Summarizing Worksheets & Activities | Reading Comprehension - Free Printable

Let’s go step by step to solve this worksheet.

We have two passages about ninjas. For each, we need to:
1. Create a title that matches the main idea.
2. Write a summary in our own words — including all key ideas, no opinions, and highlighting or underlining key points (we’ll underline them in our answer).

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First Passage:

Key ideas from the text:
- Ninjas are dressed in black, stealthy, masters of espionage, sabotage, assassination.
- The word “ninja” is elusive — its source is tricky.
- In China, they’re called “shinobi,” which means “to steal away.”
- “Shinobi” appears in Chinese poems since the 8th century.
- During Japan’s Edo period, “shinobi-no-mono” became “ninja” because it was easier to say.
- The kanji (Chinese characters) for both words look similar: 忍の者 → 忍者

So the main idea is: How the word “ninja” came from the Chinese word “shinobi” and why it changed.

Title idea: *From Shinobi to Ninja: How the Name Changed*

Summary (in our own words, with key ideas underlined):
Ninjas are known for being stealthy and skilled in spying and fighting. But where does the word “ninja” come from? It likely comes from the Chinese word _shinobi_, meaning “to steal away,” which has been used since the 8th century. During Japan’s Edo period, people started saying _ninja_ instead of _shinobi-no-mono_ because it was quicker. Even though the sounds seem different in English, the _kanji characters_ for both words are very similar — showing how closely related they are.

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Second Passage:

Key ideas from the text:
- Ninjas used many tools: throwing stars, bows, acid tubes — but favorite weapon was the _katana_.
- Katana = long, curved sword, single blade, two-handed grip.
- Carried in a scabbard on the back.
- Scabbard had multiple uses: climbing walls, walking stick in dark, probing for objects.
- Sinister use: put red pepper, dirt, iron shavings in scabbard to blind enemy when drawing sword.
- Author wonders what ninja could do with a Swiss Army knife (this is an opinion — we skip it in summary).

Main idea: The katana was the ninja’s favorite weapon, and its scabbard had many clever uses beyond just holding the sword.

Title idea: *More Than Just a Sword: The Ninja’s Katana and Its Many Uses*

Summary (in our own words, with key ideas underlined):
Ninjas used many weapons, but their favorite was the _katana_ — a long, curved sword designed for two hands. They carried it in a _scabbard_ on their backs. While mainly used for fighting, the _scabbard_ had other important jobs: helping ninjas climb walls, acting as a walking stick in the dark, or feeling around to avoid noise. One sneaky trick was filling the top of the scabbard with _red pepper, dirt, and iron shavings_ to blind enemies when pulling out the sword.

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Final Answer:

1. Main idea related title for the passage:
From Shinobi to Ninja: How the Name Changed

2. Summarize the passage in your own words:
Ninjas are known for being stealthy and skilled in spying and fighting. But where does the word “ninja” come from? It likely comes from the Chinese word _shinobi_, meaning “to steal away,” which has been used since the 8th century. During Japan’s Edo period, people started saying _ninja_ instead of _shinobi-no-mono_ because it was quicker. Even though the sounds seem different in English, the _kanji characters_ for both words are very similar — showing how closely related they are.

3. Main idea related title for the passage:
More Than Just a Sword: The Ninja’s Katana and Its Many Uses

4. Summarize the passage in your own words:
Ninjas used many weapons, but their favorite was the _katana_ — a long, curved sword designed for two hands. They carried it in a _scabbard_ on their backs. While mainly used for fighting, the _scabbard_ had other important jobs: helping ninjas climb walls, acting as a walking stick in the dark, or feeling around to avoid noise. One sneaky trick was filling the top of the scabbard with _red pepper, dirt, and iron shavings_ to blind enemies when pulling out the sword.