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Reading links: reason, concession and paragraph flow
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| English | Meaning |
|---|---|
| condition | 条件 |
Which sentence comes next?
- A reading task gives: “although虽然这家dining hall餐厅degree / adjective linker很expensive贵，___。” and four endings to choose from.
- although虽然 promises a contrast, so the ending must go against "expensive": but但是很多person人or / still还是to wish愿意to come来. HSK 4 reading tests whether you follow these links.
Connectors set expectations
- Contrast: although虽然…but但是 / but却 / but不过. Cause: because因为…so / therefore所以, due to由于. Condition: if如果…then / just就, if only只要…then / just就, only have ...只有…only then / not until才. Addition: not only (... but also ...)不但…moreover而且, additional另外.
- When you see the first half of a pair, predict what the second half must do before reading the options.
although虽然this这家restaurant餐厅very很expensive贵，but但是many很多people人still还是are willing愿意to come来。
What does the connector expect?
Predict the second half of a sentence from its connector.
虽然今天下雨，___。 Which ending fits?
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虽然 needs a contrast: they still went.
只要你每天练习，你的口语 ____ 会越来越好。
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只要…就….
Matching a response
- In dialogue-matching tasks, the reply must answer the question and refer back correctly: A: you你how / why怎么still / also还not / haven't没to walk走？ B: I / me我at / in在to wait for等(literary) to rain雨to stop停。
- Check reference words: that那 / this这 / it它 / they他们 must point to something in the first line.
A: this这本书you你to see看to finish完(completed / change)了(yes/no ?)吗？ Good reply: still / also还not have / haven't没有，only then / not until才to see看(completed / change)了half一半。 Wrong: I / me我degree / adjective linker很to like喜欢to see看movie电影。 (does not answer about the book)
A: 你怎么还没走？ Which reply fits?
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It explains why the speaker hasn't left.
Reason, condition, conclusion
- Separate the reason (because因为…), the condition (if如果…) and the conclusion (so / therefore所以… / like that那么…) in a short passage.
- A question "why?为什么…？" wants the reason; "…if (coming after a…的话，can / will会how about怎么样？" wants the result of a condition.
“因为他昨天加班到很晚，所以今天迟到了。” 为什么他今天迟到？
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因为 introduces the reason.
Common mistakes
- Choosing an ending that continues in the same direction after although虽然.
- Choosing a reply that repeats a word from the question but does not answer it.
A reply that repeats key words from the question is always correct.
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It must actually answer the question.
Recap
- Use connectors to predict the second half (contrast, cause, condition, addition).
- Replies must answer and refer back correctly; separate reason, condition and conclusion.