GUIDELINES FOR SUMMARY WRITING: 1 Read the instructions/ questions carefully. 2.

Read the passage first to get a general idea. 3. Bracket the relevant part of the passage. 4. Read the question again to make sure you know what you have to summarize. 5. Read over a second or third time if necessary to get better understanding of the passage. 6. Underline in pencil the important points. 7. Jot down in order the main points in the passage. 8. You may then write a rough copy of the summary as far as possible in your own words, if you can, without changing the meaning of the original passage. If you cant, just replace words with their synonyms or long expressions with one word or two. 9. Omit all examples. 10. There should be continuity of ideas written in simple English. It should be a patchwork of sentences and phrases taken here and there from the original passage. 11. Do not exceed the number of words allowed. For example, if the question says in about 60 words(including the 10 words given). It means whatever is written after the 61st word will not be taken into consideration. 12. Use the same tense as that in the passage. The summary should be written in the third person and in the past for narrative. (Third persons are: he, she, it and they). For expository writing, use the present tense. 13. Indirect speech is used for the dialogues. 14. Write the exact number of words at the foot of the summary. Please DO NOT CHEAT. If your summary is short, you may have left out few important points. Usually a summary is about one third of the original passage. 15. Do not waste time during the examination because you only have a limited time. To save time draw a column lengthwise and write one word in each column in your rough copy. This is to save time.

16. Finally, read the neatly written summary and check if: a. there are mistakes in spelling or grammar b. the summary is accurate.

Exercise 1 Give a general term. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. chairs, tables and cupboards cars, buses, lorries and trucks clothes used for sleeping runner, jumper and games player of different colours people of no fixed home furniture ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

7. cannot be forgiven 8. cannot be trusted 9. not fit to be eaten 10. love of ones country Exercise 2 One word for two. 1. go into 2. take out 3. go with 4. talk about 5. talk softly 6. write down 7. asked for enter _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______

8. picked out 9. put emphasis on 10. go beyond Exercise 3 One word for a phrase 1. in a short while 2. all of sudden 3. little by little 4. as time passed 5. last of all 6. for the time being 7. time and again 8. all the time 9. once in a while 10. now and then

_______ _______ _______

soon/shortly __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________

SAMPLE QUESTION

You are advised to spend about 30 minutes on the question. Read the passage below and answer the question that follows. Trees are very useful. For many years they have provided us with timber to build houses, boats and furniture. Some even provide food and shelter to human beings and animals. Squirrels, birds and insects use their branches, trunks, roots and leaves as homes. In hot weather, trees make us more comfortable. They give us shade and protection from the sun. The air is cooler too in places where there are trees around them. Trees also help to save our soil together and prevent it from being washed away. The leaves help to protect the soil too. When big raindrops hit the leaves, they break up into smaller drops that will not damage the soil. Human beings need oxygen to live. Trees remove carbon dioxide from the air when they make food. Then, they give out oxygen into the air for us to breathe. Knowing that trees are so useful, we should not cut them down unnecessarily. Write a summary on why trees are very useful Your summary must: not be more than 60 words, including the 10 words given below be in continuous writing (not note form) be written in ONE paragraph.

Use your own words as far as possible without changing the original meaning. Begin your summary as follows: For ages, trees have been very useful as they are SAMPLE ANSWER For ages, trees have been very useful as they are the main source of timber. We can get food and shelter from trees. Trees protect us from the sun and make the air around us cooler. The roots and leaves of the trees even help to save our soil. The oxygen released by trees is useful for us to stay alive.

Practice 1 Read the passage below and answer the question that follows.

A hurricane is s swirling mass of clouds that moves around a calm and clear centre called an eye. Hurricanes are the largest and most powerful storms in the world. The word hurricane comes from Huracan, a word given to the West Indian God of Storms. The earth is wrapped in a blanket of gasses called the atmosphere which is like an enormous weather machine. The sun is like a giant engine driving the weather machine. Its energy drives air and water around our planet as it warms the earth creating the clouds and the wind. In warmer places, the weather machine can be very powerful because there is more energy from the sun to drive it. This explains why hurricanes are formed over warm areas. As the air is warm, it rises very fast, sucking water vapour up into the atmosphere like a giant pump. All this rising air forms clouds which can then build into thunderstorms. When these thunderstorms join forces, this is the beginning of a hurricane. It takes time for a storm to develop into a hurricane that is strong enough to cause destruction. This happens when the wind inside the storm increases to 119 km per hour. The average lifespan of a hurricane is five to ten days. Write a summary on the causes of hurricanes. Your summary must: - not more than 60 words, including the 10 words given below - be in continuous writing(not note form) - be written in ONE paragraph Use your own words as far as possible without changing the original meaning. Begin your summary as follows: Hurricane, swirling mass of clouds, is the most powerful storm ..

Practice 2 Read the passage below and answer the question that follows.

There are some risks for children who use the internet for online services. They are particularly at risk because they often use the computer unsupervised and are more likely to participate in online discussions regarding companionship, relationships or social activity. One risk is that a child may be exposed to inappropriate material that is sexual, hateful or violent in nature, or encourages activities that are dangerous or illegal. Another risk is that while online, a child might provide information or arrange an encounter that could risk his or her safety or the safety of other family members. In a few cases, pedophiles have used e-mail, bulletin boards and chat areas to gain a childs confidence and then arrange a face-to-face meeting. Their intentions might be bad for the teenage user. A third risk is that a child might encounter messages via e-mail or chat board that are harassing, demeaning or belligerent. Parents should communicate with their children, and alert them to any potential problem that may occur with the use of the computer.

Write a summary on the dangers encountered by children when online. Your summary must: - not be more than 60 words, including the 10 words given below - be in continuous writing (not note form) - be written in ONE paragraph Use your own words as far as possible without changing the original meaning. Begin your summary as follows: Children who use the internet for online service are at

KEY WORDS FOR SUMMARY Find the meaning of the words listed below.

NO 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34

WORDS IMPORTANCE SIGNIFICANCE CHARACTERISTICS SYMPTOMS CAUSES CONSEQUENCES EFFECTS BENEFITS UNPLEASANT TREATMENT CAREER DANGERS FEATURES SNATCH THEFT RECTIFY PREVENT MEASURES PRECAUTIONS ADVANTAGES SOLUTIONS STEPS PROCEDURES APPEARANCES CONTRIBUTIONS LIFESTYLE SCHEDULE CHALLENGES EXPERIENCE TOOLS RECYCLE REASONS LUXURY VACANCY DEVELOPMENT

MEANING