Summarization
Believe it or not, NASA once had a division whose job was to explore the possibility of
extraterrestrial intelligence. The SETI program (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) was
closed by Senator Proxmire in 1981. He thought it was a waste of taxpayers' money. This forced
scientists who wanted to continue to study SETI to get creative. Many sought money from
private organizations.
One organization, The Planetary Society formed by Carl Sagan, got their funding from
private members. The Planetary Society gave a small amount of money to scientist Paul
Horowitz after Horowitz created a small, more cost effective SETI system that he called
Suitcase SETI. It was a more mobile version of the NASA design.
With more help from The Planetary Society, Horowitz also gained the use of a radio
telescope from Harvard. He installed the Suitcase SETI there and called it Project Sentinel. It
allowed him to listen in on over 131,000 radio channels for signs from space.
The frequency is set to a level that scientists think alien life forms might use. One frequency
is 1420 megahertz. The universe is filled with hydrogen atoms. These atoms broadcast radio
signals at this frequency. Any civilization with radio astronomy would be able to have access to
this frequency.
Around the same time, director Stephen Spielberg got involved. He donated $100,000 to The
Planetary Society in order to change Project Sentinel into an eight million channel system. The
new system was renamed Megachannel Extraterrestrial Assay (META). To date, no signal from
another civilization has been detected.
1. Which of the following paragraphs best summarizes this news article?
W. SETI is a NASA project of astronomers who tune in to space, hoping to hear a radio
broadcast from an alien planet. In 1981, the program was temporarily killed by Senator
Proxmire, who thought it was a waste of money.
X. A new organization, The Planetary Society, had recently been formed by astronomer Carl
Sagan and other scientists. The society relied on private members to support its programs, and
they agreed to provide money to allow Paul Horowitz to build his SETI system.
Y. The universe is filled with hydrogen atoms that broadcast radio signals at 1420 megahertz
frequency, so any civilization with radio astronomy should know about these signals. It would be
the natural channel on which to broadcast a signal if they wanted it to be noticed.
Z. By building a small, affordable system for listening to a wide array of radio channels, SETI
scientists hope to hear a signal broadcast through space by an alien civilization. Along the way,
their efforts have been bolstered by support from The Planetary Society and Steven Spielberg,
allowing the project to tune in to ever more channels.
A. W
B. Z
C. Y
D. X
SYDNEY (Reuters) — An Australian scuba diver has survived an attack by a great white
shark after fighting it off with his speargun and then his hands.
Bernie Williams, 46, was diving for crayfish off a beach in the Western Australian city of
Perth Sunday. The shark attacked him from below, biting his arm. He never saw the shark until
it was too late. Bernie was collecting the crayfish for a stew he was planning on making for
dinner.
"I just got hit by a very big shark. It came on my left hand side, from below. I never even saw
it coming," Williams told Australian television Monday.
"I stabbed it on the nose with a speargun, but it was just like hitting a lump of steel," said
Williams, who suffered deep puncture wounds to his left arm.
The 3-meter (9 foot) shark returned and attacked Williams again, dragging him through the
water.
"It chomped on my arm and took me for a ride for about 2 meters (6 feet)," Williams said.
After about eight minutes fighting for his life, Williams managed to swim to the surface with
two diving friends and climb into a boat.
One of the divers had an electronic shark repellant device attached to his air tanks, but
Williams said his survival was just a matter of luck.
"At the end of the day it was pure luck," he said.
Earlier this month a 21-year-old woman died after she was attacked by three sharks while
swimming off an island on Australia's northeast coast.
The latest shark attacks have sparked warnings around Australia that sharks are swimming
closer to shore, chasing fish in cleaner, warmer waters.
By September 2005, there had been a total of 654 attacks in Australian waters, 192 of them
fatal, according to the Australian Shark Attack File at Sydney's Taronga Zoo.
2. Which of the following paragraphs best summarizes this passage?
W. Bernie Williams became the victim of one in a recent wave of shark attacks in Australia. He
was able to fight off the shark and walk away with injuries to only his left arm.
