paraphrasing sentences exercises with answers

Paraphrasing and Summarizing Exercises with Answers

Paraphrasing and Summarizing are two skills that are highly useful for writers. With these two techniques, writers can get help creating their content and providing it to their readers in an easy-to-peruse way.

However, if you happen to be new to the field of writing, you could be a little unaware and untrained in both these skills. But don’t worry. Everyone starts out as a beginner.

In this post, we’re going to be looking at some  paraphrasing and summarizing  exercises along with their answers and explanations. By following along, you’ll get a good idea about how you can use these techniques in your own capacity.

Let’s begin!

What is Paraphrasing and Summarizing?

Before we get to the exercises, let’s digress a little and understand what paraphrasing and summarization actually are.

Let’s start with paraphrasing.

Paraphrasing  is the process in which a particular piece of content is reworded and rephrased in such a way that it looks different from its original version but it has the same meaning and context.

A simple example of paraphrasing would be to change “John likes his cat” to “John adores his feline pet”. Paraphrasing can be as slight as merely changing some words in the text, or it can be as drastic as fully changing the tone, structure, order, and words of the content.

On the other hand,  Summarizing  is the process in which a piece of content is shrunk and shortened to about one-tenth of its original size. In this shortened version, the main idea and concept of the content is provided.

Summarization is usually used by authors and writers when they want to give a brief outline of a book or article to their readers.

Now that we’ve looked at the definitions of both, let’s move ahead to look at some exercises.

Paraphrasing Exercises (with Answers)

The main purpose of providing these exercises along with their answers is to help you understand what these techniques look like when they are implemented. Since we have explained their core definition above, you can try and work along the exercises to improve your skills a little as well.

Related:  Difference Between Paraphrasing And Rephrasing

Paraphrasing Exercise # 1:

Here is a sample paragraph that we will be paraphrasing as an exercise. We’ll write the paragraph alone first, and then provide the answer after a brief explanation.

Sample Paragraph:

"John could not find the butter in his fridge. He went to buy some from the store. On coming back, he saw his cat sitting on the floor, smacking its lips. There was some yellow stuff smeared all around its face. Thus, John solved the mystery of the missing butter."

So, as we mentioned earlier, paraphrasing can be done simply and sparingly, or it can be done drastically.

One of the primary and basic ways of paraphrasing is to simply change some words in the provided content with their synonyms. This is, we reiterate, a very basic level of paraphrasing, and it is often very easy to see through it.

So, for this first exercise, we are going to be doing only that level of paraphrasing as a way to illustrate how it looks like.

Here is what the above paragraph looks like when paraphrased:

Paraphrased Paragraph:

"John could not locate the butter in the refrigerator. He went to purchase some from the shop. On coming back, he observed his cat sitting on the ground, licking its lips. There was some yellow material smeared all around its face. Hence, John solved the mystery of the missing butter."

While we are on this discussion, it will also be salubrious to understand that when changing words with their synonyms for the purpose of paraphrasing, you have to be careful that you pick those that don’t mess up the context and intent of the lines.

Paraphrasing Exercise # 2:

Moving on, let’s look at another paraphrasing exercise. Here is the paragraph that we will be using for this one:

"John’s cat got lost in the forest. He went looking for it in the night time. He heard some movement in one of the bushes. He put his hand in and felt the fur. He pulled the thing out, thinking it to be his cat. After coming home, he realized it was an angry raccoon."

We mentioned in the last exercise that the basic level of paraphrasing is to change some of the words in the given text with their synonyms. And we also mentioned how that sort of paraphrasing can be easily detected.

So, for writers who want to paraphrase something in such a way that it does not resemble its original form a lot, there’s a step further that they can go, and that is to change the sentence structures + phrases.

Essentially, by changing the phrases used in the content as well as the arrangement of the sentences, the overall look of the paraphrased piece looks very different. If someone wants to go even ahead of that, they can shuffle the sentence  order  as well.

Considering this type of ‘extensive’ paraphrasing, here is the answer to the paragraph given above:

"John’s cat went missing in the forest. He went to search for it when it was dark. He discerned some movement in the hedge. After putting his hand inside it, he felt some fur. Thinking that it was his cat, he pulled the animal out. It was only after coming home that he realized that it was a frustrated raccoon."

Read more: How And Why to Paraphrase Your Content?

Summarizing Exercises (with Answers)

Now that we have looked at the paraphrasing exercises, let’s move on to look at some for summarizing.

Just as we’ve looked at two types of paraphrasing above, we’ll also look at two different types of summarizing.

Actually, it’ll be better if we explain those two types before getting to the exercises.

Basically, there are  two types of summaries . One of them is called  extractive  and the other is called  abstractive .

