Writing Objective Summary Quiz

1. Original Summary: 'The wonderful new law, which takes effect on Tuesday, will create millions of jobs.' Which revision improves the summary by removing opinion?

The wonderful new law, which takes effect on Tuesday, will create jobs.

The new law, which takes effect on Tuesday, is predicted to create millions of jobs.

The law takes effect on Tuesday and is expected to create millions of jobs.

The amazing new law, which takes effect on Tuesday, will create millions of jobs.

The original uses the subjective word 'wonderful.' Revision C removes this bias and uses neutral language ('is expected to') to report the claim (creating millions of jobs) without endorsing it.

Explanation

The original uses the subjective word 'wonderful.' Revision C removes this bias and uses neutral language ('is expected to') to report the claim (creating millions of jobs) without endorsing it.

2. To write an objective summary, you must use your own words to describe the main idea and key details, a process known as _______.

An objective summary should avoid simply copying sentences from the original text (plagiarism) and instead requires the writer to restate the information in their own neutral language.

Explanation

An objective summary should avoid simply copying sentences from the original text (plagiarism) and instead requires the writer to restate the information in their own neutral language.

Submit

3. If a summary includes a writer's strong feeling, it is no longer an objective summary.

True

False

This is true. The inclusion of personal feelings or subjective evaluations (like 'love,' 'hate,' 'sad') immediately introduces bias, making the summary subjective.

Explanation

This is true. The inclusion of personal feelings or subjective evaluations (like 'love,' 'hate,' 'sad') immediately introduces bias, making the summary subjective.

4. Original Summary: 'The article discussed the history of the railroad, mentioning that the first tracks were laid in 1826, and then provided a full list of all the stations in the state.' Which revision improves the summary by being more concise?

The article discussed the history of the railroad.

The article details the history of the railroad, from its start in 1826 to a full list of all stations.

The article is about the railroad.

The article summarizes the railroad’s history, including the key date of 1826.

Summary D is concise and correctly focuses on the overall history and a single key detail (1826), omitting the less critical detail of the "full list of all the stations."

Explanation

Summary D is concise and correctly focuses on the overall history and a single key detail (1826), omitting the less critical detail of the "full list of all the stations."

5. Select the revisions that successfully remove subjective language from the summary sentence: ‘The author thinks the school’s unfair new rule should be ignored.’ (Select all that apply)

The author claims the school’s new rule is unwise.

The author argues the school's new rule should be ignored.

The author discussed the school's new rule.

The author believes the new rule is terrible.

B and C use neutral verbs ('argues,' 'discussed') to attribute the claim/topic to the author, avoiding the subjective terms 'unfair' and 'terrible.'

Explanation

B and C use neutral verbs ('argues,' 'discussed') to attribute the claim/topic to the author, avoiding the subjective terms 'unfair' and 'terrible.'

Submit

6. A good summary should avoid being too _______, meaning it should not include every minor fact or example from the original text.

A summary's purpose is to condense the information. Including every single detail makes it a retelling, not a concise summary.

Explanation

A summary's purpose is to condense the information. Including every single detail makes it a retelling, not a concise summary.

Submit

7. Which revision makes the sentence 'The novel is long, confusing, and completely unnecessary' an objective summary?

The novel is long and was published last year.

The novel, which is long, made a lot of money.

The novel tells the story of two brothers who live in New York.

I think the novel is confusing and unnecessary.

Options A and B include irrelevant facts (published date/money). Option D includes opinion. Option C focuses neutrally on the objective plot or topic of the novel.

Explanation

Options A and B include irrelevant facts (published date/money). Option D includes opinion. Option C focuses neutrally on the objective plot or topic of the novel.

8. A summary is generally considered too vague if it only states the title and topic of the original text.

True

False

This is true. If a summary is too vague (like 'This is about dogs'), it fails to include the essential supporting details or main claim, making it incomplete.

Explanation

This is true. If a summary is too vague (like 'This is about dogs'), it fails to include the essential supporting details or main claim, making it incomplete.

9. Original Summary: 'The report says that climate change is occurring and that global temperatures have risen 2 degrees since 1980.' Which revision is too vague?

The report states that climate change is real.

The report details how global temperatures have risen 2 degrees since 1980.

The report discusses the issue of climate change.

The report provides evidence that climate change is occurring, citing a 2-degree temperature rise since 1980.

Summary C is too vague because it only names the topic ('discusses the issue') without mentioning the central claim or the specific, key evidence (the 2-degree rise).

Explanation

Summary C is too vague because it only names the topic ('discusses the issue') without mentioning the central claim or the specific, key evidence (the 2-degree rise).