X. A 21-year-old woman died after being attack by a shark. Bernie Williams was also attacked.
The shark was a great white shark, which are the largest sharks. The shark came up from below
him and dragged him in the water. Williams said that he stabbed the shark on the nose with a
spear gun. He believes his survival was "pure luck". By September 2005, there had been a total
of 654 attacks in Australian waters, 192 of them fatal, according to the Australian Shark Attack
File at Sydney's Taronga Zoo.
Y. Australian waters have become a hot spot for recent shark attacks. The lucky ones have gotten
away, but a 21-year-old woman died after being attacked by a shark.
Z. Sharks attacked Bernie Williams while he was diving with friends. He used a speargun to
fight off the shark and jump back into his friends' boat. One of his friends had an electronic shark
repellant device attached to his air tanks.
A. W
B. Y
C. X
D. Z
3. Read the summary of the passage and then answer the question that follows.
Bernie Williams was attacked by a shark in Australia. He was able to fight off the shark and
walk away. Bernie was collecting the crayfish for a stew he was planning on making for dinner.
Shark attacks happen all the time in Australia. By September 2005, there had been a total of
654 attacks in Australian waters, 192 of them fatal, according to the Australian Shark Attack File
at Sydney's Taronga Zoo. In fact, earlier this month a 21-year-old woman died after she was
attacked by three sharks while swimming off an island on Australia's northeast coast.
Bernie ended up being okay. After about eight minutes fighting for his life, Williams managed
to swim to the surface with two diving friends and climb into a boat.
What information is least important in this summary?
A.
In fact, earlier this month a 21-year-old woman died after she was attacked by three sharks while
swimming off an island on Australia's northeast coast.
B. Bernie was collecting the crayfish for a stew he was planning on making for dinner.
C.
By September 2005, there had been a total of 654 attacks in Australian waters, 192 of them fatal,
according to the Australian Shark Attack File at Sydney's Taronga Zoo.
D.
After about eight minutes fighting for his life, Williams managed to swim to the surface with two
diving friends and climb into a boat.
B.B. King plays great American blues on his classic guitar named “Lucille.” He invented the
urban blues “sound,” which is a style of playing that features a wavering sound, loud vibrato
notes, and solos filled with electronic feedback from the amplifier. King is a veteran showman
with decades of experience on stage, and he is amazingly popular too. He is a major influence
on musicians from all genres, but especially British musicians who emerged in the 1960s as part
of the British Invasion, such as Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger, or John Mayall.
Born as Riley B. King on a plantation in Itta Bena, Mississippi, King bought his first guitar at
the age of 12 and taught himself how to play. He became familiar with the local variety of
Mississippi Delta blues before moving to Memphis, Tennessee, 11 years later. There, he landed
a gig singing at a local radio station on Beale Street, an area of town known for its many blues
clubs. From here, King became known as the "Beale Street Blues Boy," then "Blues Boy King,"
and, finally, as "B. B. King." He recorded his first paying gig in 1949.
King has sold millions of records and is known for hits like “Every Day I Have the Blues” and
“The Thrill is Gone.” He was the recipient of two Grammy Awards in 2001. One was for a pop
song he sang with Dr. John called “Is You Is, or Is You Ain’t.” The second was for a blues album
entitled Riding With the King, for which he collaborated with Eric Clapton. In 1996, he published
his autobiography titled Blues All Around Me.
4. Read the following summary from a student's paper.
B. B. King is a well-known and talented blues musician who invented the Urban Blues
sound. King got his start in Memphis, Tennessee where he earned his famous name.
He influenced many musicians in other genres such as Eric Clapton and Mick Jagger.
He recorded his first paying gig in 1949.
What information should be removed from this summary?
A. "He influenced many musicians in other genres such as Eric Clapton and Mick Jagger."
B. "King got his start in Memphis, Tennessee where he earned his famous name."
C. "B. B. King is a well-known and talented blues musician who invented the Urban Blues sound."
D. "He recorded his first paying gig in 1949."
For its Viking Program, NASA sent two probes to Mars on a journey to photograph the
surface from orbit. Each probe also included a lander module that touched down on the surface
of the planet in an effort to gather samples of Martian soil. The probe’s orbiter module remained
in space as a communication relay and satellite.
