Paraphrasing accurately

English · B2

The rule

Change the wording while preserving the meaning. Pay attention to certainty, quantities and negatives. May improve is weaker than will solve.

Example

The policy may reduce costs. → The measure could lower expenses.

Practice

1. May reduce means…

  1. Will eliminate
  2. Could lower
  3. Must increase
  4. Cannot affect
Answer and explanation

Could lower

May indicates possibility.

2. A good paraphrase preserves…

  1. Only the length
  2. Meaning and degree of certainty
  3. Every original word
  4. Only the punctuation
Answer and explanation

Meaning and degree of certainty

Accuracy matters more than replacing every word.

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