Paraphrasing Exercises
Exercise 1
Original text:
Technology can improve the quality of life and governments need to plan carefully for the
future (Turnbull, 2015).
Paraphrase:
Governments need to plan carefully for the future as technology can improve the quality of
life.
This example of paraphrasing is a □ Bad example □ Good example
Why? ______________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Exercise 2
Original text:
The hardest language to learn is Mandarin as fluency requires memorising thousands of
characters (Johnson, 2014).
Paraphrase:
Mandarin is one of the most difficult languages to master because fluency requires
remembering thousands of characters (Johnson, 2014).
This example of paraphrasing is a □ Bad example □ Good example
Why? ______________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
© North Metropolitan TAFE 2016 Page 1 of 3
Exercise 3
Original text:
In recent years there has been growing concern among environmentalists and some car
owners about the pollutants that cars emit into the atmosphere (Elliot, 2005).
Paraphrase:
Recently, there has been increasing concern among environmentalists and some car owners
about the pollutants that cars send out into the atmosphere.
This example of paraphrasing is a □ Bad example □ Good example
Why? ______________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Exercise 4
Original text:
The first Chinese immigrants to Australia arrived in 1848 as shepherds, land clearers and
general farm hands (Irwin, 2001, p.8).
Paraphrase:
Chinese immigrants to Australia in the mid-nineteenth century initially found employment
in the rural sector (Irwin, 2001, p.8).
This example of paraphrasing a □ Bad example □ Good example
Why? ______________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
© North Metropolitan TAFE 2016 Page 2 of 3
Exercise 5
Original text:
Brazil’s Amazon jungle is alive with millions of plant and animal species. But the jungle is
shrinking. Loggers cut down trees for wood and paper (Better Lesson, 2011).
Paraphrase:
There is an abundance of plant and animal life in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. However,
it is decreasing in size due to loggers who are sawing down trees for wood products (Better
Lesson, 2011).
This example of paraphrasing is a □ Bad example □ Good example
Why? ______________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Exercise 6
Original text:
Cleopatra ruled Egypt more than 2000 years ago. Much is known about the powerful queen.
But a mystery remains as to where she was buried (Better Lesson, 2011).
Paraphrase:
Searchers have never been able to locate the burial site of the powerful queen Cleopatra
who governed Egypt late BC, even though a lot is known about her and the life she led
(Better Lesson, 2011).
This example of paraphrasing is a □ Bad example □ Good example
Why? ______________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
© North Metropolitan TAFE 2016 Page 3 of 3
