10.2 Reading


identifying stance and level of confidence • inferring implicit ideas


A Study the sentence on the right. Each phrase in box a could go in the space. What effect would


each one have on the base meaning? Mark from *** = very confident to * = very tentative.


B Survey the text on the opposite page. 1 What will the text be about?


2 Write three research questions. C Read the text. Does it answer your questions?


D Answer these questions. 1 According to what criteria can we group factors affecting e-commerce penetration?


2 Under what heading could we categorize consumers’ perception of quality?


3 What can local government do to contribute to the development of e-commerce?


4 Is the level of physical infrastructure development in a country likely to affect e-commerce in goods and services equally?


5 What legislation might improve e-commerce penetration, according to the article?


6 What benefits can e-government deliver, according to the article?


E Find the phrases in box b in the text. Is the writer confident (C) or tentative (T) about the information


which follows?


F Look at the writer’s description of the government’s role in the development of e-commerce in


Singapore (paragraph 5). 1 Underline the marked words.


2 What does the choice of these words tell you about the writer’s opinion of the government’s actions?


3 Find neutral words to use in their place.


G Study the example sentence on the right, and then sentences A and B.


1 Divide sentences A and B into small parts, as in the example sentence.


2 Underline any linking words (e.g., conjunctions).


3 Find the subjects, verbs, objects/complements and adverbial phrases which go together.


4 Make several short, simple sentences which show the meaning.


80 B


This data shows how, by implementing a technical infrastructure to put Singapore’s regulatory frameworks online, the government could directly influence the take-up of e-commerce by businesses.


A


Developments in technical infrastructure can often be carried out quickly, whereas other infrastructure developments, which require political intervention, take place over much longer timescales.


b a


The redesign of our virtual shopfront the increase in sales.


probably caused may have contributed to


was possibly one of the factors which contributed to


could have been a factor which led to caused


seems to have caused


The evidence indicates that … It is obvious …


A recent survey has found … Most writers agree … Many writers seem to agree … The evidence suggests that … Their survey found …


Example:


The availability of browser encryption | and | secure web servers | are usually thought of | as global factors, |while | national factors | include | both | the level of Internet penetration and its speed ...


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