10. Which revisions improve a summary that was originally too vague? (Select all that apply)

Adding the author's main claim or argument.

Including the most important piece of supporting data.

Removing the author's name from the summary.

Adding a subjective adjective like 'amazing.'

To make a summary less vague, you must add specific content: the central argument (A) and key supporting evidence (B).

Explanation

To make a summary less vague, you must add specific content: the central argument (A) and key supporting evidence (B).

Submit

11. When writing an objective summary, you must ensure that you always _______ the original author’s ideas to the original source.

Attribution is necessary to maintain objectivity, showing that the ideas belong to the original text's author, not the person writing the summary.

Explanation

Attribution is necessary to maintain objectivity, showing that the ideas belong to the original text's author, not the person writing the summary.

Submit

12. Original Summary: ‘The author believes we should spend more money on education because it is the most important issue facing the state.’ Which is the best objective summary?

The author thinks education is important.

The author argues that the state should increase education funding.

The author states that education is the most important issue.

The author is correct that we need more education funding.

Option B uses the neutral verb 'argues' and accurately reports the author's recommendation (spending more money), avoiding the subjective judgments ('believes,' 'most important,' 'correct').

Explanation

Option B uses the neutral verb 'argues' and accurately reports the author's recommendation (spending more money), avoiding the subjective judgments ('believes,' 'most important,' 'correct').

13. If a summary only includes the main idea and leaves out all supporting details, it is considered complete.

True

False

This is false. A complete summary requires both the main idea and the necessary, key supporting details to fully explain the central point.

Explanation

This is false. A complete summary requires both the main idea and the necessary, key supporting details to fully explain the central point.

14. Which verb should be used in an objective summary to introduce the original author's opinion or claim?

Believes

Argues

Feels

Should

Verbs like 'argues,' 'claims,' 'states,' and 'asserts' are neutral and accurately report the author's intent without adopting their opinion.

Explanation

Verbs like 'argues,' 'claims,' 'states,' and 'asserts' are neutral and accurately report the author's intent without adopting their opinion.

15. Which elements are essential to include in a well-written, objective summary? (Select all that apply)

The author's name or text source.

The main idea or central claim.

The writer's feelings about the topic.

The key supporting facts.

A strong summary requires proper attribution (A), the main idea (B), and the necessary key evidence (D).

Explanation

A strong summary requires proper attribution (A), the main idea (B), and the necessary key evidence (D).

Submit

16. To avoid a biased tone, a writer should eliminate all _______ adjectives from their summary.

Subjective adjectives (e.g., terrible, best, wonderful) reflect the writer's personal feelings or evaluation, which violates the neutral tone required for objectivity.

Explanation

Subjective adjectives (e.g., terrible, best, wonderful) reflect the writer's personal feelings or evaluation, which violates the neutral tone required for objectivity.

Submit

17. Original Summary: 'The terrible new policy, which takes effect on Tuesday, is a waste of money.' Which revision is the most objective?

The new policy takes effect on Tuesday and is predicted to be a waste of money.

The new policy takes effect on Tuesday.

The new policy, which is a waste of money, takes effect on Tuesday.

The new policy, which is a terrible idea, takes effect on Tuesday.

Only B reports the single, verifiable fact (the date the policy takes effect) while completely removing all subjective evaluation ('terrible,' 'waste of money,' 'predicted to be a waste').

Explanation

Only B reports the single, verifiable fact (the date the policy takes effect) while completely removing all subjective evaluation ('terrible,' 'waste of money,' 'predicted to be a waste').

18. When revising a summary, you should check to ensure that all numerical data (facts) are reported exactly as they appear in the original text.

True

False

This is true. Accuracy is non-negotiable in a summary, meaning all objective data, like numbers, names, or dates, must be copied correctly.

Explanation

This is true. Accuracy is non-negotiable in a summary, meaning all objective data, like numbers, names, or dates, must be copied correctly.

19. Original Summary: 'The passage is about cats. Cats are the best pets in the world, and they sleep a lot.' Which sentence makes the summary objective while remaining concise?

The passage discusses the qualities of cats and their typical sleep habits.

The passage is about cats and the reasons why they are the best pets.

The passage is about the best pets in the world.

The passage is about how cats sleep a lot.

Option A is the most accurate, concise, and objective statement of the passage's overall content (qualities and habits), successfully omitting the subjective opinion ('best pets').

Explanation

Option A is the most accurate, concise, and objective statement of the passage's overall content (qualities and habits), successfully omitting the subjective opinion ('best pets').