Learning to summarize.

Sample

Paragraph A  As the new prime minister, Gordon Brown is about to organize his own government and decide its priorities, getting ready to meet the new challenges facing the government and the nation.

Read the passage again carefully. Summarize the main idea and important details of the other three paragraphs.

Answers:

Paragraph B Mr. Brown has seen and realized people’s aspiration and needs in every aspect of life: the balance of work and family life, better education, better child care, economic stability and profit, and housing. He has seen that his people are threatened by new insecurities such as drugs, anti-social behaviors and unemployment. He has also realized other international problems such as global warming, global competition and terrorism which all call for a change. Thus, Mr. Brown perceives a must to involve people in the government’s decision-making and trust-building so as to meet the challenges.

Paragraph C The Labor party was born as a party of change. Its mission is to change the country for economic and social improvement. So it will continue to be the party of change to fulfill people’s aspirations.

Paragraph D Mr. Brown tells his life values that he grew up with: honesty, hard work, family and respect for others. When he was 16, he lost the sight in one of his eyes and was fortunate to save the other due to the good health care system of the country. Therefore, as a government official, he holds it as his fundamental principle that everyone in the country should enjoy the rights such as good education and health care. Mr. Brown appreciates his parents’ instructions that everyone has a talent and deserves a chance to use their talent to help the others.

Paragraph E  Mr. Brown has the strong convictions that everyone deserve a chance in life and everyone is responsible to help the others. It is this social conscience and sense of duty that drive him and his Party to seek justice and better lives for its people.

Answers:

Paragraph A In some ways life on the campuses of institutions of higher learning is the same everywhere in the world.

Paragraph B Maybe student life is similar, but the system of higher education differs in countries around the world.

Paragraph C Teaching and learning methods and styles differ in various cultures, at different colleges and universities and in individual courses.

Paragraph D At many institutions of higher learning, resources for learning and recreation are available to students.