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Problem Overview:

The task involves reading each passage, highlighting or underlining necessary information, and writing a summary for each section. Below is the detailed solution:

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Passage 1 Summary

#### Original Passage:
The English were not the first Europeans to land their ships on American soil. The Vikings had discovered North America in the 11th century. Columbus landed in the Bahamas in 1492 for Spain, and the French began expeditions to the New World in 1524. But the first English presence in North America is important because the thirteen English colonies that would later be established eventually became the country now known as the United States of America.

#### Highlighted Information:
- The Vikings discovered North America in the 11th century.
- Columbus landed in the Bahamas in 1492 for Spain.
- The French began expeditions to the New World in 1524.
- The first English presence in North America led to the establishment of the thirteen colonies that became the United States.

#### Summary:
The English were not the first Europeans to explore North America; the Vikings arrived in the 11th century, Columbus reached the Bahamas in 1492, and the French explored the region in 1524. However, the English presence was significant because it eventually led to the establishment of the thirteen colonies that formed the United States.

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Passage 2 Summary

#### Original Passage:
In April of 1585 Sir Walter Raleigh, under the authority of Queen Elizabeth of England, sent an expedition of seven ships carrying 600 men, half of them soldiers, to found an English colony in North America. The colony was to be used to establish an English presence in the New World as well as a base from which English privateers, or pirates, could attack and plunder Spanish treasure fleets. Raleigh’s cousin, Sir Richard Grenville, led the expedition.

#### Highlighted Information:
- Sir Walter Raleigh sent an expedition in April 1585.
- The expedition consisted of seven ships with 600 men (half soldiers).
- The goal was to establish an English colony in North America.
- The colony would serve as a base for attacking Spanish treasure fleets.
- Sir Richard Grenville led the expedition.

#### Summary:
In April 1585, Sir Walter Raleigh, authorized by Queen Elizabeth I, dispatched an expedition of seven ships carrying 600 men (half soldiers) to establish an English colony in North America. This colony was intended to assert English presence in the New World and serve as a base for privateers to raid Spanish treasure fleets. Sir Richard Grenville led the mission.

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Passage 3 Summary

#### Original Passage:
In July of that year the bulk of the fleet reached a small island off the coast of Virginia that was called Roanoke. After building a small fort on the north side of the island, the colonists initiated relations with a Native American tribe that lived on the island, the Aquascogoc. These natives showed little interest in building relations with the English colonists, and they soon parted company. After this encounter, however, the English noticed that one of their silver cups had gone missing, and they attributed its disappearance to the Aquascogoc. Grenville, the English captain, was furious. He believed that the Aquascogoc had stolen the silver cup. Whether or not this was true, angry exchanges followed and soon the English burned the Aquascogoc village. The English held their fort against the subsequent attacks of the natives.

#### Highlighted Information:
- The fleet reached Roanoke Island in July.
- Colonists built a fort and interacted with the Aquascogoc tribe.
- The Aquascogoc showed little interest in forming alliances.
- A silver cup went missing, and the English blamed the Aquascogoc.
- Captain Grenville ordered the burning of the Aquascogoc village.
- The English defended their fort against native attacks.

#### Summary:
In July, the expedition reached Roanoke Island. The colonists built a fort and attempted to form relations with the Aquascogoc tribe, but the natives were uninterested. When a silver cup went missing, the English accused the Aquascogoc of theft. Furious, Captain Grenville ordered the burning of the Aquascogoc village. The English then defended their fort against retaliatory attacks from the natives.

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Passage 4 Summary

#### Original Passage:
Despite their success in battle, the colonists had a miserable time because they were mainly soldiers and adventurers, not farmers. They were hungry. They missed the comforts of England, such as soft feather beds and dainty foods. Also they had expected to find gold and silver on the island, and were disappointed when they found none. Grenville soon tired of these conditions and set out on his ship to plunder Spanish treasure fleets and return to England. The colony was gradually abandoned.

#### Highlighted Information:
- The colonists struggled due to hunger and lack of farming skills.
- They missed the comforts of England.
- They were disappointed by the absence of gold and silver.
- Grenville left to plunder Spanish treasure fleets.
- The colony was gradually abandoned.

#### Summary:
Although the colonists successfully defended their fort, they faced hardships due to hunger and a lack of farming skills. They longed for the comforts of England and were disappointed by the absence of gold and silver. Eventually, Captain Grenville left to raid Spanish treasure fleets, and the colony was gradually abandoned.

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Final Answer:

\boxed{
\text{Summaries provided above for each passage.}
}