In extractive summarization, the summary of a piece of content is generated merely by taking out some sentences from it and joining them together. This is usually the type of summaries that you get from automated tools.

When extractive summaries are created, there is no effort to understand the actual meaning and context of the text. Rather, the purpose is only to take some lines from it and join them together in such a way that they make sense.

On the other hand, abstractive summaries are those that are written using a completely new and different set of words, phrases and sentences than the content (that is being summarized). As opposed to extractive summarization, abstractive summarization involves understanding the meaning and context of the text, and then creating a completely new summary that features all those concepts and ideas.

Summarizing Exercise # 1 (Extractive)

In order to demonstrate and explain extractive summarization, we’re going to first write a paragraph here and then provide its summary afterwards:

Sample paragraph:

"John’s car broke down. He stopped by the road side and screamed at people to stop and help him. But no one stopped for him. He continued howling and howling for hours. People kept driving by. After getting tired, he picked up a sheet and wrapped it around himself. Then, he started spinning on his spot. He grew dizzy. He kept spinning and spinning until he fell asleep."

Now, since we have to use the “extractive” summarization technique here, we’ll create the summary using the lines and sentences used in the content itself.

"John’s car broke down. But no one stopped for him. Then, he started spinning on the spot. He kept spinning and spinning until he fell asleep."

Summarizing Exercise # 2 (Abstractive)

For this exercise, we will use the same para that we did above. However, the technique used for the summarization will be different.

Since we will be using the abstractive technique here, the summary will be created using different words and phrases as the original.

"John’s vehicle went phut. But, no one stopped their car to help him. After he was tired, he made himself dizzy by spinning and then went to sleep."

So, that’s about it.

If you were a little confused about paraphrasing and summarization techniques, hopefully you’re a little more confident about them now.

These skills can come in handy for writers in a lot of different situations. If you don’t have the hang of them already, you should try and get it as quick as you can.

Paraphrasing Worksheets

The Communist Manifesto

Restate The Passage

Synonymous Words

Make It Brief

Just The Main Idea

Key Details

Take Notes And Think

Listing Supporting Points

Learn The Process

Articulate The Structure

Paraphrase The Story

Conduct A Research

5 Wh And 1 H

Consulting Sources

All about these 15 worksheets.

Our paraphrasing worksheets will help students practice the skill of rephrasing sentences, paragraphs, or larger pieces of text in their own words. These worksheets typically provide a sentence or passage, followed by a space where the user is encouraged to rewrite the given text without changing its meaning. The goal of these exercises is to improve one’s ability to understand and convey information in a way that demonstrates comprehension while avoiding direct copying. By breaking down the structure and meaning of the original text, students develop a stronger grasp of language patterns, vocabulary, and syntax.

One of the primary benefits of using paraphrasing worksheets is that they enhance reading comprehension. When students rephrase sentences, they must first fully understand the meaning of the text before expressing it in their own words. This process forces them to think critically about word choice, sentence structure, and context, which in turn leads to a deeper understanding of the material. By regularly practicing this skill, learners become more adept at breaking down complex texts, making it easier for them to analyze and interpret various forms of writing, whether it be fiction, non-fiction, or academic material.

Paraphrasing worksheets also encourage the development of a more versatile vocabulary. When rewording a sentence or passage, students are challenged to use synonyms and alternative phrasing without altering the intended meaning. This stretches their vocabulary and exposes them to new words and expressions, making them more confident in their language use. Additionally, it helps them become more aware of subtle differences in meaning between words, fostering precision in their writing and communication.

For those looking to improve their writing skills, paraphrasing exercises are invaluable. They help learners practice creating original text that avoids plagiarism while still accurately conveying information. This is a crucial skill for academic and professional writing, where originality and clarity are paramount. By working on these worksheets, students gain confidence in producing their own work and learn how to structure their sentences and ideas in a clearer and more coherent manner.

This collection of worksheets can be particularly helpful for English language learners (ELLs) or individuals looking to enhance their fluency in a second language. Since these worksheets focus on rewording rather than directly translating, learners are encouraged to think in the target language, building stronger linguistic connections. This not only improves their language comprehension but also helps them develop a natural feel for idiomatic expressions and the nuances of grammar in the new language.

Paraphrasing involves rephrasing the words of others to convey the same meaning in a new and original way. It’s an important skill to develop for writing essays, research papers, and for understanding complex texts. We work on a wide variety of skills including:

Passages to Paraphrase –  These include short passages that students are asked to paraphrase. This helps students practice putting ideas into their own words.

Comparing Paraphrases – Students might be given an original passage and several paraphrased versions, and asked to identify the best paraphrase. This can help students understand what makes a good paraphrase.

