Text Practice

Practice 1: Science Article

Honeybees communicate the location of food sources through a behavior called the waggle dance. When a forager bee finds flowers rich in nectar, she returns to the hive and performs a figure-eight pattern. The direction she faces during the straight part of the dance indicates the direction of the food relative to the sun. The length of time she waggles shows the distance - longer waggles mean the food is farther away. Other bees watch the dance and can then fly directly to the food source. Austrian scientist Karl von Frisch discovered this remarkable communication system in the 1940s and won a Nobel Prize for his research.

Your task: Write a 2-3 sentence summary of this passage.

Practice 2: Historical Account

The construction of the transcontinental railroad was one of the greatest engineering achievements of the 19th century. Two companies, the Central Pacific and Union Pacific, built the railroad from opposite directions. The Central Pacific started in Sacramento, California, and built eastward through the Sierra Nevada mountains. The Union Pacific started in Omaha, Nebraska, and built westward across the Great Plains. The work was dangerous and difficult. Thousands of workers, including many Chinese and Irish immigrants, used hand tools and explosives to blast through mountains and build bridges over rivers. On May 10, 1869, the two lines met at Promontory Summit, Utah, where a golden spike was driven to mark the railroad's completion.

Your task: Summarize this passage in 3-4 sentences.

Practice 3: Short Story Excerpt

For three weeks, Jamie had been saving every dollar from his lawn-mowing jobs. His goal was to buy his younger sister Emma a birthday present - the art supplies she'd been wanting but their family couldn't afford. The night before her birthday, he counted his earnings: $47.50. The art set cost $52. Jamie felt his heart sink, but then he remembered Mrs. Chen next door had mentioned needing help moving boxes. He knocked on her door at 7 AM, helped for two hours, and earned the final five dollars. That evening, Emma's face lit up when she unwrapped the gift, and Jamie decided it was the best money he'd ever spent.

Your task: Use the SWBST method to summarize this story in 2-3 sentences.

Practice 4: Argumentative Text

Schools should replace traditional homework with project-based learning activities. Research shows that students who engage in hands-on projects retain information longer than those who complete repetitive worksheets. Projects allow students to apply knowledge to real-world problems, developing critical thinking skills that worksheets cannot teach. Additionally, projects can be completed collaboratively, teaching students teamwork and communication. While some argue that homework teaches discipline and time management, these skills can also be developed through long-term projects with multiple deadlines. Making learning meaningful through projects increases student motivation and reduces the stress that excessive homework causes.

Your task: Summarize the author's main argument and supporting reasons in 2-3 sentences.

Practice 5: Compare Two Summaries

Read this passage and the two summaries below. Identify which summary is better and explain why.

Original: The city of Venice, Italy, is built on 118 small islands connected by over 400 bridges. Instead of streets, Venice has canals where boats called gondolas and water taxis transport people and goods. The city was founded around 421 AD by refugees fleeing invaders. Over centuries, Venetians drove wooden poles into the muddy lagoon floor and built their city on top. Today, Venice faces serious challenges from flooding and sinking foundations. Rising sea levels cause floods called "acqua alta" that damage historic buildings and make daily life difficult. Scientists and engineers are working on flood barriers and other solutions to preserve this unique city.

Summary A: Venice is a city in Italy built on 118 islands with 400 bridges. It was founded in 421 AD. Gondolas carry people around. The city floods sometimes because of acqua alta, and scientists are trying to help.

Summary B: Venice, Italy, is a unique city built on islands and connected by canals instead of streets. Founded by refugees in ancient times, the city was constructed on wooden poles driven into a lagoon. Today, Venice faces threats from flooding and sinking foundations, prompting efforts to develop protective solutions.

Your task: Which summary is better? Explain your reasoning.

Practice 6: Identify Main Idea First

The Arctic fox has remarkable adaptations for surviving in one of Earth's harshest environments. Its thick, white winter coat provides both insulation and camouflage against the snow. In summer, the coat changes to brown or gray to blend with rocks and tundra. The fox's compact body shape, short legs, and small, rounded ears minimize heat loss. Its furry paw pads act like snowshoes, allowing the fox to walk on snow and ice. Arctic foxes can survive temperatures as low as -58 degrees Fahrenheit. They have an excellent sense of hearing that allows them to locate prey moving under the snow. When food is scarce, Arctic foxes follow polar bears and eat their leftover scraps.

Your task: First, write the main idea in one sentence. Then write a complete summary.

Practice 7: Summary Length Challenge

The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg around 1440 transformed European society. Before the press, books had to be copied by hand, making them extremely expensive and rare. Most people never owned a book in their lifetime. Gutenberg's press used movable metal type that could be rearranged and reused, dramatically speeding up book production. Within 50 years, millions of books were in circulation across Europe. The printing press made knowledge accessible to ordinary people and fueled the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation, and the Scientific Revolution. Literacy rates increased as books became affordable. Ideas could spread faster than ever before, changing how people learned, worshipped, and governed themselves.

Your task: Write three versions of a summary: (A) One sentence, (B) Two sentences, (C) Three sentences. Each should capture the essential information.

Practice 8: Summary with Direct Quote

Dr. Jane Goodall began studying chimpanzees in Tanzania in 1960. At the time, scientists believed that only humans used tools. Goodall observed chimps stripping leaves from twigs to fish termites out of mounds for food. When she reported this discovery, her mentor Louis Leakey famously said, "Now we must redefine tool, redefine man, or accept chimpanzees as humans." Goodall's research revealed that chimps have complex social relationships, communicate with gestures and sounds, and can experience emotions like joy and grief. Her work fundamentally changed how scientists understand the relationship between humans and other animals.

Your task: Write a summary that includes the important quote from Louis Leakey. The summary should be 3-4 sentences.