TOPIC 2

CONTEXTUAL REFERENCE

Annisa Dinda Gantini 211534003

Transitional markers are words used to link ideas together so that the text is easier to read.
When pronouns such as it, they, them, I, he, she, which, who, whose, that, such, one, and
demonstrative adjectives such as this, that, these and those, are used as transitional markers,
they refer to a word, or words, mentioned earlier in the sentence or paragraph. They function
is to take your thoughts back to something that has already been mentioned. Other words
which are often used to refer backwards are the former, the latter, the first, the second, etc.,
the last.

Pronoun

Personal Personal Possessive Possessive Reflexive Demonstrative Relative

pronoun pronoun adjective pronoun pronoun Pronoun pronoun
as subject as object
I Me My Mine Myself This Who
We Us Our Ours Ourselves That Whose
You You Your Yours Yourself/ These Whom
Yourselves Those Which
They Them Their Theirs Themselves That
He Him His His Himself
She Her Her Hers Herself
It It Its Its Itself

Sample paragraph:
A computer like any other machine, is used because it does certain jobs better and
more efficiently than human. It can receive more information and process it faster than any
human. The speed at which a computer works means it can replace weeks or even months of
pencil-and-paper work therefore computers are used when the time saved offsets their cost,
which is one of the many reasons they are used so much in business, industry, and research.

1. because it does certain jobs 🡪 it refers to computer

2. It can receive more information 🡪 It refers to computer
3. process it faster than any human 🡪 it refers to information
4. it can replace weeks 🡪 it refers to computer
5. when the time saved offsets their cost 🡪 their refers to computers
6. which is one of the many reasons 🡪 which refers to the time saved offsets their cost
7. they are used so much in business, industry, and research 🡪 they refer to computers
Practice
Using the sample paragraph as a model, read the reading passages below, and find the
reference for the words in bold italics

Text 1
Wireless Networking
Wireless (WiFi) networks are just fixed LAN’s but instead of using cables, devices are linked
by radio waves.
Each computer in a wireless networks requires a wireless network interface card (NIC).
These can be built in or you can use plug-in adaptors. These allow each component in the
network to communicate with a wireless access point (AP) to create a wireless local area
network (WLAN). The AP operates like a router in a fixed LAN, it also provides a bridge
which plugs into the hub of a fixed LAN allowing both fixed and wireless users to talk to
each other. If your LAN is connected to the internet, the WLAN can also use it. If not, you
can connect the WLAN to the internet via an ADSL or cable modem.

What are the advantages of a wireless network? You don’t need cabling. In older buildings,
it can be expensive to install cables and access point. With WiFi, one access point can cover
an entire floor or even a building. You can work anywhere within range of the access point.
On a sunny day, you could work outside. You can make any room in the house your study.

1. These can be built or you can use
2. These allow each component
3. it also provides a bridge
4. the WLAN can also use it
5. it can be expensive to install
: These refers to wireless networks
: These refers to plug-in adaptors
: it refers to AP (access point)
: it refers to LAN
: it refers to wireless network

Text 2
Modern accounting firms use spreadsheet software to do complicated calculations. They can
provide their clients with an up-to-date report whenever it is needed. This software has many
functions and can be integrated with other software. The spreadsheet’s basic component is a
cell. This may contain a formula which performs a mathematical operation. It could also
contain a label or data. The former describes the information on the worksheet. The latter is
the information itself.

The worksheet is the basic work area of a spreadsheet program. It is made up of cell arranged
in rows and columns. The number of these varies depending on the software you are using.
You can change the width and format of cells. Such parameters are usually quite easy to
change with just a few keystrokes.