The Viking program was the most expensive NASA mission yet. The Viking 1 probe
launched August 20, 1975, and Viking 2 launched September 9, 1975. The two probes survived
for some time on the red planet, collecting data and transmitting back to Earth. The lander for
Viking 1 lasting the longest before NASA shut it down in 1982.
The goals of the two orbiters were to carry the landers to Mars and obtain photographs of
the planet from orbit. In order to carry out their tasks, the orbiter modules were large at over 6.5
ft (2 m) wide and 9.8 ft (3 m) tall. They both weighed over 5000 lbs (2300 kg) at launch. Eight
solar panels and two nickel-cadmium batteries powered the orbiter modules.
The two landers were to land on the surface of the planet, photograph rock formations, and
obtain soil samples. The landers also possessed other scientific sensors that would study other
biological and chemical data as well as seismic activity, weather patterns, and magnetic fields of
the planet. The landers were immobile once they touched down on the surface. Each was about
the size of a small car and weighed about the same. Because the Viking Program took place
before the digital age, NASA communicated with the probes via radios, and the probes stored
all of their collected data on magnetic tape.
While the technology of these two probes seems primitive by today’s standards, the orbiters
and launchers represented the pinnacle of modern technology at the time the Viking Program
launched. The entire cost of the program was about one billion U.S. dollars.
5. Which of the following paragraphs best summarizes this news article?
W. The Viking Program sent two probes to Mars in the 1970s to study the surface of the planet.
The orbiter modules photographed the planet from orbit while the lander modules touched down
on the surface to take sample data.
X. The orbiter modules for the Viking Program were large and heavy, but the lander modules
were smaller. The orbiters photographed the surface of the planet while the landers took soil
samples.
Y. In 1975, NASA sent two landers to Mars to conduct surveys of the planet. The landers took
soil samples and transmitted data back to earth. The Viking 1 lander shut down in 1983.
Z. The technology of the Viking Program probes was very modern at the time of their launch in
1975. NASA used radios to communicate with the two probes. The probes stored data on
magnetic tape. Now, the technology is outdated.
A. Y
B. X
C. Z
D. W
(1) While oatmeal is known to lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease, a recent study in
2004 demonstrated that eating barley regularly has a greater effect on bad cholesterol than
oatmeal. The study showed that barley can drop bad cholesterol by 14 to 17 percent. Barley is a
whole grain, like oats, and is also low in calories, fat, and protein while being high in dietary
fiber.
(2) The element in barley that helps to reduce cholesterol is a soluble fiber called betaglucan. Beta-glucan can reduce bad cholesterol by absorbing the cholesterol. Then, beta-glucan
binds to bile acid before the body excretes both through the gut. Dietitians recommend an intake
of 0.1 to 0.2 oz (3 to 6 g) of beta-glucan a day to lower cholesterol significantly. Just 3.5 oz (100
g) of whole grain barley provides 0.15 to 0.19 oz (4.3 to 5.5 g) of beta-glucan.
(3) Eating a regular diet of barley also allows sugar to be released and absorbed more slowly,
which results in a more healthy regulation of blood sugar. Because of this, dietitians define
barley to be a low-glycemic food. In addition, because barley is a high fiber food, it increases the
feeling of “fullness” after a meal so that one does not overeat. A diet high in barley also reduces
the chance for colon cancer.
(4) A shopper can find barley for sale in many forms, including barley flour, flakes, and pearl
barley, which is prepared and consumed like rice. Barley can be added to stews to thicken
them. It can substitute for rice in soups or in other rice dishes. Barley can also be prepared and
eaten for breakfast, like oatmeal or porridge. Barley flour can be substituted for wheat flour in
the baking of breads and muffins. Cracked barley can be added to baked goods or breakfast
foods. It can also be tossed and mixed into salads.
6. Which of the following is the best summary of this article?
A. Barley is a healthy food with many benefits.
B. Barley is a low-glycemic food.
C. Barley contains the soluble fiber beta-glucan.
D. Barley is available to be eaten in many forms.
(1) The clouds roared in like a bear's snarl. The storm had teeth and was hungry. Inside the
cave, the rain trickled downward and onto the heads of Rusty and Ericka.
