Read the text below and complete the following task.

The newspaper is an extremely useful learning tool to students today. Besides being
easily available and affordable, it offers them numerous benefits.
A survey carried out on the benefits of the newspaper clearly shows that students
who read the newspapers have better awareness of the world around them. This is because
they are better informed of the current issues happening around the world. Hence, they
become more knowledgeable.
As language proficiency seems to be a problem amongst students these days,
reading the newspaper also helps them improve their language skills. As such, they are able
to put into practice what they have learnt.
Meanwhile, once outside the classroom, students can use the newspaper to be a
continuous source of education and information. For example, it can be used to obtain
reference material or ideas for their school assignments.
The newspaper today also motivates students to learn because it contains
educational supplements that help them with their lessons. Besides, they also encourage
students to develop their thinking skills through extensive reading.
It is without doubt that the newspaper is beneficial to students. As such, we should
encourage them to read the newspaper every day.
Write a summary on how the newspaper can be a useful tool to students.
Your summary must:
not be more than 60 words, including the 10 given words below
be in continuous writing (not note form)
be written in one paragraph
Use your own words as far as possible without changing its original meaning. Begin your
summary as follows:
The newspaper is a useful tool that helps students to

Steps to answer a summary question:

Step 1:
Read the text once to get an idea on what the text is all about.
Step 2:
Read the question. Identify the keywords.
Write a summary on HOW the newspaper can be a useful tool to students.
Step 3:
Identify the content points. Read again the text. Read each sentence in the text one by one.
Ask whether the sentence answers the question HOW the newspaper can be a useful
tool to students?
Sentence from the text

Does the sentence

answers the question
HOWthe newspapercan
be a useful tool to
students?

What is the content

point?
(highlight or
underline the content
point)
* yellow main points
* blue supporting
points

The newspaper is an
extremely useful learning
tool to students today.

No

None

Besides being easily

available and affordable, it
offers them numerous
benefits.

No

None

A survey carried out on the

benefits of the newspaper
clearly shows that students
who read the newspapers
have better awareness of
the world around them.

Yes

have better awareness of

the world around them.

This is because they are

better informed of the
current issues happening
around the world.

Yes.
When you see the word
because, the sentence
normally contains the
supporting point for the
previous sentence.

better informed of the

current issues happening
around the world.

Hence, they become more

knowledgeable.

Yes.

become more
knowledgeable.

As language proficiency

Yes.

improve their language

seems to be a problem
amongst students these
days, reading the
newspaper also helps them
improve their language
skills.

skills.

As such, they are able to

put into practice what they
have learnt.

Yes.
When you see the phrase
as such, the sentence
normally contains the
supporting point for the
previous sentence.

able to put into practice

what they have
learnt.

Meanwhile, once outside the

classroom, students can use
the newspaper to be a
continuous source of
education and information.

Yes.

continuous source of
education and information.

For example, it can be used

to obtain reference material
or ideas for their school
assignments.

No.
Pay attention to the words
like for example, like,
such as. These words
indicate examples. Dont
write examples in a
summary.

None

The newspaper today also

motivates students to learn
because it contains
educational supplements
that help them with their
lessons.

Yes.

motivates students to learn

Besides, they also

encourage students to
develop their thinking skills
through extensive reading.

Yes.

to develop their thinking

skills through extensive
reading.

It is without doubt that the

newspaper is beneficial to
students.

No.

None.

As such, we should
encourage them to read the
newspaper every day.

No.

None.

The phrase after the word

because is the supporting
point:
contains educational
supplements that help them
with their lessons

*C indicates content:
C1 - have better awareness of the world around them / better informed of the current
issues happening around the world
C2 - become more knowledgeable
C3 - improve their language skills / able to put into practice what they have learnt
C4 - continuous source of education and information
C5 - motivates students to learn
C6 - encourage students to develop their thinking skills through extensive reading
Important:
If you are able to identify both main and supporting points, write either one in the summary.
It is not encouraged to write the supporting points. Sometimes, a supporting point is NOT
accepted as the content point!
Step 4:
Write the summary. Write five (5) content points only. Begin your summary with the ten
(10) words given. Copy the points EXACTLY from the text to avoid sentence errors and
changing the meaning of the original text. Use sequence connectors like next, then,
moreover, furthermore, lastly, etc.
The newspaper is a useful tool that helps students to have better awareness of the
world around them. (C1) They become more knowledgeable. (C2) Moreover, reading the
newspaper also helps them improve their language skills. (C3) Furthermore, students can
use the newspaper to be a continuous source of education and information.(C4) Finally, the
newspaper today also motivates students to learn.(C5)
Step 5:
Count the number of words and write it at the bottom right of the summary. Make sure your
summary is NOT MORE than 60 words.