Reading Skills for IELTS: Paraphrasing Exercise 2

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.

  1. preferred
  2. gradually stop using
  3. substitute
  4. employed since way back
  5. existence
  6. portable
  7. bird (canary)
  8. 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

 

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Comments

  1. Gangotri Jain says

    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.

      • Gangotri Jain says

        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 🙂

  2. Really paraphrasing very helpful liz

  3. Saeed Aziz says

    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

  4. 1. favoured over
    2. being phased out
    3. replace
    4. long-serving
    5. presence
    6. hand-held
    7. yellow feathered friend
    8. modern

  5. ABUTHAGIR says

    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.

    • Gangotri Jain says

      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.

  6. ALEX PINHERO says

    1, Favoured
    2,Phased out
    3,Replace
    4, Long service
    5, Presence
    6,Hand -held
    7,Yellow Feathered Friend
    8, ” i do not know ” 🙁

  7. ebincharles says

    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.

  8. Favoured
    Phased out
    New Plans
    Long Serving
    Present
    Carry
    Yellow Feathered Friend
    Alter

  9. Favoured
    Phased out
    Replace
    Long serving
    Preserence
    Hand held
    Yellow feathered friends
    Long run

  10. Favoured
    Phased out
    Replace
    Long- serving
    Presence
    Hand held
    Yellow Feather Friend
    Long run.

  11. Ropa Mhizha says

    1.Favoured
    2. Being phased out
    3. Replace
    4. long -serving
    5. Present
    6. Hand held
    7. Yellow feathered friend
    8. Otherwise

  12. Aarti Kochhar says

    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

  13. Ijeoma Eche-Nwosu says

    1. Favoured over
    2. Phased out
    3. Replace
    4. Long-Serving
    5. Presence of
    6. Hand-Held
    7. Yellow Feathered Friend
    8. More

  14. 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

  15. 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.

  16. MURUGAVEL RAJENDRAN says

    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

  17. Avani Pansheria says

    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:

  18. Favoured
    Phased out
    Replace
    Long-serving
    Present
    Hand-held
    Yellow feathery friend
    In the long run

  19. MURUGAVEL RAJENDRAN says

    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

  20. Mojisola Nwankpa says

    1 favoured
    2 phase out
    3 replace
    4 Dating back
    5long serving yellow feather bird
    6hand held
    7the birds
    8gradually

  21. Senthil says

    Hi
    Favoured
    Phased out
    Replace
    long-serving
    presence
    hand-held
    Yellow Feathered Friend
    to the extent

  22. Siddharth Upadhyay says

    1 favoured
    2. Phased out
    3. Replace
    4. Long serving
    5. Presence
    6. Hand held
    7. Yellow feathered friends
    8. Long run

  23. 1. Favoured
    2. phased out
    3. Replace
    4. Long serving
    5. Presence
    6. Hand held
    7. Yellow feathered
    8. Extent

  24. Naz Yuzbasheva says

    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

  25. Tshering Yangzom says

    1.preferred- favoured
    2.
    3.Replace
    4.Long serving
    5.present
    6.hand held
    7.animals
    8.long run

  26. Yulinda says

    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

  27. anismila says

    favoured
    phased out
    replace
    log run
    present
    hand held
    yellow feathered
    ?

  28. Preferred- Favoured
    Gradually- phased out
    Substitute- Replace
    Employed since way back- Long serving
    Existence- presence
    Portable- hand held
    Bird-Yellow feathered friend
    Ultimately- Otherwise

  29. Aaisha Haque says

    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

  30. Richard Orimolade says

    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

  31. Aswathy says

    1.Favoured
    2.Being phased out
    3.replace
    4.over the long serving
    5.presence
    6.hand held
    7.
    8.long run

  32. Ramandeep Kaur Hanjra says

    1. Favoured
    2. Phased out
    3. Replace
    4. Over the longserving
    5. Presence
    6. Hand held
    7. Yellow feathered friend
    8. Otherwise

  33. Favoured
    Phased out
    Replace
    Long serving
    Presence
    Hand held
    Yellow feathered friend
    Extent

  34. 1. Favoured
    2. phased out
    3 replace
    4 long-serving
    5 presence
    6 hand held
    7 feathered friend
    8 more effective

  35. favoured over
    phased out
    replace
    long-serving
    presence
    handheld
    feathered friend
    according to new plans

    Thank you so much Liz for sharing

  36. jas kaur says

    1-favoured
    2-phased out
    3-replace
    4-long serving
    5-presence
    6-handheld
    7-yellow feathered
    8-in the long run

  37. Ritchel says

    1. Being favoured
    2. Phase out
    3. Will replaced
    4. Long serving
    5.present
    6.hand held
    7.
    8.more apparent

