Summarize an article fairly
Grade 8 Reading Worksheet
Circle the best answer.
Read this first
An Island Is Born (article)
[1] In November 1963, fishermen near Iceland saw smoke rising from the sea, and soon a volcano broke through the surface. [2] Lava and ash piled up for more than three years, and the new island was named Surtsey. [3] The eruptions ended in 1967, leaving land about two and a half square kilometers in size.
[4] Iceland protected the island at once, and today only approved scientists may visit it. [5] Their reason is that Surtsey offers a rare chance to watch life arrive on bare volcanic rock.
[6] The first plants appeared in 1965, when seeds drifted in on the waves and took root on the sand. [7] Seabirds followed, and their droppings enriched the soil so that grasses and other plants could spread. [8] Seals now rest on the shores. [9] Scientists record each new species and compare their notes year after year.
[10] The same waves that bring seeds also wear the island away. [11] Surtsey has already lost about half of its land, and it will keep shrinking. [12] Even so, the records give a clear picture of how a bare island turns green. Draft sentence: Sadly, the waves are destroying Surtsey, and the island has already lost about half of its land.
Ari's draft sentence is shown below the article. Which rewrite removes the opinion and keeps the facts?
- The waves are cruelly wearing Surtsey away, and the island has already lost about half of its land.
- The waves that bring seeds to Surtsey are also wearing the island away, and the island will keep shrinking.
- The waves are wearing Surtsey away, and the island has already lost about half of its land.
- The waves are wearing Surtsey away, and the island has already lost about half of its land and will disappear within fifty years.
An Island Is Born (article)
[1] In November 1963, fishermen near Iceland saw smoke rising from the sea, and soon a volcano broke through the surface. [2] Lava and ash piled up for more than three years, and the new island was named Surtsey. [3] The eruptions ended in 1967, leaving land about two and a half square kilometers in size.
[4] Iceland protected the island at once, and today only approved scientists may visit it. [5] Their reason is that Surtsey offers a rare chance to watch life arrive on bare volcanic rock.
[6] The first plants appeared in 1965, when seeds drifted in on the waves and took root on the sand. [7] Seabirds followed, and their droppings enriched the soil so that grasses and other plants could spread. [8] Seals now rest on the shores. [9] Scientists record each new species and compare their notes year after year.
[10] The same waves that bring seeds also wear the island away. [11] Surtsey has already lost about half of its land, and it will keep shrinking. [12] Even so, the records give a clear picture of how a bare island turns green. Draft summary: Surtsey is a volcanic island that rose from the sea off Iceland in 1963. Scientists record the plants, birds and seals that have arrived there.
Esme is checking a draft summary of the article. Which sentence should be added so that the summary is complete?
- Scientists plan to build a wall around the island to stop the waves from wearing it away.
- The eruptions ended in 1967, leaving land about two and a half square kilometers in size.
- The island's slow loss to the sea is the saddest part of its story.
- The waves that carry in seeds are also wearing the island away, so it has lost about half of its land.
Letters of Metal (article)
[1] Before the 1400s, every book in Europe was copied by hand, and a single volume could take months to finish. [2] Because books were so costly, only churches, universities and wealthy families owned them. [3] Printing from carved wooden blocks existed, but a block could print only one page and could not be reused.
[4] About 1450, a German goldsmith named Johannes Gutenberg developed a better system in the city of Mainz. [5] He cast small metal letters that could be arranged into words, locked into a frame and used to print a page. [6] When the job was done, the letters could be taken apart and arranged again for the next page. [7] He also adapted a screw press, like those used for squeezing grapes and olives, and mixed an oil-based ink that stuck well to metal.
[8] Within a few decades, printing shops had opened in cities across Europe. [9] Books became cheaper and more common, and ideas could travel faster than ever before. [10] Historians connect this change to the growth of schools, the spread of scientific ideas and new debates about religion.
