SUMMARIZING and PARAPHRASING worksheet - Free Printable

Based on the provided image, here is a solution to the reading comprehension task for Passage 1, which focuses on summarizing and paraphrasing.

Since no specific questions are listed below Passage 1 (only instructions to "Answer ALL questions"), I will provide a model summary and a model paraphrase of the letter, as these are the core skills being tested according to the TIP section.

---

Model Summary (Using the SWBS Strategy)

* Somebody: Ashley, a 9-year-old girl from Nottingham, England.
* Wanted: To become pen pals with Michael in The Bahamas.
* But: She describes her family, home, and city to give him an idea of her life.
* So: She asks Michael to write back and tell her about himself and Spanish Wells.

Final Summary:
Ashley, a 9-year-old girl living in Nottingham, England, writes to Michael to start a pen pal friendship. She introduces her family (parents, 2-year-old brother Tom, and their dog Rex) and describes her semi-detached house and the city of Nottingham, mentioning its industries, landmarks like Sherwood Forest, and weather. She ends by asking Michael to reply and share details about his life in The Bahamas.

---

Model Paraphrase

Here is the original passage rewritten in different words, keeping all the key information:

> Hi Michael,
>
> I’m thrilled to finally be writing to you because finding a pen pal in The Bahamas has always been my dream. My family consists of four people: my mum, my dad, my little brother Tom who’s two, and me—I’m nine years old. We also have a cocker spaniel named Rex.
>
> Mum doesn’t work outside the home; she takes care of us. Dad works at a factory that produces medicines and personal care items. We live just outside Nottingham, a major city in central England (which we call the Midlands) with around 300,000 residents. Our house is semi-detached, and I’ve included a photo so you can see it.
>
> I picture The Bahamas as sunny and warm, but I know our weather here can sometimes be chilly, damp, or foggy—so our house has heating for winter. Nottingham is well-known for lace and bicycles, and nearby there are coal mines and textile factories. Places like Sherwood Forest and Center Parcs are close by—we went to the park once to swim and play, even though parts of it are covered up for bad weather.
>
> Please write back soon and tell me all about yourself and your home in Spanish Wells!
>
> Your new pen pal,
> Ashley

---

Explanation of the Solution

1. Understanding the Task: The worksheet instructs students to read the passage and answer questions, likely focusing on summarizing and paraphrasing based on the “TIP” section.
2. Summarizing (SWBS): A good summary captures only the most important points in your own words, making it much shorter than the original. The SWBS strategy (Somebody-Wanted-But-So) helps organize the main elements of the story:
* Somebody: Identifies the main character (Ashley).
* Wanted: States her goal (to be pen pals).
* But: Introduces the context or obstacles (she shares details about her life to connect).
* So: Shows the outcome or request (she asks Michael to write back).
This creates a concise, logical summary that hits the key points without unnecessary detail.
3. Paraphrasing: This means restating the entire passage using different words and sentence structures while preserving the original meaning and all essential details. The paraphrase above rewords every sentence, uses synonyms (e.g., “thrilled” instead of “really pleased,” “major city” instead of “large and important city”), and changes sentence structure (e.g., combining sentences about her parents’ jobs) without adding opinions or omitting facts.
4. Key Points Included: Both the summary and paraphrase include:
* Ashley’s name, age, and location.
* Her desire to be pen pals.
* Her family members and pet.
* Her parents’ occupations.
* Description of her home and city (Nottingham, Midlands, population, semi-detached).
* Weather and heating.
* Notable features of Nottingham (lace, bicycles, coal mines, textile factories, Sherwood Forest, Center Parcs).
* Her closing request for Michael to write back.

This approach demonstrates how to effectively summarize and paraphrase a text as required by the quiz instructions and tips.