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READING
Objectives: To paraphrase phrases and paragraphs To write a summary of a paragraph using your own ideas.

PARAPHRASING Paraphrasing is to restate the full and exact meaning of the text in your own words. Very often when you repeat what you have heard or read to someone else, you do not use the exact words of the speaker or writer. Instead you normally use your own words to convey the message. Example: Sally found David lying on the floor. A kitchen knife could be seen sticking out of his chest. He was dead. The television set was still on and the kettle on the stove was whistling. Paraphrase: Sally found David on the floor. Someone had stabbed him in the chest with a kitchen knife. The TV set was on and the kettle was boiling on the stove. EXERCISE A Read the sentences carefully. Paraphrase the underlined phrases in the sentences given. 1 His business did not make much profit last year but it was enough to keep his head above water.

________________________________________________________________________ 2 We have to put our heads together in order to solve the problems.

________________________________________________________________________ 3 The mid-term exam was very easy. The students only had to choose the odd one out from the four options given.

________________________________________________________________________ 4 Azlan was very lucky. He didn't have to worry about money at all. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

________________________________________________________________________ 5 Wong is not really good at the business but he likes to blow his own trumpetas if he is the best.

________________________________________________________________________ 6 When I was a child, every time I played with matches my mother always reminded me that fire was a good servant but a bad master.

________________________________________________________________________ 7 Maniam knew that driving fast was very dangerous but he still did it. Now, he is in hospital with broken arms and legs. He wishes he had not driven so fast. However, it is no use crying over spilt milk.

________________________________________________________________________ 8 You don't have to think of what will happen later. Think about the present. You should not cross the bridge until you come to it. It will make your life easier.

________________________________________________________________________ 9 The restaurant is having a 'buy-one-free-one' lunch promotion for the first thirty customers from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Let's go there quickly. It is 'first come, first served'!

________________________________________________________________________ 10 Jenny was disappointed when she received her first commission that month. However, she felt that it was better to have half a loaf than no bread at all.

________________________________________________________________________ EXERCISE B Read the paragraphs below and paraphrase each one in the space provided.

3 1 Many people fear snakes because they think all snakes are harmful. When they see a snake most people try to kill it or run away from it.

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More food-producing plants will have to be grown to feed the growing population of the world. In tropical countries, especially, people need plants that can supply protein. This protein is necessary for good nutrition.

________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 3 A library should provide information on various subjects, from ornamental gardens and shrubbery to women's suffrage. It must also be well-supplied with reference books such as dictionaries and encyclopedias. The job of a librarian is to ensure that the library fulfils these functions effectively.

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________________________________________________________________________ 4 On Friday, our class toured Encik Azmi Rahman's farm outside Ipoh. The tour was part of our plant growth project in our science class. Encik Azmi first showed us the different vegetables he was growing. He grows long beans, ladies' fingers and chillies. Later he showed us the seeds and fertilisers he uses. I learnt from this trip that farming is more scientific than I imagined.

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SUMMARISING 1 Summarising sentences

Points to remember: * leave out unnecessary words * find a word that takes place of a group of words Example: He opened the front gate, drove the car into the porch and switched on the house lights at 8:30 p.m.

Explanation: You can leave out the following words 'opened the front gate, 'car into the porch' and 'switched on the house lights'. The action of opening the front gate, driving into the porch and switching on the house lights can be summarised in one word: arrived. Summary: He arrived home at 8:30 p.m. 2 Summarising Paragraphs

Points to remember: * read and make sure you understand the paragraph * find the topic sentence or the main idea of the paragraph * leave out unnecessary details like examples, illustrations and repetitions * use your own words to link the key words or ideas Example: Today, advertisements are powerful instruments that provide information about the availability and location of products. Advertisements assist producers/manufacturers in promoting their products. Also advertisements 'advise' buyers on which products to buy by laying out a wide range of goods to choose from. With new technologies like satellite receivers and cable TV, viewers/buyers are able to obtain information on products they need at the push of a button. First read and make sure that you understand the paragraph. Then, find the topic sentence or the main idea of the paragraph. The topic sentence is that 'advertisements are powerful instruments that provide information about the availability and location of products'. Thirdly, leave out unnecessary details. Finally, use your own words to link the key points. Summary: Today, advertisements provide information about what type of goods are available and where they can be found. Advertisements help both the manufacturers and the buyers. New technologies have also made it very easy for buyers to obtain information at the push of a button. An important point to remember is that a summary is not simply cutting and pasting sentences together. A summary is, however, a condensed form of the text in your own words that has not altered the ideas of the writer. EXERCISE A Read the following paragraphs. Using your own words, write a summary of each paragraph in the space provided.

6 1 While on his way home, Afiq heard a loud screeching sound. He turned. He saw a car trying to avoid a dog that was crossing the road. The driver lost control of his car and hit another car coming from the opposite side of the road.

________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 2 Mr Indera took out a spare tyre and a car-jack from the boot. After loosening the nuts on the wheel, he placed the car-jack under the car. Then, he removed the flat tyre and replaced it with the spare one. After that, he tightened the nuts and lowered the jack. Finally, he put the flat tyre and car-jack in the boot.

________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 3 Jenny goes to the library every morning. First, she cleans the counter and switched on all the computers in the library. After that, she collects all the books from the tables and puts them back on the shelves. She also keeps track of the borrowers' records. Besides that, she provides information related to the library and the books available. It is her job to provide assistance to those who come to the library.

________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 4 Andy picks up the blue shirt and puts it on. Feeling dissatisfied, he tries another shirt and then another. The salesperson is patiently waiting for him to make up his mind. Andy needs to find a new shirt for his graduation next week.

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Imran woke up early that morning. He wore his best shirt and pants. After that, he checked his file. He wanted to make sure everything was there. He didn't want to spoil his first meeting with his potential employer.

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EXERCISE B Read the following paragraphs. Write a summary for each paragraph in the space provided. 1 Technological advancement has given us wonders like the Internet, notebook computers, knowledge of plastic surgery, satellites, space shuttles and antibiotics. Conveniences such as credit cards, handphones, television and automobiles are also the result of technological advancement. On the other hand, it has also produced horrors such as chemical weapons, nuclear missiles and hi-tech fighter planes. ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 2 An interesting form of nonverbal communication or body language is eye contact. Just like any other form of nonverbal communication, eye contact varies greatly in meaning depending on the context. For example, in movies, if a couple stare into each other's eyes, it would be a sign of love, affection or deep concern. If eye contact is maintained for a long time, that would be a sign of attraction. In a conversation, if the speaker were to maintain eye contact, it would usually mean that they are interested in the topic and would like to prolong the conversation. ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

One of the best methods of gathering information quickly is through face-to-face or telephone interviews. These methods provide greater flexibility than mail questionnaires. Through interviews, interviewers will be able to clarify complicated questions or questions which need more explanations. Also, interviewers can ignore irrelevant questions. In interviews we are able to obtain feedback immediately and this saves time. The data that are collected are more accurate and concise. Moreover, people respond better to interviews than mail questionnaires. ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

During mid-adolescence (roughly 15 to 18 years of age), the individual receives increasing responsibilities like holding down a part-time job, doing certain chores in the house and privileges such as driving a car and staying out late. There are also increases in stress created by the fact that the adolescent is in many ways an indefinite character: too old to be treated as a child, too young to have the rights of an adult. Perhaps the most significant development in mid-adolescence is the gradual shift from a 'living only for the present' perspective to a point of view that also looks toward the future. In addition, the individual becomes less selfish and grows increasingly concerned with values and ideas. ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________