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Summarising
A summary is not a shorter version of the passage. It is the main idea — the one thing the passage is really about, even when the passage seems to be about many things. This clinic teaches you to find that one thing.
Lesson 1 — What is a summary?
A good summary captures the main idea in one sentence. It leaves out small details, examples and asides. If a sentence could be deleted without changing the point, the summary doesn't need it.
Octopuses have nine brains: one large central one between their eyes, and a smaller one in each of their eight arms. Each arm can act almost independently. In aquariums around the world, scientists have set octopuses puzzles to solve — and have found them remarkably quick learners.
Which sentence is the best one-line summary of the passage?
A. Octopuses live in many aquariums around the world.
B. Octopuses have unusual brains and use them to solve puzzles cleverly.
C. Octopuses have eight arms, like a star fish.
D. Octopuses are difficult to keep in captivity.