Day 6 IELTS lessons focus on Identifying Paraphrases for the IELTS Academic (AC) and General Training (GT) Reading Test.
IELTS Reading Test: Identifying Paraphrase
In the IELTS Reading Test, the words and grammar used in the questions are not the same as those used in the text. Let’s take a look at an example. Here’s how a statement might appear on the question paper, and here is how the same information could appear in the reading text. As you can see, both statements have the same meaning but are expressed in different ways. This is what we call ‘paraphrase.’ Paraphrasing involves changes, mostly in vocabulary or grammar.
Let’s examine some examples of paraphrasing with vocabulary. A word can be changed using synonyms, which are words with similar or even the same meaning. For example, ‘important’ is similar to ‘essential,’ and ‘prepare’ is similar to ‘get ready.’ Here are some more examples of synonyms used in some of the units in this course.
Paraphrasing can also mean expressing the same information using different grammatical structures. Take a look at this simple example and notice how it has been paraphrased. In this case, the active voice has been changed to the passive voice, and synonyms have been used.
This is just one simple example of grammatical paraphrasing. However, in the IELTS Reading Test, you will find that ideas and information are almost always paraphrased by either changing the grammar or vocabulary or a combination of both. Understanding this concept is crucial for successfully navigating the reading section.
