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Paraphrasing Activity for IELTS Reading

Paraphrasing is a common skill, but how, I hear you ask, is it useful for achieving the score you need for the reading tests?

Well, we can use paraphrasing in order to get a better understanding of the question, which then allows us to find the answers more easily.

What is Paraphrasing in IELTS Reading?

As you probably already know, the answer in the text is unlikely to be worded the same way as the question.

For instance if you get this True/False/Not Given Statement:

  • It is difficult for small cities to win an Olympic bid.

The text might have the word 'hard' instead of 'difficult' and 'be successful', not 'win'.

So paraphrasing the questions in IELTS reading helps you to draw the meaning of the question from the words used and therefore makes it easier to identify the right answer.

It's something that you probably already do subconsciously whenever you read a question - you reword it in your head in a way that makes it more understandable to you.

But like anything else, the only way to improve this is to practice. By practicing consciously paraphrasing questions you will improve the accuracy of your subconcious interpretation so that in the exam you can quickly find the right meaning and answer. This can mean the difference between a 6.5 and a 7.

Paraphrasing is therefore a useful technique for a range of different question types in the reading part of the test including multiple choice, matching, sentence completion and also true false not given.

To practice this skill, this we simply have to reword the question in our own words.

For example:

  • Original Question:
    What type of organism forms the majority of the Great Barrier Reef's structure?

  • Paraphrased Question:
    What living creature is the primary building block of the Great Barrier Reef?

This paraphrased question can then help you to identify the correct passage in the text.

Practice Paraphrasing

Exercise 1

Look at the following IELTS  Short answer reading questions.

Paraphrase number one in your head then try to find the answer in the text. Then go on to number two. The first has a suggestion.

  1. How many different varieties of hard coral are found within the reef?
    (Paraphrase: How many types of hard coral are in the reef?)
  2. Besides fish, name two other categories of marine life that inhabit the Great Barrier Reef.
  3. Which environmental factor poses the most significant risk to the reef's survival?
  4. Name two specific ways climate change harms the Great Barrier Reef.

The Great Barrier Reef, located off the coast of Queensland, Australia, is the world's largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,300 kilometers (1,400 miles). The reef is home to a wide diversity of marine life, including over 1,500 species of fish, 411 types of hard coral, one-third of the world's soft corals, 134 species of sharks and rays, six of the world's seven species of threatened marine turtles, and more than 30 species of marine mammals. This rich biodiversity makes it a significant natural wonder and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, the Great Barrier Reef faces numerous threats, primarily due to climate change, which has led to coral bleaching, ocean acidification, and an increased frequency of extreme weather events.

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Exercise 2

The above exercise is for a short answer question. Let’s try it with a multiple choice question.

When you are dealing with multiple choice it is a little more difficult. You may have to paraphrase the answer options too. This increases the time taken but has a huge effect on accuracy.

Questions

Paraphrase question one then scroll down to try and find the answer in the text. Then move on to question two, etc.

1.    The Amazon rainforest is primarily known for:

(a) Its vast size and geographical location.

(b) Its unique weather patterns and rainfall.

(c) Its exceptional biological diversity and ecological importance.

(d) Its economic value through timber and mineral resources.

2.    The Amazon rainforest's ability to absorb carbon dioxide is crucial for:

(a) Maintaining the region's unique climate.

(b) Preventing soil erosion and flooding.

(c) Regulating the global climate system.

(d) Supporting the growth of diverse plant species.

3.    Which of the following is NOT a major contributor to deforestation in the Amazon:

(a) The expansion of agriculture.

(b) The extraction of timber.

(c) Mining operations.

(d) Ecotourism.

4.    Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest has negative consequences such as:

(a) Increasing the region's biodiversity.

(b) Improving air and water quality.

(c) Enhancing carbon sequestration.

(d) Accelerating climate change and the loss of living organisms.

Now, find the answers to the questions in the following IELTS text extract.

The Amazon rainforest, often referred to as the "lungs of the Earth," is a vast tropical rainforest in South America, encompassing an area of approximately 5.5 million square kilometers (2.1 million square miles). It is the most biodiverse terrestrial ecosystem on the planet, housing an estimated 10% of the world's known species. The Amazon plays a crucial role in regulating the global climate by absorbing vast amounts of carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. It is also a vital source of freshwater, providing 20% of the world's river discharge. However, the Amazon is under increasing threat from deforestation, mainly due to agricultural expansion, logging, and mining activities. This deforestation not only contributes to climate change but also leads to habitat loss, species extinction, and soil erosion.

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