What it is: Small words like it, they or this point to something said earlier. You say who or what.
The instruction on the paper: To whom or to what do the underlined words refer? Answer using words as they appear in the text. → Say who or what the words point to. Copy it from the text.
Example: Text M — The plastic-free town
A small Welsh town has banned single-use plastic bags from its shops. Some traders feared this would drive customers to the supermarket outside town. In fact, the opposite happened: visitors began to come specifically to see the plastic-free high street. The council now hopes other towns will copy its approach.
To whom or to what do the underlined words refer? Answer using words as they appear in the text. (Here the underlined word is in bold.) Some traders feared this would drive customers away
The answer
Your turn
- Answer it yourself first, then check.
- To whom or to what…?
- who, or which thing?
- refer to
- point back to
- the underlined words
- the words with a line under them
- Answer using words as they appear in the text.
- copy the noun or idea from the text
- (line 32)
- where the words are
Remember: this and that often point to a whole idea, not one noun.
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Track the reference
1
Find the word
Note the line given.
2
Check number and type
One or many? Person or idea?
3
Look back
Usually one or two sentences.
4
Swap and copy
It must make sense in place.
Find → Number → Look back → Swap
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Text N — Why we keep paper: Despite the rise of e-readers, printed books still outsell digital ones in many countries. Publishers once predicted their decline, but sales of paper books have been stable for a decade. Researchers believe readers value the physical object: it can be lent, signed or displayed on a shelf. Others point to screen fatigue. After a day of work on a laptop, many people say they simply want to look at something that does not glow.
To whom or to what do the underlined words refer? Answer using words as they appear in the text. 1. predicted their decline 2. it can be lent 3. many people say they simply want
The answer
Your turn
- Answer it yourself first, then check.
Do
- Check one or many, person or thing.
- Read one or two sentences back.
- Copy the full noun phrase.
Don't
- Grab the nearest noun.
- Write the pronoun again.
- Add words the text does not use.