NYSTCE English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Practice Test

Which type of competence is concerned with producing cohesive works from sentences and phrases?

1. Transformations competence

2. Linguistic competence

3. Discourse competence

4. Strategic competence

The correct answer is: Discourse competence

Discourse competence is the correct choice as it refers to the ability to produce cohesive and coherent texts that flow logically from one sentence or phrase to another. This type of competence goes beyond just knowing vocabulary and grammar; it involves understanding how to structure sentences and paragraphs in a way that makes sense in a larger context. Discourse competence allows speakers and writers to connect ideas, manage turn-taking in conversations, and use appropriate organizational patterns in writing and speaking. In contrast, transformations competence focuses on the ability to change the form of sentences, such as altering active to passive voice or changing verb tenses, rather than combining them into cohesive works. Linguistic competence pertains to the knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, and the phonetic rules of a language, but it does not specifically address the organization of larger texts. Strategic competence involves the ability to use communication strategies, particularly in conversation, to manage difficulties—this includes using paraphrasing or asking for clarification—but again does not directly relate to the cohesive production of longer texts.