This lesson is to help you develop the reading skill of paraphrasing which is an essential skill in IELTS reading. This is not a IELTS reading test. This is a lesson for spotting paraphrases – identifying synonyms (words with similar meaning).
Passage
More than 200 canary birds are being phased out of Britain’s mining pits, according to new plans by the government. Modern technology is being favoured over the long-serving yellow feathered friend of the miner in detecting harmful gases which may be present underground.
New electronic detectors will replace the bird because they are said to be cheaper in the long run and more effective in indicating the presence of pollutants in the air otherwise unnoticed by miners. The gas detectors will be hand-held and carry a digital reading which appears on a screen alerting miners to the extent of the gases.
Notice: This passage comes from news.bbc.co.uk. You can read the full article on this page: BBC On the day: Coal Mines
Spot the paraphrases:
Choose a word or words from the passage above which are synonyms for the words below. Answers do not come in order.
- preferred
- gradually stop using
- substitute
- employed since way back
- existence
- portable
- bird (canary)
- ultimately
Remember that a synonym is a word that has exactly OR nearly the same meaning. This means a synonym may not be 100% the same – it may be only very similar in meaning.
Answers
The answers can be viewed on this link. Click to open: Answers for paraphrasing exercise 2
For bird (canary)
i chose the answer ” Yellow Feathered ”
will it be wrong ? cause your answer sheet says, yellow feathered friend.
Your answer should be a noun. The words “yellow feathered friend” is adjectives with a noun. Your answer has missed the noun completely. However, don’t forget that this is a skills lesson. These types of questions do not appear in the IELTS test. This lesson is to build your awareness of paraphrasing.
Thank u Liz
I now understand the most common mistake i am making during answering the reading questions , specially the one word / not more than…words types questions. I am either missing the noun or the main subject of the question while answering.
When you look at the question, always spend time analysing it. If you don’t do enough analysis, you will struggle to get the right answer. Check the following:
1. what type of answer you must find: noun, verb, number, name, adjective etc
2. what the meaning of each word is in the question / statement – take your time and make sure you have fully understood everything
3. keywords in the question/statement that will help you locate the area in the passage where the answer is
4. once you locate the area in the passage, read around that area – read the sentences before and after to make sure you have the right answer
I hope this helps 🙂
Yes, thank u Liz
Really paraphrasing very helpful liz
preferred = favored
gradually stop using = phased out
subsitute= replace
employed since way back = long-serving
existence = presence
bid (canary) = yellow feathered friend
portable = hand-held
ultimately= more effective
1. favoured over
2. being phased out
3. replace
4. long-serving
5. presence
6. hand-held
7. yellow feathered friend
8. modern
Hi Liz,
In my reading practice test, I got the below passage and question and I wrote answer as “CHARACTER” but the answer key says Character interaction. I didn’t see any word as interaction in the passage. Can you please explain me why they mentioned like this?
Below are the passage and question details
Paragraph from the Passage: The third-Person shot – in which a third of the frame consists of a rear view of a person’s upper torso and head – can be effectively utilised here. This shot encourages us to actually slip into the persona of that character, and vicariously live through their experience.
Questions 34-37
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer
Question 37 : What does a third-person shot place importance on?
Answer from the answer key: Character Interaction
In my understanding, we need to write the exact words as mentioned in the passage for answering the reading question if the condition says NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage. Please correct me if my understanding is wrong.
Thanks,
Abuthagir
I need to see the full passage to help you.
Hello Abuthagir,
I have also done this passage and got this answer wrong. I believe it is because the words “character ” would imply a persons character and who he/she is. But “character interaction” is an action happening how two or more people interact. And the 3rd person shot captures the character interaction between 2 people from a 3rd persons angle.
This is what i figured out, i can’t say if i am a 100% correct.
1, Favoured
2,Phased out
3,Replace
4, Long service
5, Presence
6,Hand -held
7,Yellow Feathered Friend
8, ” i do not know ” 🙁
1. Preferred – Favored
2. Gradually stop using – Phased out
3. Substitute – Replace
4. Employed since way back – Long serving
5. Existence – Presence
6. Portable – Hand-held
7. Bird (Canary) – Yellow Feathered Friend
8. Ultimately – in the long run.
Favoured
Phased out
New Plans
Long Serving
Present
Carry
Yellow Feathered Friend
Alter
Favoured
Phased out
Replace
Long serving
Preserence
Hand held
Yellow feathered friends
Long run
Favoured
Phased out
Replace
Long- serving
Presence
Hand held
Yellow Feather Friend
Long run.
