is equally true that a talented director can make a good script into an excellent film.
It remains to be seen whether these two movies herald a new era of westerns, but there is no doubt that they represent welcome additions to the genre.

Question 4

Highlighting differences

This survey highlights a number of differences in the way that teenage boys and girls in the UK spend their free time.
One of the main differences between the girls and the boys who took part in the research was the way in which they use the internet.
Unlike the girls, who use the internet mainly to keep in touch with friends, the boys questioned in this survey tend to use the internet for playing computer games.
The girls differ from the boys in that they tend to spend more time keeping in touch with friends on the phone or on social networking websites.
Compared to the boys, the girls spend much more time chatting to friends on the phone.
On average the girls spend four hours a week chatting to friends on the phone. In contrast, very few of the boys spend more than five minutes a day talking to their friends in this way.
The boys prefer competitive sports and computer games, whereas/while the girls seem to enjoy more cooperative activities, such as shopping with friends.
When the girls go shopping, they mainly buy clothes and cosmetics. The boys, on the other hand, tend to purchase computer games or gadgets.