1. Read the text below and then evaluate the three paraphrases (1=best), giving reasons.

THE CAUSES OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

Allen (2009) argues that the best explanation for the British location of the industrial revolution is found
by studying demand factors. By the early eighteenth century high wages and cheap energy were both
features of the British economy. Consequently, the mechanisation of industry through such inventions as
the steam engine and mechanical spinning was profitable because employers were able to economise on
labour by spending on coal. At that time, no other country had this particular combination of expensive
labour and abundant fuel.
(a) A focus on demand may help to explain the UK origin of the industrial revolution. At that time
workers’ pay was high, but energy from coal was inexpensive. This encouraged the development of
mechanical inventions based on steam power, which enabled bosses to save money by mechanising
production (Allen, 2009).

(b) The reason why Britain was the birthplace of the industrial revolution can be understood by
analysing demand in the early 1700s, according to Allen (2009). He maintains that, uniquely, Britain
had the critical combination of cheap energy from coal and high labour costs. This encouraged the
adoption of steam power to mechanise production, thus saving on wages and increasing profitability.

(c) Allen (2009) claims that the clearest explanation for the UK location of the industrial revolution is
seen by examining demand factors. By the eighteenth century cheap energy and high wages were both
aspects of the British economy. As a result, the mechanisation of industry through inventions such as the
steam engine and mechanical spinning was profitable because employers were able to save money on
employees by spending on coal. At that time, Britain was the only country with significant deposits of
coal.

C–1

A–2

B–3

(c) is ranked first because it accurately presents the key points from the original text in a clear and concise
manner. It maintains the focus on demand factors, high wages, and cheap energy, providing a precise
explanation of why the Industrial Revolution started in the UK.

(a) Is ranked second as it captures the main ideas but is slightly less clear and concise compared to (c). The
use of “may help” introduces a level of uncertainty.

(b) Is ranked third because it introduces a bit more complexity in the language and structure. While it
conveys the main points, it may be slightly less clear for readers unfamiliar with the topic.

2. Read the following text and then practise the paraphrasing techniques.

FOUR WHEELS GOOD

1) The growth of the car industry parallels the development of modern capitalism. It began in France
and Germany, but took off in the United States.
The evolution of the automobile sector mirrors the rise of modern capitalism, originating in France
and Germany before flourishing in the United States.

2) There Henry Ford adapted the moving production line from the Chicago meat industry to motor
manufacturing, thus inventing mass production.

In the US, Henry Ford revolutionized motor manufacturing by introducing assembly line
technology borrowed from the Chicago meat industry, pioneering mass production methods.

3) In the 1920s Alfred Sloan’s management theories helped General Motors to become the world’s
dominant car company.

In the 1920s, Alfred Sloan’s management principles led General Motors to global prominence in
the automotive industry.

4) After the second world war the car makers focused on the styling of their products to
encourage more frequent model changes.

Following World War II, car manufacturers prioritized the aesthetic appeal of their vehicles to
encourage more frequent model changes.

5) From the 1970s there was criticism of the industry due to the inefficiency of most vehicles, which
used petrol wastefully.

In the 1970s, there was criticism of the industry’s inefficiencies, particularly the wasteful use of
gasoline by most vehicles.
 6) At the same time, trades unions became increasingly militant in defence of their members’ jobs.
Today the industry owns some of the most famous brands in the world.
Simultaneously, trade unions have become more persistent in protecting the labor rights of their
members, and today the industry boasts some of the world’s most famous brands.

7) However, many car makers are currently threatened by increased competition and saturated markets.

Nevertheless, many car manufacturers are now facing increased competition and oversaturated markets,
which threaten their viability.

3. Find synonyms for the words underlined.

It commenced in France and Germany, but spread in the United States.

There Henry Ford modified the moving proffering line from the Chicago meat industry to engine
manufacturing, consequently inventing mass production.

4. Change the word class of the underlined words, and then re-write the sentences.
After World War II, car manufacturers encouraged most of the model changes by focusing on the style of
their products.

From the 1970s industry was criticized for producing inefficient vehicles which was wasting petrol.