1.Favoured
2. Being phased out
3. Replace
4. long -serving
5. Present
6. Hand held
7. Yellow feathered friend
8. Otherwise
1. Preferred- Favoured
2. Gradually stop using- Phased out
3. Substitute – Replace
4. Employed Since way back- long serving
5. Existence- Presence
6. Portable- hand-held
7. Bird(Canary)- yellow feathered
8. Ultimately- to the extent of
1. Favoured over
2. Phased out
3. Replace
4. Long-Serving
5. Presence of
6. Hand-Held
7. Yellow Feathered Friend
8. More
Prefered = Favoured
Substitute – replace
Employed since way back- long serving
existence- presence
portable -hand-held
bird = yellow feather friend
ultimately- long run
gradually stop using-phase out
1.favoured
2.phrased out
3.replace
4. Long serving
5.presence
6.hand held
7.
8.long run
Hi liz
This is my second participating exercise. Thanks for your support. Pls could you reply me back.
I just posted the answers: https://ieltsliz.com/paraphrasing-exercise-2-answers/
Thanks
MURUGAVEL.R
1.Preferred – Favored
2.Gradually stop using – Phased out
3.Substitute – replace
4.Employed since way back – Long serving
5.Existence – presence
6.Portable – Hand-held
7.Bird (canary) – Feathered friends
8.Ultimately – Long-run
See the answers: https://ieltsliz.com/paraphrasing-exercise-2-answers/
1. Preferred : Favoured
2. Gradually stop using: Phased out
3. Substitute: Replace
4. Employed since way back: Long-serving
5. Existence: Present
6. Portable: Hand-held
7. Bird(canary): Yellow feathered bird
8. Ultimately:
Favoured
Phased out
Replace
Long-serving
Present
Hand-held
Yellow feathery friend
In the long run
MURUGAVEL.R
1. Preferred – Favored
2.Gradually stop using it – Phased-out
3.Substitute – replace
4.employed since way back – long-serving
5.existence – presence
6.portable – hand-held
7.bird (canary) – feather-friends
8.ultimately – long-run
1 favoured
2 phase out
3 replace
4 Dating back
5long serving yellow feather bird
6hand held
7the birds
8gradually
Hi
Favoured
Phased out
Replace
long-serving
presence
hand-held
Yellow Feathered Friend
to the extent
1 favoured
2. Phased out
3. Replace
4. Long serving
5. Presence
6. Hand held
7. Yellow feathered friends
8. Long run
1. Favoured
2. phased out
3. Replace
4. Long serving
5. Presence
6. Hand held
7. Yellow feathered
8. Extent
Preferred- Favoured
Gradually stop using – phased out
Substitute- Replace
Employed since way back- Long serving
Existence- Presence
Portable- Hand-held
Bird (Canary)- Yellow feathered friend
Ultimately- Long run
1.preferred- favoured
2.
3.Replace
4.Long serving
5.present
6.hand held
7.animals
8.long run
1. Preferred=favoured
2. gradually stop using = phased out
3. substitute = replace
4. employed since way back = long-serving
5. Existence = present
6. Portable = hand-held
7. Bird (canary)= yellow feathered
8. Ultimately = in long run
favoured
phased out
replace
log run
present
hand held
yellow feathered
?
Preferred- Favoured
Gradually- phased out
Substitute- Replace
Employed since way back- Long serving
Existence- presence
Portable- hand held
Bird-Yellow feathered friend
Ultimately- Otherwise
Preferred- favored
gradually stop using – phase out
substitute – replace
employed since way back- long-serving
existence-presence
portable- handheld
bird- yellow feathered friend
ultimately – none
1. Preferred = favoured
2. gradually stop using = phased out
3. substitute= replace
4. employed since way back= over the long serving
5. existence = presence
6. portable- hand-held
7. bird (carnary) = yellow feathered
8. ultimately = more effectively
1.Favoured
2.Being phased out
3.replace
4.over the long serving
5.presence
6.hand held
7.
