Paraphrase spotting: the skill behind most answers

By Michael Ukwuma

How test makers reword ideas, and a ten minute drill to train your eye.

If I had to name one skill that decides Reading and Listening on CELPIP, it is this one. Can you recognize the same idea dressed in different words?

The five common disguises

Synonyms: 'cancelled' becomes 'called off'.
Word form changes: 'the decision was difficult' becomes 'they found it hard to decide'.
Positive and negative swaps: 'not expensive' becomes 'affordable'.
General and specific: 'apples and pears' becomes 'fruit'.
Cause and effect flipped: 'because of the rain, the game moved' becomes 'the weather led to a change of plans'.

The ten minute drill

After any reading practice, take every question you got wrong.
Find the sentence in the text that proves the correct answer.
Write the text words on the left and the answer words on the right.
Name the disguise: synonym, word form, negative swap, general and specific, or cause and effect.
Tomorrow, cover the right side and try to recall the paraphrase.

In a week you will start seeing the disguises before you even read the options.

Practice now

Try this
Text: The community centre will be closed for renovations until the end of March.
Which option matches?
A. The centre is being renovated in March.
B. The centre will reopen in April at the earliest.
C. The centre closes at the end of March.

The answer is B. 'Closed until the end of March' means it cannot open before April. Option A copies 'renovations' and 'March' but changes the meaning. Option C copies 'end of March' but reverses it.

Key points

Learn the five disguises.
For every wrong answer, map text words to answer words.
Copycat options are the most common trap.