5. Change the word order of the following sentences (other changes may be needed).

Today some of the most famous brands in the world are owned by the industry.

However, increased competition and saturated markets currently threaten many car makers.

6. Use the same techniques to paraphrase the following text.

THE PAST BELOW THE WAVES

(1) More than three million shipwrecks are believed to lie on the seabed, the result of storms and
accidents during thousands of years of sea-borne trading.
The ocean floor is thought to hold more than three million shipwrecks, as a result of storms and wrecks
spanning thousands of years of maritime trade.

(2) These wrecks offer marine archaeologists valuable information about the culture, technology and
trade patterns of ancient civilisations, but the vast majority have been too deep to research.
These shipwrecks provide maritime archaeologists with valuable insights into the cultures, technologies
and trade routes of ancient civilizations. However, most of them remained inaccessible due to their great
depth.

(3) Scuba divers can only operate down to 50 metres, which limits operations to wrecks near the coast,
which have often been damaged by storms or plant growth.
Diving capabilities are limited to 50 meters, restricting exploration to coastal wrecks, often damaged by
storms or overgrown with vegetation.

(4)A few deep sea sites (such as the Titanic) have been explored by manned submarines, but this kind of
equipment has been too expensive for less famous subjects.
Manned submarines have explored several deep-sea sites, such as the Titanic, but their high cost has rendered them
inaccessible for less renowned wrecks.

(5) However, this situation has been changed by the introduction of a new kind of mini submarine: the
automatic underwater vehicle (AUV).
However, the advent of a new type of miniature submarine, the Automated Underwater Vehicle (AUV),
has changed this scenario.

(6) This cheap, small craft is free moving and does not need an expensive mother-ship to control it.
This compact, affordable vessel operates independently, requiring no expensive control vessel

(7) Now a team of American archaeologists are planning to use an AUV to explore an area of sea north of
Egypt which was the approach to a major trading port 4,000 years ago.
Presently, a US archaeological team is preparing to use an unmanned aerial vehicle to explore a maritime
region north of Egypt once served as a route to an important trading port 4,000 years ago.

7. Write a paraphrase of each of the following passages. Try not to look back at
the original passage.

1. "The Antarctic is the vast source of cold on our planet, just as the sun is the source of our heat, and it
exerts tremendous control on our climate," [Jacques] Cousteau told the camera. "The cold ocean water
around Antarctica flows north to mix with warmer water from the tropics, and its upwellings help to
cool both the surface water and our atmosphere. Yet the fragility of this regulating system is now
threatened by human activity." From "Captain Cousteau," Audubon (May 1990):17.

Speaking on camera, Jacques Cousteau compared the Antarctic to our planet’s vast cooling system,
emphasizing its crucial role in climate regulation. He explained how cold ocean water from Antarctica
mixes with warmer tropical water, cooling both the surface water and the atmosphere. However, he
expressed concern that human activity is threatening this fragile balance.

2. The twenties were the years when drinking was against the law, and the law was a bad joke because
everyone knew of a local bar where liquor could be had. They were the years when organized crime
ruled the cities, and the police seemed powerless to do anything against it. Classical music was
forgotten while jazz spread throughout the land, and men like Bix Beiderbecke, Louis Armstrong, and
Count Basie became the heroes of the young. The flapper was born in the twenties, and with her bobbed
hair and short skirts, she symbolized, perhaps more than anyone or anything else, America's break with
the past. From Kathleen Yancey, English 102 Supplemental Guide (1989): 25.
The 1920s marked the Prohibition era, when drinking was outlawed, but underground bars were
commonplace. Organized crime flourished in the cities, defying the authorities. Jazz music rose to
prominence, eclipsing classical tunes, and figures such as Bix Beiderbecke, Louis Armstrong, and Count
Basie became icons. The appearance of the flapper with short hair and skirts symbolized America’s
departure from tradition
 3. Of the more than 1000 bicycling deaths each year, three-fourths are caused by head injuries. Half of
those killed are school-age children. One study concluded that wearing a bike helmet can reduce the risk
of head injury by 85 percent. In an accident, a bike helmet absorbs the shock and cushions the head.
From "Bike Helmets: Unused Lifesavers," Consumer Reports (May 1990): 348.
More than 1,000 bicycle fatalities occur each year, three-quarters of which involve head injuries, especially
among school-aged children. Research shows that wearing a bicycle helmet can significantly reduce the
risk of head injury by 85 percent because it absorbs shock and protects the head during crashes.