8.long run
1. Favoured
2. Phased out
3. Replace
4. Over the longserving
5. Presence
6. Hand held
7. Yellow feathered friend
8. Otherwise
Favoured
Phased out
Replace
Long serving
Presence
Hand held
Yellow feathered friend
Extent
1. Favoured
2. phased out
3 replace
4 long-serving
5 presence
6 hand held
7 feathered friend
8 more effective
favoured over
phased out
replace
long-serving
presence
handheld
feathered friend
according to new plans
Thank you so much Liz for sharing
1-favoured
2-phased out
3-replace
4-long serving
5-presence
6-handheld
7-yellow feathered
8-in the long run
1. Being favoured
2. Phase out
3. Will replaced
4. Long serving
5.present
6.hand held
7.
8.more apparent
Preferred: favoured
Gradually stop using: phased out
Substitute: replace
Employed since Way back: over the long serving
Existence: presence
Portable: hand-held
Bird: yellow-feathered
Ultimately: long run
1-favoured
2-being phased out
3- replace
4- over the long serving
5- present
6- hand-held
7- yellow feathered friend
8- long run
Favoured
Phased out
Replace
In the long run
Presence
Hand held
Yellow featherd
Othrwise
1=favoured
2=being phase out
3=replace
4=long serving
5=presence
6=hand-held
7=yellow feathered friend
8=because
1)favoured
2) phase out
3)replace
4) long-serving
5)presence
6)hand-held
7)yellow feathered friend
8)in the long run
It’s very challenging to have such exercises.
Gradually stop using phased out
Preferred favoured
Employed since way back longs serving
Bird yellow feathered Fri
Replace substitute
Ultimately in long run
Hand held portable
Existence presence
1.favoured
1.phase out
3.replace
4.long run serving
5.presence
6.hand held
7.yellow featured friends
8.effective
1. Preferred – favoured
2. gradually stop using – phased out
3. substitute – replace
4. employed since way back – long-serving
5. existence – presence
6. prtable – hand-held
7. bird – yellow feathered friend
8. ultimately – long run
The paragraph was very touching ,scientific and illuminating, knowledgewise.Carbon monoxide kills many manhole cleaners in the Indian cities every year.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
1 favoured
2 phased out
3 replace
4 long serving
5 presence
6 hand held
7 yellow feathered friend
8 long run
1. Preferred : favoured
2. gradually stop using : Phase out
3. Substitute : replace
4. employed since way back : long serving
5. existence : presence
6. portable : hand held
7. bird : yellow feathered friend
8. ultimately : long run
Portable – carry
Preferred – favoured
Portable – handheld
Existence -presence
Ultimately- long run
Bird-yellow feathered friend
Substitute -replace
Gradually stop using – phase out
Employed since back- long serving
1~ favoured
2~ phase out
3~ replace
4~ long serving
5~ presence
6~ yellow feathered
7~ in long run
Israel
1. Favoured
2. Being phased out
3. Will replace
4. Long-serving
5. Present
6. Hand-held
7. Yellow feathered friend
8. In the long run.
1. favoured
2. phased out
3. replace
4.long-serving
5.presence
6.carry
7. yellow feathered
8. in the long
Preferred- Favoured
Gradually- Being phased out
Substitute- Replace
Employed since way back- Long serving
Existence- presence
Portable- hand held
Bird-Yellow feathered friend
Ultimately- otherwise
1. Preferred – Favoured
2. Gradually stop using- Phased out
3.
Favoured
Phased out
Replace
Presence
Hand held
Yellow feathered friends
Extent
1. being favoured over
2.being phased out
3.replace
4.the long-serving
5.presence
6.hand-held
7.yellow feathered friend of the miner
8.in the long run
1- favoured
2-being phased out
3- replace
4- long serving
5- presence
6-..
7-yellow feathered
8-..
1.Preferred- favoured
2.gradually stop using – phased out
3. Substitute – replace
4. Employed since way back – long serving
5. Existence – presence
6. Portable – handheld
7. Bird(canary)- yellow feathered friend of mine
8.ultimately – In the long run
1. Preferred : favoured
2. gradually stop using : being phased out
3.substitute : replace
4.employed since way back : the long-serving
5. existence : presence
6.portable : hand-held
7.bird : ?