[11] Not everyone welcomed the shift, however, and some rulers tried to control what printers could publish. [12] Even so, the printing press has become a symbol of how a new tool can change a society.
Jun is writing a summary for a class page. Which summary tells the whole article and adds no opinion?
- Gutenberg's movable metal letters made printing fast and reusable, so books became cheaper and ideas spread, which was the greatest change in the history of the world and a wonder of its age.
- About 1450, the goldsmith Johannes Gutenberg cast small metal letters in Mainz, locked them in a frame and printed pages with an oil-based ink.
- Gutenberg's movable metal letters made printing fast and reusable, so books became cheaper and ideas spread, although some rulers tried to control what printers could publish.
- Gutenberg's movable metal letters made printing fast and reusable, so books became cheaper, ideas spread and printing shops opened across Europe.
Letters of Metal (article)
[1] Before the 1400s, every book in Europe was copied by hand, and a single volume could take months to finish. [2] Because books were so costly, only churches, universities and wealthy families owned them. [3] Printing from carved wooden blocks existed, but a block could print only one page and could not be reused.
[4] About 1450, a German goldsmith named Johannes Gutenberg developed a better system in the city of Mainz. [5] He cast small metal letters that could be arranged into words, locked into a frame and used to print a page. [6] When the job was done, the letters could be taken apart and arranged again for the next page. [7] He also adapted a screw press, like those used for squeezing grapes and olives, and mixed an oil-based ink that stuck well to metal.
[8] Within a few decades, printing shops had opened in cities across Europe. [9] Books became cheaper and more common, and ideas could travel faster than ever before. [10] Historians connect this change to the growth of schools, the spread of scientific ideas and new debates about religion.
[11] Not everyone welcomed the shift, however, and some rulers tried to control what printers could publish. [12] Even so, the printing press has become a symbol of how a new tool can change a society. Draft summary: Before the 1400s, books were copied by hand and were costly. About 1450, Gutenberg used reusable metal letters to print pages. Within a few decades, printing shops opened across Europe.
Luz is checking a draft summary of the article. Which sentence should be added so that the summary is complete?
- Not everyone welcomed the change, and some rulers tried to control what printers could publish.
- The press Gutenberg used was adapted from a screw press, and he mixed an oil-based ink that stuck to metal.
- The rulers who tried to stop printers were wrong, and they should have welcomed the change.
- Printers in several cities were forced to close their shops, and some were sent away from their homes.
Ice That Floats (article)
[1] Most substances shrink when they freeze, but water does something unusual. [2] As water cools below about four degrees Celsius, it begins to expand, and when it turns to ice it takes up roughly nine percent more space. [3] Because ice is lighter than the same amount of liquid water, it floats.
[4] This fact shapes life in cold climates. [5] When winter arrives, a lake cools from the top, and a layer of ice forms on the surface. [6] That layer works like a blanket, slowing the loss of heat from the water beneath. [7] Deeper water stays liquid, and fish and plants can survive until spring.
[8] The same property can cause damage. [9] Water that seeps into cracks in a road or a pipe expands as it freezes and pushes the walls apart. [10] This is why pavement develops potholes in winter and why homeowners drain outdoor pipes before a hard freeze.
[11] Scientists explain the strange behavior by the way water molecules link up. [12] In ice, they lock into an open, six-sided pattern that leaves gaps, which makes ice less dense than liquid water.
Milo is writing a summary for a class page. Which summary tells the whole article and adds no opinion?
- Water expands when it freezes, so ice floats, which is why lakes freeze from the bottom up and fish must leave in winter.
- Water expands when it freezes, so ice floats, which protects lake life in winter but can also crack pipes and roads.
- Water expands when it freezes, so ice floats on a lake and keeps the water beneath it liquid for fish and plants to survive.
- Water expands when it freezes, so ice floats, which is a wonderful gift to lake life and a terrible problem for pipes and roads.
