Exercise 1
Paraphrase each sentence. They may be more than one way to rewrite each one. Remember to change vocabulary, phrases and sentence structure wherever you can.
1. Despite their massive size, elephants are known for being agile.
Although they are large animals, elephants are known for being agile.
2. Because elephants consume up to 500 pounds of food a day, they are able to strip a forest bare in no time.
Due to large amounts of food eaten by elephants, they are capable to bringing down a forest quickly.
3. Over the centuries, lions have been used in art to represent power and magnificence.
Over the time, lions have been used as an icon that represents strength and wonder.
4. Lions are social animals with one dominant male in each pride.
It is common that interacting animals like lions have an authority member in their pride.
5. George Washington Carver was a dedicated teacher, in addition, he was known as a talented artist, musician, and researcher who made valuable contributions to his people and his country.
Because of different abilities regarding to music and acting G.W Carver was recognized for his labor in order to improve his country.
6. Archibald McLeish, known for his poetry, was appointed head of the Library of Congress by President Roosevelt in 1939.
Archibald McLeish was selected principal of the library of congress by President Roosevelt in 1939.
Exercise 2
Read each paragraph and state the main idea in your own words. If you find the main idea stated directly in the paragraph, be sure to use the paraphrasing techniques that you practice in exercise one.
1. There is plenty of water on the earth. In fact, there is enough water in this planet for everyone to have huge lake. The trouble is that the water is not always found in the place where it is needed. In addition, much of the water is polluted or salty. Because of these problems, there are many people without sufficient water.
Main Idea: Problems with the water around the world.
2. New oil supplies need to be found to replace those that have been used up. There is a constant search for new oil fields. Oil hunters sink their wells there are signs of oil. Each of these drillings costs thousands and thousands of dollars, and often there is not enough oil to make it profitable. Nevertheless, the search for new oil never ends.
Main idea: The necessity of replace old oil
3. Quakers, a religious group known as the Society of Friends, have always worked for human causes. Before the Civil War in the United States, they were against slavery and led the movement to help slaves escape from the southern part of the United States and seek freedom in the northern part. Today, they fight hunger and disease around the globe and still aid people fleeing tyranny and war. Their beliefs are based on the principles of pacifism and simple living.
Main idea: The principal purpose of Quakers is to fight against slavery and hunger in the world.
Exercise 3
Fill the outline and write a 100 word summary.
Thesis: Students should participate in the affairs of the university.
I (Main idea) Students deserve to be participant on the decision regarding to principal election at the University.
II (Main idea) Students would be a great help to develop flexible schedules to meet the needs of those.
III (Main idea) Students must fight for their rights like in the past.
Summary
The text summarized that students deserved to be participant in professors election, curriculum planning and scheduling. Regarding to the selection of faculty members, the do not have vote neither voice. First, students only interact with the selected professor only in the first day class. Second, they do not know where professors come from or what they have been done in order to be selected (revision of curriculum vitae). With respect to curriculum planning, the text expressed that if students have to pay for their books why they are not allowed to bring opinion about materials and planning to prepare them intellectually for the future. In connection to schedules, students must be included within the committee in charge of it.
What does this picture express?
This picture, in my opinion, expresses sadness because color gray is commonly associated with negative feelings and depression. Maybe the picture was taken in a rainy day, and when it’s raining we cannot fun as in sunny days.
