Summarizing informational texts

March 2nd was a great day at the New York Public Library. More than 250 first and second graders wore red-and-white-striped stovepipe hats. They were celebrating The Cat in the Hat's 50th birthday. Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat picture book has been published for 50 years now. The famous feline danced with children racing around him. At the same time, pink, purple, and white confetti rained down.
Serena Williams, the tennis champion, read The Cat in the Hat to second graders. They sat on brightly-colored rugs around her. Two lucky second graders from PS 152 in Manhattan sat next to Williams on a big red chair. Pink and purple umbrellas hung from the ceiling. The students giggled while Williams made her voice change from deep to high for the many characters in the story.
After reading the book, Williams shouted, "Tip your hat to the Cat!" The students took off their hats and waved them excitedly.
Which sentence should be included in the summary of the passage above?

• After reading the book, Williams shouted, "Tip your hat to the Cat!"
• The students giggled while Williams made her voice change from deep to high...
• Two lucky second graders from PS 152 in Manhattan sat next to Williams on a big red chair.
• Serena Williams, the tennis champion, read The Cat in the Hat to second graders.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.2

"I don't want a babysitter. I am eleven years old. My babysitter is only three years older than I am," she loudly yelled to her Mom. Now, she really wished she had somebody with her as she heard the clicking, scratching noises outside of the living room window. "This is silly. It's probably the storm," the girl said. She regretted watching the horror show she had been tuned into for the last half hour. As she searched for the remote to turn off the vampire movie, the front door blew open with a thunderous noise. Carla whirled around to see a dark image."

Carla didn't want a babysitter because:

• She believes she is old enough to take care of herself.

• She wants to watch scary movies.

• Carla's mother leaves her alone all the time.

• Carla's babysitter is only three years older than Carla.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.1

Summarizing is a retelling in your own words, a short version of the main ideas, events and details.

• True
• False

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

As our landfills grow into large mountains of junk it has become apparent that we need to take action. Every year thousands of water bottles are thrown into landfills where they do not get recycled and they do not decompose. Thus, further adding to our society's waste.
These sentences support the argument that buying bottled water

• destroys our environment.
• makes people money.
• helps people stay healthy.
• makes finding clean water easier.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.7.8

Summarizing can be best described as taking the passage and listing briefly the most important points in your own words.

• False
• True

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

While reading, if I do not know what I have read, or something is not clear, I should

• write "I don't know" on my notes.
• keep reading, I want to finish first.
• go back and reread to find my answers.
• keep reading, maybe I will understand later.

An_________________ is when you retell or rewrite a story in your own words, but DO NOT include your own thoughts, ideas, or opinions.

• paraphrase
• objective summary
• conclusion
• inference

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

Cornelia wanted to get out of taking her test in Science. She asked to go to the restroom during science class. As she wandered along the hall the shiny red fire drill seemed to call her name. Cornelia looked left and then right, and pulled the alarm. Green spray came out all over her arms, just as she began to run away. Ms. Singelton saw Cornelia's green arms and took her straight to the office. Turns out she still had to take the test, but from ISSP. 
Which answer choice is the best summary?

• Cornelia did not study for a test so she made a plan to hide out in the restroom during that class.
• Cornelia wanted to get out of a science test so she pulled the fire alarm. she got caught and ended up in ISSP.
• Cornelia hates tests so she decided to skip school instead of going to class on test days.
• Cornelia pulled the fire alarm so that Hannah could get out of taking a science test.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.2

Travis and Frederick went to the mall to buy shoes. Frederick decided that he was going to steal pair of shoes from the mall. Travis tried to talk Frederick out of doing it. When they got to the mall and entered the shoes store Travis went to look at some shoes. Frederick pretended to be looking at shoes, when he suddenly bolted for the door with a pair of Nikes. The security guard reached out and grabbed Frederick's arm and took him to the station. Travis just called his mom to pick him up. 
What is the most appropriate summary?

• Travis wanted a pair of shoes from the mall so he got his friend Frederick to steal them.
• Frederick thought he could get away with stealing shoes from the mall and he did.
• Travis had no idea that Frederick planned to steal from the mall when they planned to buy shoes.
• Travis tried to talk his friend Frederick out of stealing shoes from the mall, but when he did it anyway he got caught.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

Dinosaurs lived on the Earth for approximately 180 million years. About 250 million years ago during the Permian Period, the Earth's seas shrunk. Reptiles, including dinosaurs, survived this period. The dinosaurs were the strong, dominant reptiles of the period. By the end of the Jurassic Period, dinosaurs had reached enormous sizes and roamed the Earth as leaders. In the Cretaceous Period, the dinosaurs died out, and more mammals began to flourish. 
The reason why dinosaurs were able to survive the Permian Period is because:

• The only needed to eat vegetation in order to survive.
• They were stronger than some of the other mammals.
• They were able to swim.
• The Permian Period didn't last for a long time.