Study · Academic listening skillsLesson 03
Recognising Paraphrases and Synonyms
Level B1–B2
Recognising Paraphrases and Synonyms
Recordings
- Recording 1 — Finding a suitable course — add
/audio/listening-skills/listening-for-paraphrases-and-synonyms-01-course.mp3underpublic/ - Recording 2 — A university project — add
/audio/listening-skills/listening-for-paraphrases-and-synonyms-02-project.mp3underpublic/
Learning goals
- By the end of this lesson, you will be able to recognise paraphrases between questions and recordings, listen for meaning instead of exact words, distinguish a true paraphrase from a similar but different idea, and use context to confirm your answer.
Before you listen
You will hear conversations about an academic writing course and a university group project. Before you play the recordings, make sure you understand these terms:
- paraphrase — the same idea expressed in different words
- synonym — a word with a very similar meaning (e.g. affordable / inexpensive)
- bring forward — change a date or time to an earlier point
- deadline — the latest time or date for completing something
Do not wait for the exact words from the question. Listen for the idea the speaker expresses.
Step 1 — First listen (course advice)
Listen to Recording 1. Focus on how the adviser’s words relate to the student’s questions — often with different wording.
1. Why might the evening course suit the student?Try again
1. Why might the evening course suit the student?
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2. How does the adviser describe the cost of the course?Try again
2. How does the adviser describe the cost of the course?
✓
3. When does the course begin after the change?Try again
3. When does the course begin after the change?
✓
Step 2 — Learn the strategy
What is paraphrasing in listening?
In academic listening, a question and a recording often express the same idea using different words. You may hear a synonym, a phrase with similar meaning, or a different sentence structure.
Expect different wording
Question wording and recording wording may match like this (examples only — always check full meaning):
- cheap → inexpensive; costs very little
- postpone → put off; move to a later date
- difficult → challenging; not easy
- need → require; have to
- improve → make better; get better
- not enough → insufficient; too little
- because → since; due to the fact that
- start → begin; get under way
Listen for the idea
Do not wait for the exact word in the question. Ask: What is the speaker telling me? Pay attention to the whole phrase or sentence.
Check the relationship
Related words do not always mean the same thing. For example, “the library is quiet” does not necessarily mean “the library is empty.” Use surrounding information to check the meaning.
Watch direction of change: move back often means later; bring forward means earlier.
Confirm before answering
Check that your answer matches the question and that no later sentence changes or limits the information.
Common mistakes
- Waiting for identical words: the recording may use a synonym or different structure.
- Matching one word without checking meaning: a familiar word may appear in a sentence that does not answer the question.
- Confusing direction of change: move back vs bring forward.
- Ignoring limits: a little more or less is acceptable does not mean any length is acceptable.
- Treating similar ideas as identical: a paraphrase must preserve the important meaning.
Strategy guide
Expect different wording
Recognise that questions and recordings often use different words for the same idea.
- Notice common pairs such as cheap / inexpensive and postpone / put off.
- Listen for the idea, not the exact word in the question.
- Check the full phrase or sentence, not one keyword.
Example: Is it expensive? — It’s quite affordable compared with the other courses.
Common mistake: Waiting for identical words from the question in the recording.
Check the relationship
Distinguish a true paraphrase from a similar but different idea.
- Use surrounding context to confirm meaning.
- Watch direction of change: move back = later; bring forward = earlier.
- Notice limits such as a little more or less is acceptable.
Example: Moved the start back by one week — the first class is now on 10 November, not 3 November.
Common mistake: Matching one familiar word without checking the whole meaning.
Confirm before answering
Choose an option that preserves the speaker’s message and fits the question.
- Ask whether two phrases really mean the same thing.
- Check that no later sentence changes or limits the information.
- Reject answers that sound related but change an important detail.
Example: You don’t need to prepare slides, although you may use them — slides are optional, not required.
Common mistake: Treating similar ideas as identical when an important detail differs.
Step 3 — Second listen (group project)
Choose the best answer, then check your choices.
1. What does the tutor say about collecting information?Try again
1. What does the tutor say about collecting information?
✓
2. Why might an online questionnaire be useful?Try again
2. Why might an online questionnaire be useful?
✓
3. How strict is the 1,500-word target?Try again
3. How strict is the 1,500-word target?
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4. What happened to the submission deadline?Try again
4. What happened to the submission deadline?
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5. What is true about the presentation?Try again
5. What is true about the presentation?
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6. The deadline was originally 29 November but is now 22 November. This means the deadline was:Try again
6. The deadline was originally 29 November but is now 22 November. This means the deadline was:
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Step 4 — Apply the strategy
Choose the best answer.
1. The phrase “might suit you” is closest in meaning to:Try again
1. The phrase “might suit you” is closest in meaning to:
✓
2. “Moved it back by one week” refers to the course start date. The new start is:Try again
2. “Moved it back by one week” refers to the course start date. The new start is:
✓
3. “Brought the date forward” means the deadline was:Try again
3. “Brought the date forward” means the deadline was:
✓
4. Recording: “The lessons are recorded, so you can watch them later if you’re absent.” Statement: Students can review a recorded lesson if they miss class. The statement has:Try again
4. Recording: “The lessons are recorded, so you can watch them later if you’re absent.” Statement: Students can review a recorded lesson if they miss class. The statement has:
✓
5. Recording: “You still need to submit the writing tasks by their deadlines.” Statement: Students can hand in the writing tasks whenever they want. The statement has:Try again
5. Recording: “You still need to submit the writing tasks by their deadlines.” Statement: Students can hand in the writing tasks whenever they want. The statement has:
✓
Step 5 — Choose the best summary
Read each paragraph quickly, then choose the best summary.
1. A student with a part-time job asks about an evening writing course that meets twice a week. The course is affordable, lessons are recorded for absent students, tasks still have deadlines, the start moves from 3 November to 10 November, and applications close at the end of October.Try again
1. A student with a part-time job asks about an evening writing course that meets twice a week. The course is affordable, lessons are recorded for absent students, tasks still have deadlines, the start moves from 3 November to 10 November, and applications close at the end of October.
✓
2. A tutor explains that the library project should use a small sample, possibly via an online questionnaire. The report has a flexible word guide around 1,500 words, the deadline moves earlier to 22 November, and groups give a five-minute presentation with optional slides.Try again
2. A tutor explains that the library project should use a small sample, possibly via an online questionnaire. The report has a flexible word guide around 1,500 words, the deadline moves earlier to 22 November, and groups give a five-minute presentation with optional slides.
✓
3. Paraphrases in listening often use synonyms or different structures while keeping the same important meaning.Try again
3. Paraphrases in listening often use synonyms or different structures while keeping the same important meaning.
✓
Step 6 — Quick review
Choose the best answer for each question.
1. A paraphrase in listening is:Try again
1. A paraphrase in listening is:
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2. Affordable in a recording is most likely a paraphrase of a question about a course being:Try again
2. Affordable in a recording is most likely a paraphrase of a question about a course being:
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3. If a start date is moved back by one week, the new date is:Try again
3. If a start date is moved back by one week, the new date is:
✓
4. Bring the deadline forward means:Try again
4. Bring the deadline forward means:
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5. Before you choose an answer, you should:Try again
5. Before you choose an answer, you should:
✓