Ice That Floats (article)
[1] Most substances shrink when they freeze, but water does something unusual. [2] As water cools below about four degrees Celsius, it begins to expand, and when it turns to ice it takes up roughly nine percent more space. [3] Because ice is lighter than the same amount of liquid water, it floats.
[4] This fact shapes life in cold climates. [5] When winter arrives, a lake cools from the top, and a layer of ice forms on the surface. [6] That layer works like a blanket, slowing the loss of heat from the water beneath. [7] Deeper water stays liquid, and fish and plants can survive until spring.
[8] The same property can cause damage. [9] Water that seeps into cracks in a road or a pipe expands as it freezes and pushes the walls apart. [10] This is why pavement develops potholes in winter and why homeowners drain outdoor pipes before a hard freeze.
[11] Scientists explain the strange behavior by the way water molecules link up. [12] In ice, they lock into an open, six-sided pattern that leaves gaps, which makes ice less dense than liquid water. Draft sentence: Annoyingly, water in a pipe expands when it freezes and pushes the walls apart.
Noah's draft sentence is shown below the article. Which rewrite removes the opinion and keeps the facts?
- Water in a pipe expands when it freezes and pushes the walls apart, so plumbers charge more in winter.
- Water in a pipe annoyingly expands when it freezes and pushes the walls apart.
- Water in a pipe expands when it freezes and pushes the walls apart.
- Water in a pipe expands when it freezes, as it does in a lake or a road.
Ice That Floats (article)
[1] Most substances shrink when they freeze, but water does something unusual. [2] As water cools below about four degrees Celsius, it begins to expand, and when it turns to ice it takes up roughly nine percent more space. [3] Because ice is lighter than the same amount of liquid water, it floats.
[4] This fact shapes life in cold climates. [5] When winter arrives, a lake cools from the top, and a layer of ice forms on the surface. [6] That layer works like a blanket, slowing the loss of heat from the water beneath. [7] Deeper water stays liquid, and fish and plants can survive until spring.
[8] The same property can cause damage. [9] Water that seeps into cracks in a road or a pipe expands as it freezes and pushes the walls apart. [10] This is why pavement develops potholes in winter and why homeowners drain outdoor pipes before a hard freeze.
[11] Scientists explain the strange behavior by the way water molecules link up. [12] In ice, they lock into an open, six-sided pattern that leaves gaps, which makes ice less dense than liquid water. Draft summary: Water expands as it freezes, and ice is lighter than liquid water, so it floats. A layer of ice on a lake slows heat loss, so fish and plants can survive below. Scientists explain this by the open, six-sided pattern that water molecules form in ice.
Pia is checking a draft summary of the article. Which sentence should be added so that the summary is complete?
- Cities now ban outdoor water pipes in cold regions so that pipes cannot freeze.
- A lake cools from the top, and a layer of ice forms on the surface.
- Frozen pipes are the most annoying thing that winter does to a home.
- Freezing water can also push apart cracks in roads and pipes, which is why potholes form and pipes are drained before a hard freeze.
Warmth in Numbers (article)
[1] Emperor penguins breed in Antarctica in the middle of winter, when temperatures can fall below minus forty degrees Celsius and winds howl across the ice. [2] While the female goes to sea to feed, each male stays behind and balances a single egg on his feet, under a warm fold of skin. [3] He may go two months or more without food.
[4] To survive, the males crowd together in a tight huddle that can hold thousands of birds. [5] Penguins in the middle are sheltered from the wind, and the group's shared heat raises the temperature inside the huddle far above that of the open air.
[6] Researchers who filmed colonies noticed that the huddle slowly moves, as if it were a single living thing. [7] Birds on the cold windward edge shuffle around the group to the sheltered side, while others step into the center. [8] Over time, every penguin takes a turn at each position, so no bird stays exposed for too long.
[9] The strategy works only when the birds cooperate. [10] A male that tried to stand alone would lose heat quickly and might not keep the egg warm. [11] By moving together, the colony helps each bird survive until the females return. [12] The returning females take over the egg, and the males finally go to the sea to feed.
