Distancing Language

Part I Activity: Complete the following sentences with one word to distance the speaker from the information. Sometimes more than one answer may be possible.

It (a)   that the less children sleep, the more likely they are to behave badly.

2. It (a)   appear that someone has been stealing personal items from the changing rooms.

Mark (a)   to have aged a lot over the last year.

He may not look it, but he is (a)   to be one of the wealthiest people in the country.

(a)   to some sources, the latest research is seriously flawed.

Despite the fact that there will be an autopsy, his death is (a)   to have been from natural causes.

(a)   are thought to be several reasons why the species died out.

The missing couple are believed (a)   have had financial difficulties.

It is understood (a)   the minister will be resigning in the near future.

Part II Activity: Activity: Rewrite the Second sentence so that it means the same as the first.

Apparently, people who work night shifts die younger.

It would (a)   .