Summarizing Practice #1

Task 1: Read the following text and identify the key points by completing the
notes below.

WEALTH AND FERTILITY

For most of the past century and inverse correlation between human fertility and
economic development has been found. This means that as a country got richer, the
average number of children born to each woman got smaller. While in the poorest
countries women often have eight children, the rate fell as low as 1.3 in some
European countries such as Italy, which is below the replacement rate. Such a low
rate has two likely negative consequences: the population will fall in the long term,
and a growing number of old people will have to be supported by a shrinking number
of young. But a recent study by researchers from Pennsylvania University suggests
that this pattern may be changing. They related countries’ fertility rates to their
human development index (HDI), a figure with a maximum value of 1.0, which
assesses life expectancy, average income and education level. Over 20 countries
now have an HDI of more than 0.9, and in a majority of these the fertility rate has
started to increase, and in some is approaching two children per woman. Although
there are exceptions such as Japan, it appears that ever higher levels of wealth and
education eventually translate into a desire for more children.

a. Falling levels of fertility have generally been found in many of the richer
countries in oppose to the poorer ones.

b. In some European countries, number of children born

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c. Two results: smaller populations and

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d. Recent research claims that

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e. Comparison of HDI with fertility found that in most highly rated (+0.9)
countries,

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Task 2: Join the notes together and expand them to make the summary. Check
that the meaning is clear, and no important points have been left out.
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Task 3: Summarize the summary in no more than 20 words.

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Practice #2: Summarize the following text in about 50 words.

THE LAST WORD IN LAVATORIES

Toto is a leading Japanese manufacturer of bathroom ceramic ware, with annual

worldwide sales of around $5 bn. One of its best-selling ranges is the Washlet
lavatory, priced at up to $5,000 and used in most Japanese homes. This has
features such as a heated seat and can play a range of sounds. This type of toilet is
successful in its home market since many flats are small and crowded, and
bathrooms provide valued privacy. Now Toto hopes to increase its sales in Europe
and America, where it faces a variety of difficulties. European countries tend to have
their rules about lavatory design, so that different models have to be made for each
market. Although Toto claims that its Washlet toilet uses less water than the average
model, one factor that may delay its penetration into Europe is its need for an
electrical socket for installation, as these are prohibited in bathrooms by most
European building regulations.

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Practice #3: Read each of the paragraphs below and condense each into a one
sentence summary

When one hears the term “reality” applied to a television show, one might expect that
the events occurred naturally or, at the least, were not scripted, but this is not always
the case. Many reality shows occur in unreal environments, like rented mansions
occupied by film crews. These living environments do not reflect what most people
understand to be “reality.” Worse, there have been accusations that events not
captured on film were later restaged by producers. Worse still, some involved in the
production of “reality” television claim that the participants were urged to act out story
lines premeditated by producers. With such accusations floating around, it’s no
wonder many people take reality TV to be about as real as the sitcom.

Summary sentence:

There are many types of lethal venom in the animal kingdom, but perhaps no
stranger carrier than the platypus. The platypus is one of few venomous
mammals. Males carry a venom cocktail in their ankle spurs that paralyzes victims
with excruciating pain. Stranger still, the platypus is the only mammal that uses
electroreception. What this means is that the platypus uses its bill to sense the
electricity produced by the muscular movements of its prey. The platypus neither
sees, hears, nor smells its prey while hunting but, rather, pursues it through
electroreception. Perhaps most odd, the platypus is the only mammal that lays eggs
rather than giving birth to live young. The platypus is an odd creature indeed.

Summary sentence:

Yellowstone National Park is mainly located in Wyoming, although three percent is

located in the state of Montana. The Continental Divide of North America runs
diagonally through the southwestern part of the park. The park sits on the
Yellowstone Plateau, which is an average elevation of 8,000 feet above sea
level. This plateau is bounded on nearly all sides by mountain ranges. There are
290 waterfalls that are at least fifteen feet in the park, the highest being
the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River, which falls 308 feet.

Summary sentence:
Screech! When a driver pushes on the brake pedal, it starts a process that causes
the vehicle to stop. You literally trust braking systems with your life every time you
get into a vehicle or cross a busy intersection, but how does this process work? It
begins when the pedal is pushed. At this moment brake fluid is released into the
area where the braking mechanisms are located. As the fluid collects, leverage is
created, which causes friction to be applied. If the braking system is functioning
properly, this friction will create a force that will cause the wheels to stop and allow
you to reach your destination safely.

Summary sentence: