Extra practice
Use all of the methods we have studied to paraphrase the following text:
Before the last century no humans had visited Antarctica, and even today the vast continent has
a winter population of fewer than 200 people. However, a recent report from a New Zealand
government agency outlines the scale of the pollution problem in the ice and snow. Although
untouched compared with other regions of the world, the bitter cold of Antarctica means that the
normal process of decay is prevented. As a result some research stations are surrounded by
the rubbish of nearly 60 years’ operations.
Despite popular belief, the polar continent is really a desert, with less precipitation than the
Sahara. In the past, snowfall covered the waste left behind, like beer cans or dead ponies, but
now, possibly due to global warming, the ice is thinning and these are being exposed. Over 10
years ago the countries using Antarctica agreed a treaty on waste disposal, under which
everything is to be taken home, and this is slowly improving the situation. However, the
scientists do not want everything removed. The remains of every early expeditions at the
beginning of the twentieth century have acquired historical value and will be preserved.
SUGGESTED PARAPHRASE
Antarctica was unexplored until the twentieth century, and still has a tiny population in relation to
its size. Yet it suffers from various pollution problems which have been described in a report by
a New Zealand government agency. The low temperatures there impede the usual pattern of
decay, though compared with most parts of the world it remains in pristine condition. Some
long-established scientific bases have large piles of garbage around them.
Few people realize that Antarctica has very little precipitation, so that in the current context of
global warming the ice tends to reveal the rubbish that previously was slowly being buried under
snow. For more than a decade the nations involved in Antarctic research have respected an
agreement to repatriate their garbage, and this should gradually solve the problem. But there
are a few items which will not be cleared up, since they belonged to the early period of
exploration and have now acquired historic interest.
MGH / IA 2010
Source: Stephen Bailey (2007), Academic Writing : A Handbook for International Students - Second Edition,
Routledge
SELECTED NOUN PHRASES
the vast continent has a winter population of
fewer than 200 people
a tiny population in relation to its size.
a recent report from a New Zealand
government agency outlines the scale of the
pollution problem
various pollution problems which have been
described in a report by a New Zealand
government agency.
the bitter cold of Antarctica
The low temperatures there
the normal process of decay
the usual pattern of decay,
some research stations /
the rubbish of nearly 60 years’ operations.
Some long-established scientific bases /
large piles of garbage.
less precipitation than the Sahara.
very little precipitation,
In the past, snowfall covered the waste left
behind, like beer cans or dead ponies
the rubbish that previously was slowly being
buried under snow.
Over 10 years
more than a decade
the countries using Antarctica
the nations involved in Antarctic research
a treaty on waste disposal, under which
everything is to be taken home,
an agreement to repatriate their garbage,
the scientists do not want everything removed.
The remains of every early expeditions at the
beginning of the twentieth century have
acquired historical value and will be preserved.
a few items which will not be cleared up /
the early period of exploration /
historic interest.
MGH / IA 2010
Source: Stephen Bailey (2007), Academic Writing : A Handbook for International Students - Second Edition,
Routledge