8. ultimately : long run
Preferred -favoured
Gradually stop using-being phased out
Substitute -replace
Employed since way back-long serving
Existence- presence
Portable-hand held
Bird-yellow feathered friend
Ultimately –
Preferred – favoured
Gradually stop using – being phased out
Sustitute- replace
Employed since way back- long-serving
Existence – extend
Portable – hand-held
Bird – yellow feathered friend
Ultimately – alerting (?)
1.favoured over
2.being phased out
3.replace
4.long serving
5.presence
6.hand-held
7.feathered
8.in the long run
1. favoured
2. being phased out
3. replace
4. over long-serving
5. presence
6. hand-held
7. friend of the miner
8. the long run and more effective
1. preferred (favoured)
2. gradually stop using (phase out)
3. substitute (replace)
4. employed since way back (long-serving)
5. existence (presence)
6. portable (hand-held)
7. bird (yellow feathered friend)
8. ultimately (in the long run)
Hi Liz
I hope you are doing fine, this is my first participation I hope that I got the right answers
Preferred: favoured
Gradually stop using: phased out
Substitute : replace
Employed since way back : long serving
Existence : present
Portable : Digital
Bird (Canary) : Yellow feather friend
Ultimately: effective
1.favoured
2.phased out
3.replace
4.long run
5.presence
6.carry
7.miners
8.effective
favoured
phased out
replace
modern technology
long run
hand handled
yellow feathered
effective
1.favoured
2.phased out
3.replace
4.long run
5.Presence
6.carry
7.miners
1. favoured
2. phased out
3. replace
4. long-serving
5. extent of
6. hand-held
7. yellow feathered
8. in the long run
1.Favoured
2.Phased out
3.replace
4.in the long run
5.presence
6.hand held
7. Yellow feather bird
8. according to the new plans
1. Favoured.
2.phased out
3. Replace
4. Long serving
5. Presence
6. Hand-held
7. New electric detector
8. Appears
Preferred= favoured
Gradually stop using= phased out
substitute= replace
employed since way back= long serving
existence= presence
portable= hand-held
bird= yellow feathered friend
ultimately= extent
1. is being favoured.
2. are being phased out.
3. replace.
4. ?
5. presence.
6. hand-held.
7. yellow feathered.
8. long run.
1. Being favoured
2. Phase out
3. Will reolaced
4.long serving
5. Present
6. Hand held
7.
8.more apparent
1. favoured
2. unnoticed
3.Replace
4.long serving
5.presence
6.hand-held
7.canary
8.more effective
1. Favoured
2. Phased out
3. Replace
4. Long-serving
5. Present
6. Hand held
7. Yellow feathered friend
8. In the long run
1) preferred – favoured
2) gradually stop using – being phased out
3) substitute – replace
4) employed since way back – long serving
5) existence – presence
6) portable – hand held
7) bird – yellow feathered
8) ultimately – extent
1) Preferred- Favoured (5th line, 1st paragraph).
2) Gradually stop using – Being phased out (2nd lime, 1st paragraph).
3) Substitute- Replace (2nd line, 2nd paragraph).
4) Employed since way back- Long serving (5th and 6th lines, 1st paragraph).
5) Existence- Presence (5th line, 2nd paragraph).
6) Portable- Hand-held (7th line, 2nd paragraph).
7) Bird (Canary)- Yellow feathered friend (6th line, 1st paragraph).
8) Ultimately- Long run (3rd line, 2md paragraph).
I hope I get them all right.
1> Favoured
2> Phased out
3> Replace
4> Long-serving
5> presence
6> Hand-held
7> Yellow feathered
8> Extent
I think the word “ultimately” has no paraphrase in this passage.
preferred – favoured
gradually stop using – phased out
substitute – replace
employed since way back – long serving
existence – present
portable – carry
bird (canary) – yellow feathered friend
ultimately – long run
1. favoured
2. phased out
3. replace
4. long serving
5. presence
6. hand-held
7. yellow feathered friend
8. extent
1. Favoured
2.phased out
3. Replace
4. long serving
5. Presence
6. Hand held
7. Yellow feathered friend
8. In long run
1. FAVOURED
2. BEING PHASED OUT
3. REPLACE
4. LONG-SERVING
5. PRESENCE
6. HAND-HELD
7. YELLOW FEATHERED FRIEND
8. OTHERWISE