Summary Writing is one of 9 topics in the Grade 11 English Home Language CAPS syllabus, covered across 3 lessons on Study Vault. Below are real practice questions from this topic with full worked answers.
Sample practice questions
Easy
1. In summary writing, a "main idea" is best described as:
A key point the passage is making
An example that illustrates a point
A statistic mentioned in passing
The title of the passage only
Answer: A key point the passage is making — A main idea is a key point the passage is making, distinct from supporting details such as examples, statistics or elaborations.
Easy
2. Beyond asking "What is this paragraph mainly about?", what additional question should a Grade 11 learner ask, according to this lesson?
How does this idea relate to the idea before it?
What font is used in this paragraph?
How many words does this paragraph contain?
What is the title of this paragraph?
Answer: How does this idea relate to the idea before it? — Grade 11 passages require tracking logical relationships between paragraphs, so a learner should also ask how each idea connects to the one before it.
Medium
3. A summary that lists main ideas without preserving their logical relationship risks losing marks for what quality?
Answer: Coherence — A summary that lists ideas without preserving logical relationships (cause/effect, contrast, sequence) can lose marks for coherence, even if each idea is technically included.