Paraphrase and Original Side by Side – These include an original text and a paraphrase side by side, asking students to identify the similarities and differences. This can help students understand how to maintain the original meaning while changing the wording.

Originality Awareness –  The focus here is on distinguishing between paraphrasing and plagiarism, teaching students the importance of changing the structure and words of the original text significantly, and of giving credit to the original source.

What Are the 3 Ways of Paraphrasing?

Here are three common techniques for paraphrasing:

1. Change the Word Order

Changing the sentence structure can be an effective way to paraphrase. Be careful to ensure that the new sentence still accurately represents the original meaning.

2. Use Synonyms

Replace words with their synonyms, but be careful about the words that have no exact synonym or whose meanings vary based on context. Always double-check to make sure that the synonyms fit the context and preserve the original meaning.

3. Change the Voice

If the sentence is in active voice, you can change it to passive voice, and vice versa. However, you should use this method judiciously as overuse of the passive voice can make your writing seem weak or awkward.

Let’s take an example sentence to illustrate these techniques:

Original sentence: “The cat chased the mouse.”

Change the Word Order: “The mouse was chased by the cat.”

Use Synonyms: “The feline pursued the rodent.”

Change the Voice: “The mouse was being chased by the cat.”

Remember, even when you paraphrase, you must provide appropriate citation. Paraphrasing is not just about changing words but about fully understanding and conveying the original idea in your own style. Even if you’ve put the idea into your own words, it’s still someone else’s idea, so it’s important to give credit where it’s due.

What Are the 5 Steps of Paraphrasing?

Step 1: Read and Understand the Original Text

First, thoroughly read the original text to ensure you fully understand the meaning. You might need to read difficult or complex texts several times before you grasp the core idea.

Step 2: Identify the Main Ideas

Once you understand the text, identify the main ideas that you want to include in your paraphrase. This step might involve taking notes or highlighting key points in the text.

Step 3: Write Without Looking at the Original

Put the original text aside and write the paraphrase in your own words. This helps to ensure that you’re not just substituting words with synonyms but truly expressing the idea in a new way.

Step 4: Compare With the Original

After writing, compare your paraphrase with the original text. Make sure you have accurately represented the main ideas and details, and that your paraphrase is significantly different from the original. Check that you haven’t inadvertently used the same phrases or sentence structures.

Step 5: Cite the Source

Even though you are paraphrasing, the ideas are still someone else’s, so it’s important to appropriately cite the source of the information. The citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago) you use will depend on the academic discipline or the preference of your instructor or institution.

Paraphrasing Exercises with Answers

If you are Looking for paraphrasing Exercises with answers, then this is the page for you!

Paraphrasing is one of the most accessible tools in the English language that allows you to create original content from scratch. Anyone can do a little bit of research of their own online and comfortably talk about their findings to make new articles or produce a research report. The scale of paraphrasing is quite an importance in the life of anyone who is into writing a lot of stuff. It is an acquired Academic skill which can be perfected with the help of some practice.

Note: If you are someone who has to write content in your day to day life regularly, then using our rewording website will help you to produce excellent articles instantly.

Let’s get back to our article, many of our readers have asked us about how one can get better at paraphrasing articles. The answer to that comes from the simple saying of practice makes perfect.

ABOUT PARAPHRASING

Paraphrasing can be put into simple words by just saying that it is the procedure of rewording information . It involves researching multiple sources online, and when one puts their understanding of the subject into their own words, It is known as paraphrasing. dig deeper and learn more about the meaning of paraphrasing .

HOW TO GET BETTER AT PARAPHRASING

To get better at paraphrasing ,  specific rules and regulations need to be followed while trying to create your content. Following these basic necessary steps will help you improve your technique at paraphrasing:

• Read the text thoroughly to understand it.
• When you feel that now you have enough knowledge about the subject, try to write a paraphrase about it.
• Speak your thoughts out while writing a paraphrase to write it better.
• Repeat steps 1 to 3 if you forget any essential topics from the original passage.
• After completing your paraphrase read the source material to confirm all topics have been mentioned in your paraphrase.

Paraphrasing Exercises

Here are a few paraphrasing exercises to help you practice your paraphrasing skills.

Exercise 1:

Original: Condenser microphones have been a part of society for a long time now. Because of their fantastic sound quality that has been little to no innovation in the mic industry for over 30 years now. The basics of condenser mic have remained the same which allow countless many new manufacturers to create great mic for low prices. One such example of this comes from China where the patent laws are quite loose. Now anyone can buy a decent condenser mic just under the price of a pizza.

