Competencias comunicativas V

Paraphrasing

The simple definition of paraphrasing is to express some author’s ideas through different words. It is important to keep in mind that when an author is trying to paraphrase a text, the actual point of the text must not be changed. The way to express the same ideas might be using synonyms, or changing some structures within the sentence.

Exercise 1
1. Despite their massive size, elephants are known for being agile.
Answer: Even though elephants are such huge animals, its reputation of being quite nimble speaks by itself.
2. Because elephants consume up to 500 pounds of food a day, they are able to strip a forest bare in no time.
Answer: Elephants can finish with a forest in a very short period of time, provided that they eat an average amount of food of 500 hundred pounds a day.
3. Over the centuries, lions have been used in art to represent power and magnificence.
Answer: lions represent majesty and power. This idea has been used through many years of history.
4. Lions are social animals with one dominant in each pride.
Answer: As well as in every social group, lions have a dominant individual, which is always a male.
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.
Answer: one remarkable person in was, without any doubt, George Washington Carver. He loved education and teaching. Also, its reputation as an artist, musician and passion for research made him a well–known character to The United States.
6. Archibald McLeish, known for his poetry, was appointed head of the library of congress by President Roosevelt in 1939.
Answer: in 1939, President Roosevelt put Archibald McLeish in charge of the library of Congress, given that his work as a poet was really well thought of.
Exercise 2
1. Main idea: Many people have troubles because the lack of water.
2. Main idea: oil fields are always wanted, despite most of the times there is not enough to make an actual profit.
3. Main idea: Quakers are a religious group which dedicates to help people around the world.
Exercise 3

Students’ Rights (summary)

It is well-known that when the decision/making process in education is done, students’ opinions are never included; this should be obviously reconsidered; starting now. This question is raised: who knows better than students what a university should do for them? Taking our own campus as an example, our principal problem is the selection of the faculty members. As it was already said, students should be taken into account when hiring professors, choosing what materials will be used, and what schedules will be offered; nevertheless, this never happens. Decades ago, students were not afraid of expressing themselves, why are they, now?