1. They can provide : They refers to Modern accounting firms

2. their clients
3. whenever it is needed
4. This software
5. This may contain
6. a formula which performs
7. It could also contain
: their refers to Modern accounting firms
: it refers to client
: This refers to spreadsheet
: This refers to cell
: Which refers to formula
: It refers to spreadsheet’s basic component
8. The former describes
9. The latter is
10. It is made up
11. The number of these
12. Such parameters
: the former refers to label
: the latter refers to data
: It refers to worksheet
: these refers to rows and columns
: Such refers to the width and format of cells

Text 3

The basic job of computers is the processing of information. For this reason, computers can
be defined as devices which accept information in the form of instructions called a program
and characters called data, perform mathematical and logical operations on the information,
and then supply results of these operations. The program which tells the computers what to
do and the data, which provide the information needed to solve the problem, are kept inside
the computer in a place called memory

1. For this reason (line 1): this proccessing of information

2. as devices which accept information (line 2 ): computers can be defined as devices
3. and then supply results of these operation (line 4): mathematical and logical operations
4. which tells the computer what to do (line 4 ): The programm
5. which provide the information (line 5): the data

Text 4

Computers are electronic machines that process information. They are capable of
communicating with the user, of doing different kinds of arithmetic operations and of making
three kinds of decisions. However, they are incapable of thinking. They accept data and
instructions as input, and after processing it, they output results.
When talking about computers, both hardware and software need to be considered.
The former refers to the actual machinery, whereas the latter refers to the programs which
control and coordinate the activities of the hardware while processing the data.
The first computer was built in 1930 but since then computer technology has evolved
a great deal. There are three different kinds of computers in use today: the mainframe, the
minicomputer and the microcomputer. These all have one thing in common: they operate
quickly and accurately in solving problems.

1. machine that process (line1) that refers to Computer

2. They are capable of (line 1) they refers to computer
3. They accept data (line 3) they refers to Computers
4. After processing it (line 4) it refers to data and instructions
5. they output results (line 4) they refers to Computers
6. The former refers to (line 6) former refers to hardware
7. The latter refers to (line 6) latter refers to software
8. The programs which control (line 6) which refers to software
9. These all have one thing (line 10) mainframe, minicomputer, and microcomputer
10. they operate quickly (line 10) mainframe, minicomputer, microcomputer

More Practice in Contextual References

Find out What the words in bold refer to.
1. As companies unify their networks and systems, they must merge new technologies
and legacy systems.
 their: companies
they: companies

2. Bill Gates knew that PCs would be big business and he imagined Microsoft playing a
center role in this industry.
he: Bill Gates

3. Today, telecommunication is widespread and devices that assist the process, such as
the television, radio and telephone, are common in many parts of the world.
that: devices

4. An operating system is a master control program which controls the functions of the
computer system as a whole and the running of application programs.
which: operaring system

5. There is no best answer to the question which online service is the best. Rating a
particular online service over another is entirely subjective. Price is important to
some people, while the number of files available for download is important to others.
another: online service
others: people

6. Most programs are user-friendly but some are very complicated.

some: programs

7. DELPHIE’s Hobby Shop is an online service which has two special-interest areas:
one on classic vehicles and one on new cars and technology.
one: special-interest areas

8. Optical fibers give very clear telephone conversations which are free from signal
interference because light signals from one fibre do not interfere with those of others
in the same cable.
those: light signals
others: fibre

9. There are two technologies at work in a clipboard PC: one allows raw data to get into
the computer and the other allows the computer to figure out what that data mean.
one: one technology
the other: the other technology

10. Everybody uses computers for many different purposes. These smart machines make
their lives easier and more pleasant.
these smart machines: computers

11. The transmission of signals over a distance for the purpose of communication.
Telecommunications is the transmission of signals over a distance for the purpose of
communication. In modern times, this process almost always involves the sending of
electromagnetic waves by electronic transmitters but in early years it may have
involved the use of smoke signals, drums or semaphore.
this process: the transmission of signals over a distance for the purpose of
communication
12. Multimedia combines text with sound, video, animation and graphic. This greatly
enhances the interaction between user and machine.
This: Multimedia combines text with sound, video, animation, and graphic.

13. When Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) was first introduced, the connection had to
be made between PCs online at the same time. This is no longer necessary.
This: online at the same time

14. Technology has been developed increasingly, which makes our lives more
convenient.
which: Technology has been develop increasingly

15. Some students read slowly and know it; others read slowly and don’t know it. The
former can be helped more easily than the latter.
the former: Some students read slowly and know it
the latter: others read slowly and don’t know it

16. There is a struggle between "Web Services" and the "Semantic

Web". The former was thought to be rooted in the W3C and academia, the latter
in IBM-Microsoft-Sun and industry.
the latter: Semantic Web
the former: Web Services