Paraphrase: Condenser microphones have been around for a long time, maintaining the same technology for over 30 years due to their excellent sound quality. This stability has allowed many new manufacturers to produce high-quality mics at low prices. For instance, in China, where patent laws are lax, you can get a decent condenser mic for the price of a pizza.

Exercise 2:

Original: The advancements in artificial intelligence have revolutionized many industries, from healthcare to finance. Machines are now capable of learning and improving their performance without human intervention.”

Paraphrase: Artificial intelligence has transformed various fields, including healthcare and finance. Machines can now learn and enhance their performance independently.”

Exercise 3:

Original: Global warming is a pressing issue that affects every aspect of our lives. It is caused primarily by the increase in greenhouse gases due to human activities like deforestation and burning fossil fuels.

Paraphrase: Global warming impacts all areas of life and is a major concern. It’s mainly driven by higher greenhouse gas levels from activities such as deforestation and burning fossil fuels.

Exercise 4:

Original: Social media platforms have drastically changed the way we communicate and interact with each other. They provide instant access to information and allow people to stay connected regardless of their geographical location.

Paraphrase: Social media has significantly altered our communication and interactions. These platforms offer instant information access and keep people connected, no matter where they are.

Exercise 5:

Original: Eating a balanced diet is crucial for maintaining good health. It provides the necessary nutrients that our bodies need to function properly and helps prevent chronic diseases.

Paraphrased: A balanced diet is essential for good health. It supplies the vital nutrients our bodies need and helps prevent chronic illnesses.

Exercise 6:

Original: The rise of remote work has changed the traditional office environment. Employees now have the flexibility to work from anywhere, which has led to increased job satisfaction and productivity.

Paraphrase: “Remote work has transformed the typical office setup. Workers can now work from any location, boosting job satisfaction and productivity.”

Exercise 7:

Original: Renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, are becoming increasingly popular. They provide a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels and help reduce our carbon footprint.

Paraphrase: Solar and wind power, as renewable energy sources, are growing in popularity. They offer a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels and help lower our carbon footprint.

Exercise 8:

Original: Learning a new language can be challenging but rewarding. It opens up opportunities for personal and professional growth and helps you connect with people from different cultures.

Paraphrase: Learning a new language is tough but beneficial. It creates personal and professional opportunities and helps you engage with diverse cultures.

Here’s what I did to generate the paraphrased versions above:

• Read and Understand : Fully understood the original text.
• Identify Key Points : Identified the main ideas and key points.
• Rephrase : Used This tool to rewrote the sentences using different words and structures while keeping the original meaning intact.
• Simplify : Used simpler language and shorter sentences to enhance clarity.
• Maintain Context : Ensured the new version still made sense within the context.

Other Helpful Resources:

• Summarizing and Paraphrasing Examples
• When to Paraphrase ?
• The 10 types of paraphrasing
• The Best Paraphrasing tools and Apps
• How to Rewrite AI Generated Text to Human style ?
• ← Summarizing and Paraphrasing Examples
• When to Use Dashes Between Words? →

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Types of Paraphrasing

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Exercise : Intermediate-level Paraphrase Exercises

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Paraphrase Exercise

• Please read the following passages carefully and paraphrase it. “In the United States, about six out of ten students in graduate schools are women. The same is true of today’s young adults who already have a degree beyond college. As a result, the Census Bureau expects that more women than men will hold professions such as doctors, lawyers and professors.” (Women Edge Past Men in Getting Doctorates, Voice of America, learningenglish.com)
• “The Human Relations Commission (HRC) was established by the City of West Lafayette to protect the rights of our citizens and to ensure that West Lafayette remains a fair and inclusive community.” (What is the Human Relations Commission?, City of West Lafayette Indiana, westlafayette.in.gov)
• “The years after World War One were an important turning point in the making of the American nation. The country turned away from the problems of Europe. Now it would deal with problems of its own.” (American History Series: The United States Turns Inward After World War One, Voice of America, learning English.voa.com)

Summary Exercise

Please read the following passage carefully and write a summary for them.

• “Business is the most popular subject for international students in the United States. At last count, 21% of foreign students at American colleges and universities were studying business and management.” (Business English Speakers Can Still be Divided by a Common Language, Voice of America, learningenglish.voanews.com)
• “There were more victories for supporters of the Tea Party movement. This movement centers on cutting taxes and government spending. It brings together conservatives and libertarians -- strong believers in individual liberty.” (More Wins for TEA Party Activists, but Will They Win in November?, Voice of America, learningenglish.voanews.com)
• “In the years after World War I, new technologies changed America. Technology made it possible for millions of people to improve their lives. It also brought great changes in American society.” (Movies Become Big Business in the 1920s, Voice of America, learningenglish.voanews.com)