What should a paraphrase preserve?
Replacing a word with a synonym is not enough. A sentence about a planned delivery becomes false if the paraphrase presents it as already completed. Permission can become an obligation. These changes affect the relationship between ideas, even when nearly all the nouns are the same.
Start by summarizing the sentence in three parts: actor, action, and restriction. Then compare the candidate answer with this simple model. Different words can preserve the same model; similar words can change it.
The exercises below are written. They practice meaning equivalence, which is useful in both Listening and Reading, but do not claim to measure recognition of recorded speech. For listening practice, apply the same approach to an unfamiliar audio resource afterward.
Which sentence preserves the message?
Answer before reading the explanations. For each distractor, name the change: actor, deadline, quantity, obligation, or condition.
“The repairs are expected to finish by Friday.” Which sentence preserves the meaning?
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
B — The repairs should be complete no later than Friday.
The method in action
- “Are expected to” expresses a prediction, preserved by “should”; “by Friday” sets a deadline of Friday at the latest. “Already,” “cannot begin,” and “guaranteed” add or reverse information.
“Members can borrow a projector if they book it in advance.”
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
C — Borrowing a projector is possible with an advance reservation.
The method in action
- The possibility remains conditional on advance booking; no purchase obligation or completed reservation is stated.
“The workshop has been moved to the room beside reception.”
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
A — The workshop will take place next to reception.
The method in action
- “Beside” and “next to” express the same proximity. B changes what was moved; C and D invent a different event.
“Delivery is free for orders over fifty pounds.”
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
D — Orders exceeding fifty pounds qualify for free delivery.
The method in action
- “Over” becomes “exceeding” without changing the condition. A removes the threshold; B and C invent a business rule.
“You are welcome to bring a colleague.”
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
B — You may invite a colleague to come with you.
The method in action
- “Welcome to” expresses permission or an invitation here, not an obligation or an event that has already happened.
“The lift will remain out of service until Tuesday.”
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
C — The lift cannot be used before Tuesday.
The method in action
- The service remains unavailable until the stated time. The paraphrase adds neither a sale nor a generalization to other elevators.
The pitfall
Confusing similar wording with equivalence
An answer that repeats “projector” and “booking” may still be wrong if it reverses the obligation or condition. Conversely, a sentence without those exact words may preserve the idea. Look for a concrete difference instead of counting shared words.
To distinguish two options, imagine a case where the original is true and the other is false. The sentence guarantees free delivery above the threshold but does not specify charges below it; “free for all orders” therefore claims more than the original message.
How can you work on a paraphrase mistake?
Write down the restriction you missed, then correct only that part of the distractor. This minimal change shows the nature of the error. Then write another sentence using the same mechanism on a different topic.
When reading documents, find the evidence before accepting a paraphrase. In listening, retain the meaning of the full statement instead of waiting for a particular word. In both cases, preserve what is stated—and only what is stated.
Key takeaways
- Preserve the actors, conditions, and degree of certainty.
- A shared word does not prove equivalence.
- Correct the fragment that changes the message.