  38. HINA AFROZ says

    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

  39. Faraanak says

    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

  40. Favoured
    Phased out
    Replace
    In the long run
    Presence
    Hand held
    Yellow featherd
    Othrwise

  41. mahmadtaufiq says

    1=favoured
    2=being phase out
    3=replace
    4=long serving
    5=presence
    6=hand-held
    7=yellow feathered friend
    8=because

  42. 1)favoured
    2) phase out
    3)replace
    4) long-serving
    5)presence
    6)hand-held
    7)yellow feathered friend
    8)in the long run

  43. Dr Saeed says

    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

  44. maheswari says

    1.favoured
    1.phase out
    3.replace
    4.long run serving
    5.presence
    6.hand held
    7.yellow featured friends
    8.effective

  45. Dianne Gansatao says

    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

  46. Dr Rajasri says

    The paragraph was very touching ,scientific and illuminating, knowledgewise.Carbon monoxide kills many manhole cleaners in the Indian cities every year.

  47. Osunsanmi opeyemi says

    1 favoured
    2 phased out
    3 replace
    4 long serving
    5 presence
    6 hand held
    7 yellow feathered friend
    8 long run

  48. 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

  49. Nahida Akther says

    Portable – carry

  50. Nahida Akther says

    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

  51. Imran Khan says

    1~ favoured
    2~ phase out
    3~ replace
    4~ long serving
    5~ presence
    6~ yellow feathered
    7~ in long run

  52. Israel Iyamu says

    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.

  53. 1. favoured
    2. phased out
    3. replace
    4.long-serving
    5.presence
    6.carry
    7. yellow feathered
    8. in the long

  54. 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

  55. 1. Preferred – Favoured
    2. Gradually stop using- Phased out
    3.

  56. Sanober says

    Favoured
    Phased out
    Replace
    Presence
    Hand held
    Yellow feathered friends
    Extent

  57. 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

  58. Michelle says

    1- favoured
    2-being phased out
    3- replace
    4- long serving
    5- presence
    6-..
    7-yellow feathered
    8-..

  59. 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

  60. Samer Abisen says

    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

  61. 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 –

  62. 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 (?)

  63. Simi fredy says

    1.favoured over
    2.being phased out
    3.replace
    4.long serving
    5.presence
    6.hand-held
    7.feathered
    8.in the long run

  64. 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

  65. 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)

  66. Amani Flaifl says

    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

  67. 1.favoured
    2.phased out
    3.replace
    4.long run
    5.presence
    6.carry
    7.miners
    8.effective

  68. Jasvinder Kaur says

    favoured
    phased out
    replace
    modern technology
    long run
    hand handled
    yellow feathered
    effective

  69. 1.favoured
    2.phased out
    3.replace
    4.long run
    5.Presence
    6.carry
    7.miners

  70. 1. favoured
    2. phased out
    3. replace
    4. long-serving
    5. extent of
    6. hand-held
    7. yellow feathered
    8. in the long run

  71. 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

  72. Avijit Das says

    1. Favoured.
    2.phased out
    3. Replace
    4. Long serving
    5. Presence
    6. Hand-held
    7. New electric detector
    8. Appears

  73. 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

  74. Nesreen says

    1. is being favoured.
    2. are being phased out.
    3. replace.
    4. ?
    5. presence.
    6. hand-held.
    7. yellow feathered.
    8. long run.

  75. 1. Being favoured
    2. Phase out
    3. Will reolaced
    4.long serving
    5. Present
    6. Hand held
    7.
    8.more apparent

  76. pardeep kaur says

    1. favoured
    2. unnoticed
    3.Replace
    4.long serving
    5.presence
    6.hand-held
    7.canary
    8.more effective

  77. 1. Favoured
    2. Phased out
    3. Replace
    4. Long-serving
    5. Present
    6. Hand held
    7. Yellow feathered friend
    8. In the long run

  78. 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

  79. Ayomipo says

    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.

  80. 1> Favoured
    2> Phased out
    3> Replace
    4> Long-serving
    5> presence
    6> Hand-held
    7> Yellow feathered
    8> Extent

  81. mohammad nasser says

    I think the word “ultimately” has no paraphrase in this passage.

  82. Suma Narasimhamurthy says

    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

  83. mohammad nasser says

    1. favoured
    2. phased out
    3. replace
    4. long serving
    5. presence
    6. hand-held
    7. yellow feathered friend
    8. extent

  84. gagandeep says

    1. Favoured
    2.phased out
    3. Replace
    4. long serving
    5. Presence
    6. Hand held
    7. Yellow feathered friend
    8. In long run

  85. KULWANT SINGH says

    1. FAVOURED
    2. BEING PHASED OUT
    3. REPLACE
    4. LONG-SERVING
    5. PRESENCE
    6. HAND-HELD
    7. YELLOW FEATHERED FRIEND
    8. OTHERWISE

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