Suggested Summary Exercises

Example ( 1 )

Read the following passage and do as required below:

Most people can remember a phone number for up to thirty seconds. When this
short amount of time elapses, however, the numbers are erased from the memory. How did
the information get there in the first place? Information that makes its way to the short-
term memory (STM) does so via the sensory storage area. The brain has a filter which
only allows stimuli that is of immediate interest to pass on to the STM, also known as the
working memory.

There is much debate about the capacity and duration of the short-term memory.
The most accepted theory comes from George A. Miller, a cognitive psychologist who
suggested that humans can remember about seven chunks of information. A chunk is
defined as a meaningful unit of information, such as a word or name rather than just
a letter or number. Modern theorists suggest that one can increase the capacity of the
short-term memory by chunking, or classifying similar information together. By
organizing information, one can optimize the STM, and improve the chances of a
memory being passed on to long-term storage. The capacity of STM can also be affected
by diseases that cause neuro-degeneration, such as Alzheimer's disease which can be a
factor in a person's short-term and eventually long-term memory. Damage to certain
sections of the brain can disable the ability to think and recall memories stored in STM.

Long-term memory (LTM) is the final stage in which data can be stored for long
periods of time. While short-term and working memory persists for only about 20 to 30
seconds, information can remain in long-term memory indefinitely. Long-term memory
has also been called reference memory, because an individual must refer to the
information in long-term memory when performing almost any task. Short-term memory
is limited to a certain number of chunks of information, while long-term memory has a
limitless store.

Understanding the information also makes it more retrievable.

Retrieving information can be done by recognition or recall. Humans can easily recall
memories that are stored in the long-term memory and used often; however, if a
memory seems to be forgotten, it may eventually be retrieved by prompting. The more
cues a person is given (such as pictures), the more likely a memory can be recalled. This
is why multiple-choice tests are often used for subjects that require a lot of memorization.

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 Suggested Summary Exercises

- Note & Summary Making:

1- On the basis of your reading of the above passage, make notes on it in points
according to the information provided in the TABLE below:
- Write 2 points under each category.

Types of memory What affects the How to regain Differences

in our brains STM positively and information stored in between STM and
(2 points) negatively (2 points) the LTM (2 points) LTM (2 points)

2- In 6 sentences of your own, write a summary of the passage using the notes you
have made in the table above:

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NB: Note & Summary making is whole text-based and NOT paragraph specific.

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 Suggested Summary Exercises

Example ( 2 )

Read the following passage and do as required below:

There is much debate about the capacity and duration of the short-term memory.
The most accepted theory comes from George A. Miller, a cognitive psychologist who
suggested that humans can remember about seven chunks of information. A chunk is
defined as a meaningful unit of information, such as a word or name rather than just a
letter or number. Modern theorists suggest that one can increase the capacity of the short-
term memory by chunking, or classifying similar information together. By organizing
information, one can optimize the STM, and improve the chances of a memory being
passed on to long-term storage. The capacity of STM can also be affected by diseases that
cause neuro-degeneration, such as Alzheimer's disease which can be a factor in a person's
short-term and eventually long-term memory. Damage to certain sections of the brain can
disable the ability to think and recall memories stored in STM.

Identify the correct statements in the following:

 There is a great deal of agreement on the capacity and duration of the short-term
memory.
 The capacity and duration of the short-term memory are controversial.
 Information can be remembered for longer time if it is saved in chunks.
 Theorists believe that it is impossible to improve our short-term memory.
 Some diseases such as Alzheimer badly affect our memory.
 Classifying information keeps it in the short-term memory.
 It is very important to keep our brains from damage to avoid losing our ability to think
and recall information.
 Once information is kept in memory, it can never be lost.
- Write the correct sentences to form a paragraph:
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 Suggested Summary Exercises

Example ( 3 )

- In FOUR sentences, summarise and paraphrase the following passage in an answer

to the following question:
For learning how to argue
Why is “learning how to argue” important? Look for pros of knowing how to argue

Knowing how to argue is a useful skill. We use it on ourselves in order to arrive at

decisions; we use it with others as we discuss business strategies or policy changes on

committees. As members of an environmental action group, we use it in drafting a letter to

the editor of our hometown paper. Moreover, we use it when we discuss tax cuts, and

university investment policies. Our ability to express opinions persuasively will allow us

to make differences in public life. If we lack the necessary skills, we are condemned to sit

on the sidelines. Instead of doing the moving, we will be among the moved.

Summary ( A )

Arguing is a useful skill. We use it with ourselves and the others. We use it to
persuade people in public life. Moreover, it helps to make changes.

This summary is too brief. It changes the meaning slightly and neglects some important
points. It is neither comprehensive nor concise.

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 Suggested Summary Exercises

Summary ( B )

Arguing is an important skill. It is used on ourselves in order to arrive at

decisions; we use it with others as we discuss business strategies or policy changes on
committees. As members of an environmental action group, we use it in drafting a
letter to the editor of our hometown paper. Moreover, we use it when we discuss tax
cuts, and university investment policies. Our ability to express opinions persuasively
will allow us to make differences in public life. If we lack the necessary skills, we are
condemned to sit on the sidelines. Instead of doing the moving, we will be among the
moved.

This summary is too long. Instead of focusing on the main points, it includes all the
points mentioned in the original passage. Moreover, it exceeds the limit of four
statements. It is almost a copy-paste version.

Write your version of the perfect summary here:

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 Suggested Summary Exercises

Example ( 4 )

- In FOUR sentences, summarise and paraphrase the following passage in an answer

to the following question:
Against living in big cities - look for cons.
Why do some people refuse to live in big cities?
Big cities in the States are the worst choice for living. The funny thing is that you
have to pay dearly for the advantage of living in a city where it can be very difficult to buy
your own house. Large cities are too large to control; they impose their living conditions
on the people who inhabit them. City- dwellers are obliged to adopt an unusual way of life.
Furthermore, it seems impossible to avoid the rush hour; wherever you go roads are
blocked with cars and streets are filled with people. In addition, crimes are more in cities
which are full of places you would be afraid to visit. Can anyone doubt that the country is
where a man truly belongs?

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 Suggested Summary Exercises

Example ( 5 )

- In FOUR sentences, summarise and paraphrase the following passage in an answer

to the following question:
Why wasn’t the barter system a very practical one?
Barter system is a system of direct exchange of goods that was used thousands of years
ago. People used to exchange goods such as tusks, grain, salt, cattle…etc. People's needs
for goods rarely coincided; a man who needed salt could not find someone selling it for
tusks. Moreover, the prices for goods were difficult to be equal to each other. For example,
the shells were far cheaper to be exchanged for cattle and so on. The movement of some
goods was a burden; the person who wanted to exchange cattle for another item had to pay
for help to move it to the market place. Some people lost using this system because their
goods were broken or rotten before they could exchange them. Only then, the practical,
durable system of money appeared.

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 Suggested Summary Exercises

Example ( 7 )

- In FOUR sentences, summarise and paraphrase the following passage in an answer

to the following question:

How can smokers quit smoking? / What steps can smokers follow to quit smoking?

“No pain No gain”. Quitting smoking needs a strong will and a lot of effort .Many
smokers want to quit smoking. They know it is bad for their health .But it is difficult for
them to do so. Doctors advise heavy smokers to reduce smoking gradually starting to cut
down two to three cigarettes a day reaching the ultimate goal. Others find that chewing a
gum keeps a smoker busy all day long and consequently, he can reduce the number of
cigarettes consumed. Sports can improve the health and give smokers the strength to quit
this bad habit. Some people go for group support where all smokers provide support for
each other to quit smoking.
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