Objective Summary With Theme

1. Which is the BEST statement of the central idea (theme) of this passage?

It is impossible to solve community problems.

Community conflicts can lead to new ideas when people listen to different perspectives instead of picking only one side.

Playgrounds are more important than bakeries.

Parking lots are always bad.

The passage shows people moving from either/or thinking toward brainstorming together.

Explanation

The passage shows people moving from either/or thinking toward brainstorming together.

2. Which detail BEST supports that central idea?

The meeting was supposed to last an hour.

Mr. Patel owns a bakery.

Rosa suggests that the real issue is finding solutions that protect both memories and small businesses.

The slide is silver.

Rosa explicitly reframes the problem and invites creative thinking.

Explanation

Rosa explicitly reframes the problem and invites creative thinking.

3. At first, the meeting is dominated by only one group’s point of view.

True

False

Only parents with young children speak at first.

Explanation

Only parents with young children speak at first.

4. Which statement is the BEST objective summary of the passage?

The town decides playgrounds are a waste of space and builds a parking lot.

Mr. Patel is selfish and doesn’t care about children.

The meeting is annoying and pointless.

This summary is neutral, includes main conflict, key perspectives, and the central shift.

Explanation

This summary is neutral, includes main conflict, key perspectives, and the central shift.

5. Which option is too opinionated to be part of an objective summary?

Parents discuss memories of the playground.

Mr. Patel explains his business needs.

The meeting is a boring waste of time.

Rosa works at the bakery.

Calling the meeting “a boring waste of time” is a judgment, not a neutral fact.

Explanation

Calling the meeting “a boring waste of time” is a judgment, not a neutral fact.

6. The passage ends with a clear decision from the city about what will happen.

True

False

The passage says no decision has been made yet.

Explanation

The passage says no decision has been made yet.

7. What is the main change that happens in the room during the meeting?

People stop caring about the playground.

Everyone agrees the bakery should close.

People start considering both sides and brainstorming together.

People decide to leave early.

At the end, parents gather with Mr. Patel and Rosa to share ideas.

Explanation

At the end, parents gather with Mr. Patel and Rosa to share ideas.

8. Which sentence would be LEAST important to include in a summary?

The meeting lasts longer than planned.

Parents share memories of the playground.

Rosa works at the bakery.

The slide is silver.

The color of the slide is a minor detail, not central to the main idea.

Explanation

The color of the slide is a minor detail, not central to the main idea.

9. The passage suggests that listening to other people’s concerns can change how you see a problem.

True

False

Parents become less certain after hearing Mr. Patel and start thinking differently.

Explanation

Parents become less certain after hearing Mr. Patel and start thinking differently.

10. Which statement is another theme supported by the passage?

Adults should never listen to teenagers.

Public spaces have no value.

Sometimes the best solutions appear when someone asks a new kind of question.

Only the government can solve problems.

Rosa’s new question shifts the conversation in a productive way.

Explanation

Rosa’s new question shifts the conversation in a productive way.

11. Which line MOST clearly shows Rosa’s role as a bridge between the two sides?

The town hall meeting was supposed to last an hour.

I grew up on that playground…and now I work at Mr. Patel’s bakery.

The slide is silver.

Then your children lose more than a slide…

She personally connects to both the playground and the bakery.

Explanation

She personally connects to both the playground and the bakery.

12. An objective summary of this passage should mention that the conflict remains unsolved by the end.

True

False

That unresolved outcome is an important part of the situation.

Explanation

That unresolved outcome is an important part of the situation.

13. Which question would BEST guide students in writing about the theme?

How many people speak at the meeting?

How does hearing from different people change the way the problem is understood by the group?

What color are the agendas?

How big is the parking lot?

This question focuses on perspective and problem-solving.

Explanation

This question focuses on perspective and problem-solving.

14. Which option shows a misunderstanding of the central idea?

The meeting reveals a conflict between preserving memories and supporting local business.

The passage explores how communities can search for solutions that consider multiple needs.

The passage shows people moving from arguing to cooperating.

The passage proves that one side is completely right and the other is completely wrong.

The text does not present one side as totally right; it complicates the issue.

Explanation

The text does not present one side as totally right; it complicates the issue.

15. The final image of people sketching ideas together supports the theme that collaboration can lead to hopeful possibilities.

True

False

The last sentence emphasizes people working together like children playing, suggesting creativity and hope.

Explanation

The last sentence emphasizes people working together like children playing, suggesting creativity and hope.

Objective Summary with Theme

1. Which is the BEST statement of the central idea (theme) of this passage?

2.

What first name or nickname would you like us to use?

2. Which detail BEST supports that central idea?

3. At first, the meeting is dominated by only one group’s point of view.

4. Which statement is the BEST objective summary of the passage?

5. Which option is too opinionated to be part of an objective summary?

6. The passage ends with a clear decision from the city about what will happen.

7. What is the main change that happens in the room during the meeting?

8. Which sentence would be LEAST important to include in a summary?

9. The passage suggests that listening to other people’s concerns can change how you see a problem.

10. Which statement is another theme supported by the passage?

11. Which line MOST clearly shows Rosa’s role as a bridge between the two sides?

12. An objective summary of this passage should mention that the conflict remains unsolved by the end.

13. Which question would BEST guide students in writing about the theme?

14. Which option shows a misunderstanding of the central idea?

15. The final image of people sketching ideas together supports the theme that collaboration can lead to hopeful possibilities.