4. Matisse is the best painter ever at putting the viewer at the scene. He's the most realistic of all modern
artists, if you admit the feel of the breeze as necessary to a landscape and the smell of oranges as
essential to a still life. "The Casbah Gate" depicts the well-known gateway Bab el Aassa, which pierces
the southern wall of the city near the sultan's palace. With scrubby coats of ivory, aqua, blue, and rose
delicately fenced by the liveliest gray outline in art history, Matisse gets the essence of a Tangier
afternoon, including the subtle presence of the bowaab, the sentry who sits and surveys those who pass
through the gate. From Peter Plagens, "Bright Lights." Newsweek (26 March 1990): 50.
Matisse’s mastery lies in his ability to transport the viewer into the depicted scene. His paintings are
among the most realistic in modern art, they convey the essence of landscapes and still lifes with
unsurpassed realism. The Kasbah Gate vividly depicts the famous Bab el-Aassa Gate in Tangier with
delicate touches of ivory, aqua, blue and pink, bordered by a vibrant gray outline. Matisse captures the
atmosphere of a Tangier afternoon, including the subtle presence of the gatekeeper, the bovaab.

5. While the Sears Tower is arguably the greatest achievement in skyscraper engineering so far, it's
unlikely that architects and engineers have abandoned the quest for the world's tallest building. The
question is: Just how high can a building go? Structural engineer William LeMessurier has designed a
skyscraper nearly one-half mile high, twice as tall as the Sears Tower. And architect Robert Sobel
claims that existing technology could produce a 500-story building. From Ron Bachman, "Reaching
for the Sky." Dial (May 1990): 15
Although the Sears Tower is considered an outstanding achievement in skyscraper construction, architects
and engineers continue to strive to build the tallest building in the world. The question remains: what is the
upper limit of the height of the building? Structural engineer William LeMessurier envisioned a skyscraper
nearly half a mile tall, twice the height of the Sears Tower. Architect Robert Sobel suggests that modern
technologies can support the construction of a 500-story building.

8.

Student B paraphrase is better because it uses less of original source’s structure and vocabulare. It provides
a more substantial rephrasing that captures the essence of the original statement while presenting it in a
clearer and more concise manner.
Student A paraphrase is a poor paraphrase because the writer has only changed a couple of the words. If this
was put through a plagiarism checker it would score a very high originality score.

9. Use paraphrasing to correct the mistakes the following text.

While driving in city centers, numerous people exceed the speed limit. To address this issue, the
government could deploy additional surveillance cameras on the streets. With this solution, more violators
may be apprehended, contributing to the eventual mitigation of the problem.

10. Paraphrase each sentence

1. Elephants are recognized for their agility, despite their considerable size.
2. Elephants can swiftly strip a forest of its vegetation due to their consumption of up to 500
pounds of food daily.
3. Throughout history, lions have symbolized power and grandeur in artistic representations.
4. Within each pride, lions exhibit social behavior, typically led by one dominant male.
5. Recognized as a devoted educator, George Washington Carver, was also celebrated as a
skilled artist, musician, and researcher, contributing significantly to his community and nation.
6. Appointed by President Roosevelt in 1939, Archibald MacLeish, famed for his poetry, assumed
leadership of the Library of Congress.

11.11.
1. Main idea: Despite the abundance of water on Earth, many people do not have access to clean and
sufficient water due to problems such as pollution, salinity, and uneven distribution.

2. Main idea: Constant efforts are being made to discover new oil fields to replace depleted ones, despite
the high costs and uncertainties associated with drilling.

3. Main idea: The Quakers, also known as the Society of Friends, have a longstanding history of advocating
for human rights and aiding those in need, driven by their principles of pacifism and simplicity, evident
from their actions before and after the Civil War in the United States.