Summarizing Information in English: Tips and Exercises

Understanding how to summarize a text is a crucial skill for mastering the English language and improving writing skills. Summarizing helps to highlight the main points of a text, making it easier to remember and convey information. This skill is particularly useful for students, professionals, and anyone looking to enhance their language proficiency. In this article, we will explore strategies for summarizing and provide exercises to practice this skill.

What is Summarizing?

A summary is a brief account of the main points of a text, paragraph, or article. It conveys the essence of the original content without unnecessary details. The goal of summarizing is to clearly and concisely present the main ideas.

Steps to Summarizing a Paragraph

1. Read the Passage Carefully: Start by carefully reading the paragraph to understand its main idea and supporting details.
2. Identify Key Points: Determine the most important points that the author is trying to convey. Look for topic sentences and concluding statements that contain the main idea.
3. Eliminate Unnecessary Details: Focus on the essential information and ignore examples, illustrations, and non-essential details.
4. Write the Summary: Using your own words, write a brief summary that reflects the main points of the paragraph. Ensure your summary is shorter than the original text.
5. Review and Revise: Check your summary for accuracy and clarity. Make sure it conveys the original content without distorting the author’s message.

Example Exercises with Explanations

To help you practice summarizing paragraphs, we have prepared a series of exercises. These exercises are designed to test your ability to identify the main idea and effectively summarize it. Below are a few examples of paragraphs along with explanations and the correct summary.

Example 1: The Role of Advertisements in Newspapers

Passage: “However much we may complain about the number of advertisements there are in a newspaper, the fact remains that without advertisements there would be no newspapers. It’s the advertisements that finance the newspapers and make it possible for us to buy them cheaply.”

Explanation: The paragraph discusses the important role of advertisements in financing newspapers, despite common complaints about their abundance.

Correct Summary: “Advertisements are essential to newspapers; without them, they could not be produced economically.”

Example 2: First Impressions of Brothers

Passage: “Brian and Gordon are brothers. People meeting them for the first time usually think Gordon is much the nicest. He’s good looking, he’s friendly and talks well. Later, they begin to notice he is rather spoilt. Then, they realize what a good person Brian is.”

Explanation: The paragraph explains how first impressions of the two brothers change over time, revealing that Brian is the better person.

Correct Summary: “Gordon makes a good first impression, but his brother Brian is a much better person.”

Example 3: Children’s Curiosity

Passage: “The average child is exceedingly curious. He investigates everything within reach; from electric plugs to piles of earth. His favorite word is ‘why’. The adult finds this period exhausting but he should not try to check the activities, unless they are dangerous, as the child is establishing the habit of learning.”

Explanation: The paragraph emphasizes the importance of encouraging children’s curiosity as it helps them develop a habit of learning.

Correct Summary: “Curiosity in children should be encouraged as it creates a learning habit.”

Example 4: Janet’s Impression of the Concert

Passage: “Janet was very enthusiastic about the concert. She praised the pianist, the singer, and the choice of program; but it was the violin concerto that she praised most of all.”

Explanation: The paragraph highlights Janet’s enthusiasm for the concert, especially her high praise for the violin concerto.

Correct Summary: “Jane thought the concert was wonderful, especially the violin concerto.”

Practice Exercise on Summarizing Information in English

Now that you’ve gone through the examples and explanations, it’s time to practice summarizations on your own. Try to choose the sentence that best summarizes the given paragraph.

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Paragraph summarizing (quiz, test)

Susan arrived at the library a few minutes before 12 o'clock. Jane had her coat on and was, waiting for her friend on the steps of the library. So they left together, crossed the street and went to their favorite restaurant.

Jane and Susan have lunch together once a week.

Susan and Jane met at the library as arranged and then had lunch together.

Jane put on her coat while she was waiting for her friend.

Susan and Jane both work in the same library and always have lunch together.

Jane was surprised to see Susan at the library and invited her to lunch.

I don't know any French myself, and so I don't know whether Jane's French is good or not. But I do know that she has spent the last two years in France. She was in Paris for 18 months and the remaining 6 months she spent at various places along the south coast. So she should know French well.

Jane has spent two whole years in France, partly in Paris, partly on the south coast.

If I had spent two years in France like Jane, I would have learned French well.

Jane's French ought to be good as she has recently spent two years in France.

Jane thoroughly enjoyed the two years she spent in France, but I don't think her French is better than mine.

Jane's French is now very good indeed.

John is only 16 years old. Everyone else on the team is either 17 or 18. Even so, he's a much valued member of the team. In fact, some people think he's the best player the team has. 

John joined the team when he was 16 but most people are at least 17 years old.

The 17 and 18 year olds on the team are not valued enough.

John is the youngest member of the team and also one of the best players.

John is one of the best players the team has had for 17 or 18 years.

When John is 17 or 1 8 he will probably be the best player on the team.

The average child is exceedingly curious. He investigates everything within reach; from electric plugs to piles of earth. His favorite word is "why". The adult finds this period exhausting but he should not try to check the activities, unless they are dangerous, as the child is establishing the habit of learning.

Children who lack curiosity will not grow up any different from those who are extremely curious.

Curiosity in children should not be encouraged as it is responsible for very many accidents.

His curiosity leads a child to investigate a lot of unimportant things.

Curiosity in children should be encouraged as it creates a learning habit.

Children are often extremely curious but this is an unimportant stage and ends soon.

Whenever I need something, the first place I go to is Dawson's store. There they sell just about everything. You can buy clothes there, things for the house and for the garden, and also sports equipment; They stock a wide variety of goods. Everything is a good quality, and prices are reasonable.

You can't find everything you need in Dawson's.

Dawson's is famous for its goods but prices are high.

In my opinion, Dawson's is an excellent store and not too expensive.

Most people can't afford to go to Dawson's.

The rich and the famous all shop at Dawson's.

Everyone I've talked to recently admits that Mr. Burton was not a very good manager. Now that Mr. Carr is in charge of the company, most people are expecting things to improve; he really is a natural leader, and liked and respected by everyone.

Most people think Mr. Carr will introduce few changes.

Mr. Burton was not popular, but under his management everything ran smoothly.

Mr. Carr may be a good manager but nobody wanted Mr. Burton to leave.

Mr. Carr didn't like the way Mr. Burton managed the company.

It is generally agreed that Mr. Carr will manage the company much better than Mr. Burton did.

However much we may complain about the number of advertisements there are in a newspaper, the fact remains that without advertisements there would be no newspapers. It's the advertisements that finance the newspapers and make it possible for us to buy them cheaply.

Nowadays all newspapers spend a great deal of money on advertising.

Advertisements are essential to newspapers, without them they could not be produced economically.

It is generally agreed that it is profitable for large companies to advertise regularly in the newspapers.

Newspapers print so many advertisements that there is not much space left for the real news.

The larger the circulation of a newspaper is, the greater is its need for good advertisements.

Leroy walked slowly round the exhibition, looking at the pictures. None of them seemed very interesting. He felt very disappointed. Then suddenly he saw the portrait of an old man. He stopped in front of it, and looked at it for a long time. It was a wonderful portrait.

While looking at the pictures at the exhibition, Leroy met an interesting old man.

Except for one portrait, Leroy thought the exhibition was very poor.

Leroy is very interested in paintings, especially in portraits of old people.

Leroy was delighted with the exhibition, especially with some of the portraits.

At the exhibition Leroy was disappointed to find that almost all the portraits were of old people.

Patrick didn't even ask his father if he could go to Barcelona for the weekend with Erick. He knew it would cost too much. But he didn't want to mention it to Erick. So, next day, he said simply "Father won't let me."

Patrick's father didn't want Patrick to go to Barcelona with Erick.

Patrick didn't want Erick to know that he was going to spend the weekend in Barcelona.

Patrick went to Barcelona for the weekend without asking his father if he could.

Patrick didn't want Erick to know that he couldn't afford to go to Barcelona for the weekend.

Erick asked his father if he could take Patrick to Barcelona for the weekend.

During recent years, there has been a great increase in population. As a result of this, many countries are facing serious difficulties. These include food shortages, housing problems, unemployment, pollution and similar social and economic difficulties. 

The rapid growth in population has caused very many problems.

Rich countries should help poor countries.

The increase in population has been to the benefit of some countries.

Some countries have more social and economic problems than others.

Economic problems are not related to the increase in population.

Paul is pleased that his company is sending him to the new factory near Houston. The pay will be better and the work more interesting. Also, several of his friends live there and he likes the climate.

Paul is happy to be going to Houston for various reasons.

Paul's company has many reasons for opening a new factory in Houston.

Paul has never had such a good job as his present one in Houston.

Paul is looking forward to making new friends in Houston.

It is not easy to find interesting, well-paid work in Houston.

Brian and Gordon are brothers. People meeting them for the first time usually think Gordon is much the nicest. He's good looking, he's friendly and talks well. Later, they begin to notice he is rather spoilt. Then, they realize what a good person Brian is.

I have always preferred Brian to his brother Gordon.

Brian and Gordon are very different from each other; it is hard to believe they are brothers.

Gordon and his brother are both very attractive people.

Gordon makes a good first impression but his brother is a much better person.

Brian has clearly spoiled his brother Gordon.

People who have never been in an aero plane usually think that flying must be fun. Perhaps it is, the first time you fly. But few people who have flown a lot really enjoy flying. Most of the time you are in the air, there is nothing to see but clouds, and waiting around in an airport is the most boring experience.

Traveling by air is one of the least popular ways of traveling.

A lot of people won't fly because they think it is dangerous.

Airports are very boring places.

Flying is not as interesting as people who haven't flown think.

Everybody likes flying, and shopping at airports is great fun.

Most people don't realize that Paul and Mark are brothers. Paul is tall and fair, and interested in all types of sport. Mark, who is short and dark haired, is studying Math at the university. Math is his only hobby too.

Paul wishes his brother were a better sportsman.

Though brothers, Paul and Mark are very different in appearance and in interests.

Paul and Mark are brothers but they disagree on various matters.

Paul isn't nearly as clever as his brother Mark.

Brothers don't often have much in common.

Janet was very enthusiastic about the concert. She praised the pianist, the singer and the choice of program; but it was the violin concerto that she praised most of all.

Not much of Jane's favorite music was included in the program.

Jane thought the concert was wonderful and especially the violin concerto.

Except for the violin concerto, Jane didn't really enjoy the concert.

Janet went to the concert because she wanted to hear the violin concerto.

The piano is Jane's favorite instrument, although she is fond of violin concertos.

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