Summarizing Short Texts

Name:

Date:

📚 Part 1: Multiple Choice

1. After reading Paragraph A in Part 2, what is the main idea?

The students spent the day painting the classroom.

Year 6 students organised a planting day to add native trees to the school garden.

The school cancelled all outdoor activities because of rain.

Students learned how to cook lunch for their families.

2. After reading Paragraph B in Part 2, what is the main idea?

A group visited the coast to study rock pools and learned about sea life and safety at the shore.

The students stayed inside and read books about the ocean all day.

The class organised a beach clean-up and removed all seaweed from the sand.

The school took a bus to a museum to see dinosaur bones.

3. After reading Paragraph C in Part 2, what is the main idea?

The community held a book drive at the library, and volunteers sorted, repaired and donated books to local groups.

The local library closed because there were not enough volunteers.

A family opened a new café next to the library that sells second-hand books.

The library held a sports day for everyone in the neighbourhood.

4. Which sentence best describes how to write a one-sentence summary?

Copy one sentence from the text exactly as it appears.

Write a short sentence in your own words that states the main idea and one or two important details.

Write every detail from the text in a single long sentence.

Include your opinion and a personal story instead of the text's main idea.

✏️ Part 2: Short Answers — Read the paragraphs and respond

Paragraph A: The Year 6 class helped organise a planting day in the school garden to encourage native plants and help local wildlife. Each student chose a small gum sapling and learned how to dig a proper hole, place the roots carefully and water the plant. Teachers explained why native trees are important for shelter and food for birds and insects. Parents brought mulched soil and extra shovels, and by the afternoon the garden looked greener. Everyone felt proud to leave something that would grow for years.

5. Write a one-sentence summary of Paragraph A:

6. List three key details from Paragraph A:

Paragraph B: On a bright Saturday the science class travelled to the coast to explore rock pools and learn about marine life. The students observed sea stars, small fish and anemones, and the teacher showed them how to look without disturbing the animals. They recorded water temperature and discussed how sunlight and tides affect which creatures live in each pool. The group also practised safe behaviour on slippery rocks and worked in pairs to draw a map of the shore. After lunch they compared notes, talked about pollution effects and collected a few tiny samples to study back at school.

7. Write a one-sentence summary of Paragraph B:

8. List three key details from Paragraph B:

Paragraph C: The town library organised a book drive to make sure children in nearby suburbs had access to reading materials during the school holidays. Volunteers collected books, checked them for damage, and worked in small teams to mend torn pages and label each title. A local artist painted colourful signs and the library ran storytelling sessions to encourage families to visit. Some businesses donated boxes and snacks for the volunteers. In the end, hundreds of books were boxed and sent to community centres and playgroups, and the library planned to repeat the event every year because it brought people together and helped children keep reading.

9. Write a one-sentence summary of Paragraph C:

10. List three key details from Paragraph C: