Answer to Reading Paraphrasing Lesson

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Answers to Paraphrasing Practice

Please complete the lesson before you look at the answers. You can find the lesson on this page: Paraphrasing Lesson

Passage: Ancient Egyptian Powder

Summary of Passage

The pigment (1)………. Egyptian blue, which was formulated (2) ……….. 5,250 years ago, can now be used to (3)……… finger prints on complicated surfaces.  This pigment was used in the painting of statues and tomb wall reliefs in Ancient Egypt. However, it has now been (4)……….. that, when it is it exposed to a (5)……….. light, it emits near-infrared radiation.

  1. known as
    1. you can’t choose the answer “names” because it is grammatically wrong.
  2. about
    1. You can’t have the answer “over” because we don’t know if it is over or under. Therefore, you need to use the word “about”. Another option for paraphrasing would be “approximately”.
  3. identify
  4. revealed / found
    1. Both options are fine.
  5. particular
    1. You must have the correct spelling. If your spelling is wrong, your answer is marked wrong.

I hope you found this lesson useful.

I’ll post more paraphrasing lessons later.

All the best

Liz

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Reading Skills for IELTS: Paraphrasing

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In IELTS reading, you will need to pay attention to synonyms and paraphrasing. This is a vocabulary exercise to help you matching synonyms and become aware of the problems using them. This is not an IELTS test, it is a reading lessons to develop skills of paraphrasing for IELTS. Although these types of questions do not come in the test, you will need these skills to succeed in IELTS.

Paraphrasing Practice

Passage: Ancient Egyptian Powder

Crime scene investigators are about to get an assist from the land of the pharaohs. New research has shown that a pigment called Egyptian blue, formulated some 5,250 years ago, can be used as dusting powder to detect fingerprints on complicated surfaces. The earliest known synthetic pigment, Egyptian blue is found in some of the paint that still colours ancient statues, coffins, and tomb walls. Modern scientists were intrigued by this long-lasting tint and figured out its chemical components decades ago. More recently they discovered that it emits near-infrared radiation when exposed to a certain kind of light.

Notice: This passage is from a National Geographic magazine. You can read the full article on this page: NatGeo Ancient Egyptian Powder

Filling the Gaps with Synonyms

Below is a summary of the passage above. Fill in the gaps using the word list given below. Make sure the summary is grammatically correct when you insert the word.

The pigment (1)………. Egyptian blue, which was formulated (2) ……….. 5,250 years ago, can now be used to (3)……… finger prints on complicated surfaces.  This pigment was used in the painting of statues and tomb wall reliefs in Ancient Egypt. However, it has now been (4)……….. that, when it is it exposed to a (5)……….. light, it emits near-infrared radiation.

Word List:

Choose words to fill in the gaps above. The meaning should be the same as the original paragraph.

make     /        identify     /      observe      /   revealed    /     about     /     names      /      found       /      using        /    creates         /     known as          /      particular      /      over

Answers

Click link below to reveal answers:

Answer to Reading Paraphrasing Lesson

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Useful Links for IELTS Line Graphs in WT1

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Useful tips and link for vocabulary, content & paragraphs for IELTS writing task 1 line graphs.

Below I have listed some useful links to learn about IELTS line graphs. Line graphs are quite common in IELTS writing task 1.

There are six types of IELTS writing task 1 for the academic paper:

  1. line graph
  2. bar chart
  3. table
  4. map
  5. diagram
  6. pie charts

Sample IELTS Line Graph

Source: IELTS Cambridge English Test Books

You must prepare for all types of charts in academic writing task 1. You might also be given a combination of a line graph with a table for example. Writing task 1 is worth about 33% of your total writing marks so it’s worth learning well.

Tips for IELTS Line Graphs

Here are some useful tips for Line Graphs:

  1. Introduce the time frame and individual categories
  2. the overview will contain the main trends over the whole period  – a bird’s eye view
  3. use language of change for line graphs: increase, drop, fluctuate etc (see below)
  4. vary your sentence structures: “the number of sales decreased over the period / there was a decrease in the number of sales …”
  5. support sentences in the body paragraphs with data – time frame and numbers
  6. don’t spend more than 20 mins on task 1
  7. make sure you have four paragraphs (occasionally five are possible)
  8. don’t overload your writing with small details – be selective
  9. aim for between 160 and 180 words
  10. task 1 is a report, not an essay

IELTS Line Graph Lessons

Click on the links below to access the pages to learn about line graphs:

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WT1 Table 30th Sept: To be completed

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You can find a student’s copy of the writing task 1 table from 30th September (2 days ago)  in the link below:

However, the table is not accurate and it has not been completed.

If you took the test on Sept 30th, please can you complete the table and email it to me? ieltsliz789@gmail.com. That way, I will be able to write a model answer for it.

Word Doc: WT1 Table 30 Sept Incomplete

Thanks

Liz

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IELTS Test Toilet Breaks

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Yesterday, a student called Tamara posted a great little tip about toilet breaks in IELTS.

Her points were these:

  1. It’s important to drink water because you are nervous and the exam is long. But inevitably you might need the toilet.
  2. IELTS do not provide toilet breaks. So, you need to choose the best time to go to the toilet.
  3. Don’t go during your listening test. The listening test will not stop because you have gone to the toilet. You will miss answers and you will get a lower score as a result.
  4. Go to the toilet during your reading or writing test.
  5. The writing test is usually really hard to complete on time, so for most students, it’s best to go to the loo during the reading test.
  6. Be prepared for your IELTS test. Sleep well, eat well and be ready to concentrate.

Tamara did very well in her test, getting band score 8.5 overall. Brilliant!! Well done to her 🙂 See her score and read her tips as well as tips from other students on this page: IELTS Results Page

Get On the Day Tips by click on the link. My on the day tips cover listening, reading, writing and also speaking. So, read them all well.

Good luck everyone!! 🙂

Liz

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IELTS Model Essays for September 2017

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Below are three IELTS model essays for IELTS essay questions that students have reported this month in their test. You can find the full list of 20 essay questions on this page: IELTS Essay Questions 2017.  I did say that I would write only one model essay but, due to student demand, I have choose the three most popular essay questions.

Paragraphs: The model essays below all have two body paragraphs. Please note it is also possible to have three body paragraphs in IELTS writing task 2 – your choice depends on your ideas.

IELTS Essay Model Q#1

Nowadays young people lack an understanding of how to manage their finances after they finish high school. Explain why they do not know how to manage money and how this can be changed.

Below is an IELTS cause / solution model essay.

Many young people are leaving school without a basic and vital understanding of how personal finances ought to be managed in the adult world. This lack of knowledge is due to a lack of life experience and limited education which can be solved in two simple ways.

One main reason why so many young people are unable to manage their own finances upon finishing high school is that they have been living with their parents for free. As a result, they have never needed to earn a salary or save their money in order to pay bills. Another cause is that schools do not factor personal financial management into their curriculum. Schools focus instead on classic subjects, such as maths, geography, history and languages, which means important life skills are not being taught. Both teachers and parents are failing to prepare young people for the real world.

There are two options for solving young people’s inability to manage personal finances. Firstly, parents should spend time with their children teaching them how money is earned, budgeted and used for either savings or expenses. One simple step could be for parents to start by teaching young children how to manage their pocket money and, as their child grows up, expand into more serious household expenses. Secondly, schools should incorporate life skills into their curriculum for final year students. In this way, children will be able to learn in a supportive environment how their finances need to be budgeted and managed to avoid debt problems later in life.

In conclusion, young people lack financial management skills due to the negligence of parents and schools, which can only be solved if both take more responsibility for equipping school leavers with the right skills.

IELTS Essay Model Q#4

Advertising discourages us from being different and individuals eventually look the same. To what extent do you agree or disagree.

Below is a partial agreement (a balanced view) model opinion essay.

It is sometimes thought that advertisements result in people becoming increasingly similar and that they discourage individuality. In my opinion, advertising certainly  does promote conformity amongst certain people but most people will always make their own individual choices which will make them appear different.

The role of advertising is to promote products in a way that encourages people to buy them and this in turn means that people inevitably end up buying the same things and appearing the same. This is particularly true of the fashion industry which tells followers of fashion what colours to wear in which seasons, what styles of clothes they should wear and even the length of their hair. The adverts put pressure on young people to look fashionable by following looks which have been planned by the fashion industry. As a result, those who are easily influenced by fashion trends will tend to appear more similar and with less individuality in an attempt to be considered fashionable.

However, the wish to appear fashionable and follow fashion trends with strict conformity only applies to a certain group of young “trendy” people. For others, the fashion trends are interesting but not something that should be followed religiously. For instances, while some of them may choose to follow the fashionable colour that season, they may prefer a different hair style which is more suited to their own face shape or character. Consequently, although some aspects of their dress may be similar, the majority of what they wear and how they wear it is different and shows their individual character.

In conclusion, although fashion victims follow trends and may appear similar, they are in the minority as most people prefer to select what they wear and how they look for themselves.

IELTS Essay Model Q#9

Some people believe that development of business results in a loss of cultural ties between countries. Other people contradict this belief. Give your opinion.

Below is a one sided model opinion essay.

The development of business, according to some, has had a negative impact on cultural ties between countries. I do not agree with this as international business can often encourage cultural ties and does not impact on existing ones.

Firstly, international business has resulted in new relationships between countries that previously had little contact. Consequently products from countries all around the world become available to the everyday person which raises their awareness of these countries. As awareness between countries grows, so too does cultural respect and interest. For this reason, there are more people travelling abroad today to experience new cultures than ever before. One good example of this is the long lasting cultural interest between China and Europe which was initially brought about by the silk trade.

Another point to consider is that cultural ties that already exist between countries are not necessarily disturbed by business. Most cultural ties have actually been established due to the development of transportation which has enabled people to travel further distances from their homes. For decades, if not centuries, the British were known to travel to France and even as far as Egypt to enjoy warmer climates as well as to appreciate their culture. Regardless of business or business problems which came later, these cultural ties continue to exist today. In other words, although business may throw a spanner in the works with regards to international relationships from time to time, it cannot undo the deep cultural connections between these countries that have evolved and been enjoyed over time.

To conclude, business mostly certainly does not cause a loss of cultural ties between countries and can, in fact, be the root of establishing new ones.

IELTS Writing Task 2 Tips & Lessons

You can find writing task 2 tips and more model essays on this page: IELTS Writing Task 2 Main Page

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IELTS Writing Questions September 2017

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Here is a list of IELTS writing task 2 questions which students have reported this month, September 2017.

Can the same questions and topics be used? Yes, they can. Sometimes they are new topics and sometimes they are old topics which have been reworded. To prepare fully for IELTS writing task 2, you need to prepare both common and current topics.

September 2017 IELTS Writing Topics

Please remember, these are not predictions. These are IELTS essay questions that students have had so far this month. It is possible for topics and questions to be repeated. Your should prepare both common topics and the topics below. Get common IELTS essays questions here: 100 IELTS Essay Questions

  1.  Nowadays young people lack an understanding of how to manage their finances after they finish high school. Explain why they do not know how to manage money and how this can be changed.
  2. Many forms of advertisement are very powerful and they have a harmful effect on some people. Why is this the case? What solutions can be implemented to solve this problems.
  3. A very high percentage of television advertisements are aimed at children. What is the effect on children? Should there be more control of advertisement?
  4.  Advertising discourages us from being different and individuals eventually look the same. To what extent do you agree or disagree.
  5. English is now considered to be a global language. Do you think the advantages of the spread of English as a global language outweighs its disadvantages?
  6. Some people think that children should be punished when they commit crimes. Others think that their parents should be punished. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
  7. In some countries, the amount of garbage has become an increasing problem. What are the causes of these problems? What can be done to solve this problem?
  8. Is it important to have huge public spaces like parks and squares in towns and cities. Do you agree or disagree?
  9. Some people believe that development of business results in a loss of cultural ties between countries. Other people contradict this belief. Give your opinion.
  10. Some people believe that children of different ages should be put together in the same class .What is your opinion?
  11. Some people think that nowadays children have too much freedom. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
  12. Some people think all students should do some community service (unpaid). What is your opinion?
  13. Some people say that schools should teach good behaviour to children and introduce them to ‘right’ and ‘wrong’. Parents should not be the only ones responsible. Do you agree or disagree?
  14. In some schools, sports lesson are included in the curriculum. How important is it for girls and boys to do sports activity at schools ?
  15. Nowadays, people are doing work at home using computers and telephones. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this development?
  16. Some people get involved in sports that are dangerous for them. Why do some people get involved in such sports? What could be done to mitigate the danger involved?
  17. Some people believe job satisfaction is more important than job security. Others feel that one’s job need not be satisfactory and that having a permanent job is more important. Do you agree or disagree?
  18. Mobile phone enables us to take work or personal calls anywhere anytime. Do you think it has positive or negative impact on individuals and society?
  19. Some people think that university education is important to have a successful life , while others think it is not needed nowadays . Discuss both points of view and give your opinion.
  20. Usually directors are paid much higher salaries than ordinary workers. Some people agree with this but others believe it is unfair. Discuss both views and give your own opinion on this topic.