Ren is writing a summary for a class page. Which summary tells the whole article and adds no opinion?
- Male emperor penguins survive the Antarctic winter by huddling in a tight group and rotating positions, so every bird takes a turn in the shelter and at the cold edge.
- Male emperor penguins survive the Antarctic winter by huddling and rotating positions, and the strongest birds keep the warm center for the whole winter.
- Male emperor penguins survive the Antarctic winter by huddling and rotating positions, which is the most beautiful teamwork in nature.
- Male emperor penguins survive the Antarctic winter by crowding into a tight huddle that shelters the birds in the middle from the wind and shares their warmth.
Warmth in Numbers (article)
[1] Emperor penguins breed in Antarctica in the middle of winter, when temperatures can fall below minus forty degrees Celsius and winds howl across the ice. [2] While the female goes to sea to feed, each male stays behind and balances a single egg on his feet, under a warm fold of skin. [3] He may go two months or more without food.
[4] To survive, the males crowd together in a tight huddle that can hold thousands of birds. [5] Penguins in the middle are sheltered from the wind, and the group's shared heat raises the temperature inside the huddle far above that of the open air.
[6] Researchers who filmed colonies noticed that the huddle slowly moves, as if it were a single living thing. [7] Birds on the cold windward edge shuffle around the group to the sheltered side, while others step into the center. [8] Over time, every penguin takes a turn at each position, so no bird stays exposed for too long.
[9] The strategy works only when the birds cooperate. [10] A male that tried to stand alone would lose heat quickly and might not keep the egg warm. [11] By moving together, the colony helps each bird survive until the females return. [12] The returning females take over the egg, and the males finally go to the sea to feed. Draft sentence: Poor lonely penguins that stand apart lose heat quickly and might not keep the egg warm.
Tala's draft sentence is shown below the article. Which rewrite removes the opinion and keeps the facts?
- A penguin that stands apart loses heat quickly and might not keep the egg warm.
- A penguin that stands apart loses heat quickly, and the huddle shelters the rest.
- A penguin that stands apart loses heat quickly and might not keep the egg warm, so the colony drives it away.
- A lonely penguin that stands apart loses heat quickly and might not keep the egg warm.
Warmth in Numbers (article)
[1] Emperor penguins breed in Antarctica in the middle of winter, when temperatures can fall below minus forty degrees Celsius and winds howl across the ice. [2] While the female goes to sea to feed, each male stays behind and balances a single egg on his feet, under a warm fold of skin. [3] He may go two months or more without food.
[4] To survive, the males crowd together in a tight huddle that can hold thousands of birds. [5] Penguins in the middle are sheltered from the wind, and the group's shared heat raises the temperature inside the huddle far above that of the open air.
[6] Researchers who filmed colonies noticed that the huddle slowly moves, as if it were a single living thing. [7] Birds on the cold windward edge shuffle around the group to the sheltered side, while others step into the center. [8] Over time, every penguin takes a turn at each position, so no bird stays exposed for too long.
[9] The strategy works only when the birds cooperate. [10] A male that tried to stand alone would lose heat quickly and might not keep the egg warm. [11] By moving together, the colony helps each bird survive until the females return. [12] The returning females take over the egg, and the males finally go to the sea to feed. Draft summary: Male emperor penguins keep an egg on their feet through the Antarctic winter. They crowd into a huddle that shelters the birds in the middle from the wind.
Zee is checking a draft summary of the article. Which sentence should be added so that the summary is complete?
- The huddle slowly moves, as birds from the cold edge shuffle to the sheltered side, so every penguin takes a turn at each position.
- The penguins' unselfish cooperation is a lesson that people should learn.
- Temperatures in the Antarctic winter can fall below minus forty degrees Celsius, with strong winds across the ice.
- The strongest males keep the warm center for the whole winter and stay there instead of moving to the edge.