Recognising paraphrase at natural speed

Match the words in exam questions to the very different words speakers actually use, and cope with fast, connected speech in conversations, talks and lectures.

Level C1 20 min4 exercisesLesson 3 of 12 in Listening C1

Trains: IELTS Listening Part 3, TOEFL iBT Listening – Academic Talk, TOEIC Listening Part 3 – Conversations

What you'll learn

Recognise the main types of paraphrase: synonyms, word-class changes, negatives and opposites, general and specific words, and numbers expressed differently
Predict how a question might be paraphrased before you listen
Avoid “word-matching” traps, where an option repeats the speaker's words but changes the meaning
Follow natural-speed speech with weak forms, linking and contractions

Lesson content

8 steps · 4 exercises · 20 min total

1. Warm-up2 questions
2. LearnThe skill and the strategy
3. ModelSee how it's done
4. Practice 1TOEIC-style questions
5. Practice 2Academic talk: match the meaning + 1 more
6. Exam tips3 tips
7. Key vocabulary11 words
8. SummaryReview and finish

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