PARAPHRASING INFORMATION

Paraphrasing, or restating ideas in your own words, helps you check your understanding of what you hear and read. Read the passage. Which sentence  best restates the ideas in the passage?
 "Although television was not widely used in American homes until the 1950s, small, experimental television images were broadcast in the 1920s."

• Television was not widely used in American homes until the 1950s.
• Television became popular in the 1950s, but the first televisions were used thirty years earlier.
• Television became popular in the 1920s, and again in the 1950s.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

To help yourself paraphrase a text, look up any unfamiliar words or phrases.
Read the passage:
Thanks to the efforts of volunteers, people in Sauri, Kenya, have much better lives today than in years past. Their hospital now has a generator and running water, and it provides free medications for diseases that are widespread in the community. Cases of malaria have declined as people have been given mosquito nets for beds.
What is a generator?

• a device used to measure temperature
• a machine by which mechanical energy is changed into electrical energy and is used during power outages as back up
• a very serious illness
• a place to go when you need medical help

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

Which is the best paraphrase of the following sentence?
Deserts cover one fifth of the surface of the Earth. 

• Deserts cover one fifth of the Earth.
• One fifth of the Earth's surface is desert.
• Deserts cover one fifth of the Earth.
• Deserts cover more than half of the Earth's surface.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

What is the best paraphrase of the following sentence?
A type of shark called a shortfin mako can leap 20 feet above the surface of the water.

• A shark can leap 20 feet out of the water, it is called a shortfin mako. 
• The shortfin mako shark can jump above the surface of water.
• A shortfin mako is a kind of shark that can leap 20 feet out of the water. 
• A shortfin mako can jump 20 feet above the surface of the water.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

What is the best paraphrase of the following sentence?
Brazil is the largest country in South America and Suriname is the smallest. 

• The biggest country in South America is Brazil, while the tiniest is Suriname.
• Suriname and Brazil the largest and smallest countries in Brazil.
• The largest country is Brazil and the smallest country is Suriname, and they are both countries in Brazil.
• The two countries of Brazil and Suriname are two countries in Brazil.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

Choose the sentence that BEST paraphrases this sentence:

A high school student usually has summer reading assignments.

• A high school student always has homework assignments in the summer.
• It is common for students in high school to have summer reading assignments.
• Usually school aged students have summer reading assignments.
• Most summer school students have high school reading to do.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

When do you have to cite your sources?

• We do not have to cite sources.
• Only if your teacher tells you to.
• Whenever you use information from an author or a reference source.
• Only when you have time.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.2C

CCSS.L.4.2B

CCSS.L.5.2D

 Choose the BEST paraphrase of this text: 
The giant rafflesia, also known as "the stinking corpse lily" has blossoms that can reach three feet in diameter and weigh up to twenty five pounds. The flowers give off a smell similar to rotting meat.

• The stinking corpse lily, also known as the giant rafflesia has blossoms. They can get pretty big and the blossoms stink.
• A flower with the nickname "the stinking corpse lily" produces an odor like rotting meat. The real name of this huge flower that can weigh as much as twenty five pounds is the giant rafflesia.
• The giant rafflesia, also known as "the stinking corpse lily" has blossoms that can reach three feet in diameter and weigh up to twenty five pounds. The flowers give off a smell similar to rotting meat.
• There are flowers give off a smell similar to rotting meat. The giant rafflesia, also known as "the stinking corpse lily" has blossoms that can reach three feet in diameter and weigh up to twenty five pounds.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

Choose the BEST paraphrase of these sentences:
Rugby football is the most popular sport in New Zealand. Most villages, towns, and districts have their own teams.
(World Book Atlas page 212)

• Of all sports played in New Zealand, rugby football is the most popular. Most areas even have their own teams.
• Rugby and football are the most popular sports in the area of New Zealand. Every village, town, and district has teams.
• New Zealand sports include rugby football in most districts, villages, and towns.
• Most villages, districts, and towns in New Zealand love rugby football and popular sports.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.1

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

Which is the best paraphrase of the following sentence?
Dragonflies have six legs, but they can’t walk. 

• Dragonflies have six legs but cannot walk, and I think that this is odd.
• Dragonflies have six legs.
• Although Dragonflies have six legs, they cannot walk at all.
•  Even though they have six legs, dragonflies can’t walk. 

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2