(2) Ericka was the first to notice the oncoming storm, "This looks like something out of the
Bible. I'm half expecting locusts to swarm. Just look at the way those clouds keep bending over
themselves. You just know something bad is behind it."
(3) Rusty looked on; however, he was more impressed that the pebble that found its way into
his shoe has somehow turned into a boulder. Rusty had been through many storms, and this
one had all the look to it of a three-year old running with plastic scissors—it looks deadly until
you see what's really in his hand. Still, he had waited for weeks to hike with Ericka, and he
decided to play along. Anything he could to do to get closer to her was fine by him. He had tried
telling her how he felt, but he thought it might just be a crush. He wasn't sure if she felt the same
way, and what better time than being stranded during a downpour on the side of a mountain to
find out, he thought to himself.
(4) Ericka was huffing, pulling away at branches and bark trying to make a space for them to
get out of the storm. She pulled on twigs, branches, and brush, making a small entrance for the
two of them to hide in. She could feel the sweat starting to form at her brow. Instinctively, she
held her head out to the rain that had begun to sprinkle. There, now he won't know the
difference—never let 'em see you sweat. It's the first rule. This space may be crowded and
cramped for two people, but hopefully the storm will pass quickly. I'd rather be a little cramped in
this makeshift shelter than slip right off of the face of this thing.
(5) Rusty watched on, wondering if he should offer assistance or if she would be offended by
it. Ericka was fiercely independent, so Rusty just let her dig away at the brush. Rusty kicked his
shoe off and watched the boulder that had been bothering him tumble over the mountain's face.
It wasn't even the size of a dime. As he peered over the ledge to see the pebble disappear, he
saw it. There was a small awning of stone about 15 feet below them. That little spot has plenty
of room for us to wait the storm out he thought to himself.
(6) "You need any help Ericka?" Rusty asked.
(7) "No worries, Rust. I've almost got the last of this mess cleared away. Just do me a favor
and try not to slip off the mountain," she said jokingly, smiling at Rusty.
7. Which statement best summarizes Ericka's feelings about the storm?
A. She is worried that the storm will be bad.
B. She is angry that the rain will soak them.
C. She is excited about hiking in the rain.
D. She is not scared of a little rain storm.
8. Rusty's feelings about Ericka are best summarized by which statement?
A. Rusty is attracted to Ericka.
B. Rusty is concerned about Ericka.
C. Rusty is jealous of Ericka.
D. Rusty is angry at Ericka.
9. Which is the best summary of paragraph 4?
A.
Ericka did not want Rusty to see that she was working so hard. She lifted her head up to the rain
so that she would not be sweaty.
B.
Ericka started to clear brush from a small space on the side of the mountain. She could feel herself
sweating from the hard work.
C.
Ericka worked hard to make a space for them to hide until the storm ended. She thought the small
space would keep them safe.
D.
Ericka knew that they needed to find a place to hide until the storm was over. She looked for a
good place, and Rusty watched her.
10. Which best summarizes the plot of this passage?
A.
Ericka and Rusty are stuck on a mountain as a storm is approaching. Ericka tries to hollow out a
shelter for them to hide in while Rusty deals with whether or not he should help Ericka.
B.
As Ericka digs out a shelter, Rusty finds a shelter that has already been dug out. He notices this and
kicks the pebble out of his shoe and off the mountain. Then, he offers to help Ericka.
C.
Rusty is trying to get a pebble out of his shoe. Ericka is digging out a shelter for the two of them. A
storm that looks bad is approaching. Rusty doesn't think the storm looks bad, though.
D.
Ericka wants to keep climbing the mountain. Rusty does not think it is safe, so he decides that he
will go to a bigger shelter under them while Ericka will continue to hike to the peak.
11. Which sentence shows an idea that would be important to include in a summary of this
passage?
A. ". . . this one had all the look to it of a three-year-old running. . . ."
B. " 'Just do me a favor and try not to slip off the mountain.' "
C. "Rusty watched on, wondering if he should offer assistance. . . ."
D. "She could feel the sweat starting to form at her brow."