40 min

language learning center · C1 · Lesson 8

Precise paraphrase

Paraphrase complex meaning accurately while distinguishing the speaker’s claim, emphasis, and intended implication.

Understand and learn

Work from a natural example to useful language, one small pattern, a spoken attempt, and a response that is relevant to your life.

Ravi

I am not suggesting that expertise is irrelevant; my point is that expertise alone does not guarantee sound judgement.

Clara

If I understand you correctly, you value expertise but reject the idea that it should settle every decision.

Ravi

Exactly. More specifically, judgement also depends on context, incentives, and whose experience is represented.

Clara

Then the emphasis is on broadening the basis of a decision, not discrediting specialist knowledge.

Notice, try, and speak

Understand a natural example and learn a small set of useful words, phrases, and patterns.

Useful words and phrases

These items were selected by the lesson curriculum for practical use—not extracted as an every-word list.

Learn these items
  • If I understand you correctly,…

    If I understand you correctly, you value expertise but reject the idea that it should settle every decision.

  • In other words, you are distinguishing… from…

    In other words, you are distinguishing… from…

  • More specifically,…

    Exactly. More specifically, judgement also depends on context, incentives, and whose experience is represented.

  • The emphasis is on… rather than…

    Then the emphasis is on broadening the basis of a decision, not discrediting specialist knowledge.

  • That does not imply that…

    That does not imply that…

Notice, try, and speak

Which paraphrase preserves the meaning of “Cost matters, but cost alone should not determine the decision”?

Which paraphrase preserves the meaning of “Cost matters, but cost alone should not determine the decision”?

Notice, try, and speak

Work from a natural example to useful language, one small pattern, a spoken attempt, and a response that is relevant to your life.

Listening

Listen, then choose what you heard.

Writing

Write your own sentence using this item.

This is self-practice. It is not automatically scored as correct or incorrect.

Speaking

Answer in your own words. Record yourself, listen back, and then compare your response with the model answer.

Make it yours

Paraphrase a complex English claim, then check its emphasis and name one conclusion that would not follow from it.

Use a claim whose meaning depends on a careful distinction.

Use it with someone

Paraphrase complex meaning in English

  1. 1. If I understand you correctly,…
  2. 2. In other words, you are distinguishing… from…
  3. 3. More specifically,…
  4. 4. The emphasis is on… rather than…
  5. 5. That does not imply that…
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