Model Essays: You can find model essays for questions #1, #4 and #9 on this page: IELTS Model Essays Sept 2017

IELTS Writing Task 2 Tips

You can find IELTS writing task 2 tips, model essays and free lessons on my main IELTS writing task 2 page.

All of my writing task 2 lessons are for both GT and Academic IELTS students. My lessons are aimed at learning the right techniques to achieve a high score.

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Answer to yesterday’s paraphrasing exercise 3

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Yesterday, I gave you the essay question below to paraphrase:

Essay Question: Artists need a certain amount of freedom to develop their creativity. Some people think that artists should have total freedom to express any thoughts and ideas. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

On this page you will find

  1. model background statements for the above essay question
  2. good background statements posted by students
  3. a list of common mistakes
  4. a full model introduction
  5. useful link for writing task 2

Please let me know if you find this lesson useful

Model Background Statements

  1. As artists need freedom for their creativity, it is thought that there should be no limits to their freedom of expression.
  2. Some people believe that artists require freedom to be creative and therefore should have complete freedom to express any idea they have.
  3. Artists having complete freedom to convey any belief is thought by some to be paramount to an artist’s creative development.
  4. It is thought that without complete freedom of expression, an artist will not be able to be develop their creativity.

Interesting Background Statements from Students

  1. While it is generally understood that in order to be creative an artist must have some liberty to develop impulses and ideas creatively , some would argue that they should have full, and unrestricted, creative licence.
    1. Comment: This is a good background statement but too long. It’s a waste of time to write a long background statement and it won’t boost your score. But otherwise, this is well written with great vocabulary.
  2. It is considered by some that artists, in order to amplify their creativity, should be totally free to express their ideas and thoughts.
    1. Comment: This is the right length and well written. Just one mistake – the word “amplify” is incorrect. Avoid over paraphrasing – just use the word “develop”.
  3. Since art requires a level of freedom to be creative, some believe that artists ought to be granted all the freedom of expression they need.
    1. Comment: This is a great background statement. It’s written very well. The only thin I would change is the last word. I would change it from “need” to “want”.
  4. It is true that a level of liberty is required by artist to enhance their imaginative skills, but some people believe that artists should have unrestricted freedom in giving voice to their opinion and believe.
    1. Comment: I like this background statement. Nicely written. However, there are grammar mistakes: required by artists (plural needed) / to voice their opinions and beliefs (plurals needed).
  5. It is widely believed that artists ought to be given absolute freedom of expression, because freedom is essential in the development of their creative process.
    1. Comment: Well done 🙂

Common Mistakes in Paraphrasing

  • Artists = creators
    • this is wrong. The word artist means artist. You don’t try to paraphrase this.
  • Artists = people from art sphere
    • A mistake. It is obvious that paraphrasing the word “artist” is difficult. In fact, you shouldn’t try. Not all words in English can be paraphrased.
  • Some people = few people
    • this is wrong. You could write “a few people” but not “few people”. The term “few people” means “not enough people. It has a different meaning entirely.
  • It is always a topic of debate that
    • this shows the examiner you can’t write your own sentences and need to memorise phrases from a book. It will not help your score.
  • creativity = ingeniousness
    • completely wrong. Never paraphrase unless you are 100% sure. Mistakes will lower your score.

Full Model Introduction

Here is my model introduction. My thesis statement presents a partial agreement.

Some people believe that artists require freedom to be creative and therefore should have complete freedom to express any idea they have. In my opinion, while freedom of expression is important, art must be censored for violent or dangerous content.

Please let me know if you find this lesson useful.

Useful Link for IELTS writing task 2

Get all my IELTS writing task 2 tips & model essays

My writing task 2 lessons are for both GT and Academic students.

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