Chapter: Writing Summaries
📚 Vocabulary
English Grammar and Composition Classes Nine and Ten
⭐ Most Important Exam Words
summarysummarizerestatementconciseoriginalessentialminormain ideaoutlinecontentgistskimscanpleasureinstructiondirectionfablemischievousforgivekindnesspreysnarereleasedesignationmechanicalartificialcomplicatedmanufactureharmdreamimpossibleabsurdeventuallyinventmicroscopedistanttechnology
📃 Word Formation Rules
► summary → summarize → summarization: noun to verb to noun
► concise → concisely → conciseness: adjective to adverb to noun
► kind → kindness: add the suffix -ness to form a noun
► minor → minority: add the suffix -ity to form a noun
► instruct → instruction → instructive: verb to noun to adjective
► inform → information → informative: verb to noun to adjective
► efficient → efficiently → efficiency: adjective to adverb to noun
► interpret → interpretation → interpretive: verb to noun to adjective
► invent → invention → inventor: verb to noun naming an act and a person
► possible → impossible: add the prefix im- to form the opposite
► natural → unnatural: add the prefix un- to form the opposite
► complicate → complicated → complication: verb to adjective to noun
► manufacture → manufacturer → manufactured: verb to person noun to adjective
► harm → harmful → harmless: noun to adjectives with -ful and -less
► eventual → eventually: adjective to adverb by adding -ly
1. Summary Basics (8 words)
summary[/ˈsʌməri/]nouneasy
Meaning: সারাংশ
Alt: সংক্ষিপ্ত বিবরণ
Example: Write a summary of the passage in your own words.
Syn: outlineAnt: expansion
💡 Exam tip: A summary presents only the main ideas in a shorter form.
summarize[/ˈsʌməraɪz/]verbeasy
Meaning: সারসংক্ষেপ করা
Alt: সংক্ষেপে প্রকাশ করা
Example: Summarize the story in five sentences.
Syn: abridgeAnt: elaborate
💡 Exam tip: Use your own words while summarizing.
restatement[/ˌriːˈsteɪtmənt/]nounmedium
Meaning: পুনর্বিবৃতি
Alt: অন্যভাবে প্রকাশ
Example: A summary is a restatement of the original text.
Syn: paraphraseAnt: quotation
💡 Exam tip: Restate the original meaning without copying its sentences.
concise[/kənˈsaɪs/]adjmedium
Meaning: সংক্ষিপ্ত ও স্পষ্ট
Alt: অল্প কথায় প্রকাশিত
Example: A good summary is concise and accurate.
Syn: briefAnt: wordy
💡 Exam tip: Avoid unnecessary details to keep the answer concise.
original[/əˈrɪdʒənəl/]adjeasy
Meaning: মূল
Alt: প্রথমে রচিত
Example: Read the original passage carefully before writing.
Syn: sourceAnt: copied
💡 Exam tip: Understand the original passage before selecting key points.
information[/ˌɪnfəˈmeɪʃən/]nouneasy
Meaning: তথ্য
Alt: জ্ঞান বা সংবাদ
Example: The summary contains the essential information.
Syn: dataAnt: ignorance
💡 Exam tip: Include important information, not personal opinions.
argument[/ˈɑːɡjəmənt/]nounmedium
Meaning: যুক্তি বা বক্তব্য
Alt: তর্ক
Example: The summary presents the writer’s main argument.
Syn: claimAnt: agreement
💡 Exam tip: For an argumentative passage, mention the writer’s central claim.
interpret[/ɪnˈtɜːprɪt/]verbmedium
Meaning: ব্যাখ্যা করা
Alt: অর্থ অনুধাবন করা
Example: Students should interpret the passage before summarizing it.
Syn: explainAnt: misunderstand
💡 Exam tip: Do not change the writer’s intended meaning.
2. Reading and Identifying Main Ideas (8 words)
main[/meɪn/]adjeasy
Meaning: প্রধান
Alt: মূল
Example: Identify the main idea of each paragraph.
Syn: principalAnt: minor
💡 Exam tip: The main idea is essential to the meaning of the passage.
essential[/ɪˈsenʃəl/]adjeasy
Meaning: অপরিহার্য
Alt: অত্যাবশ্যক
Example: Include only the essential points in the summary.
Syn: necessaryAnt: unnecessary
💡 Exam tip: Essential details answer who, what, why, or how.
minor[/ˈmaɪnə/]adjeasy
Meaning: গৌণ
Alt: কম গুরুত্বপূর্ণ
Example: Minor details should usually be omitted.
Syn: secondaryAnt: major
💡 Exam tip: Do not include dates, names, or descriptions unless they are important.
highlight[/ˈhaɪlaɪt/]verbeasy
Meaning: গুরুত্বপূর্ণ অংশ চিহ্নিত করা
Alt: উজ্জ্বল করে তোলা
Example: Highlight the key sentences with a pencil.
Syn: underlineAnt: ignore
💡 Exam tip: Highlight repeated ideas and topic sentences.
outline[/ˈaʊtlaɪn/]nouneasy
Meaning: রূপরেখা
Alt: সংক্ষিপ্ত কাঠামো
Example: Make an outline before preparing the summary.
Syn: planAnt: disorder
💡 Exam tip: An outline helps arrange the main points logically.
point[/pɔɪnt/]nouneasy
Meaning: মূল বক্তব্য
Alt: বিষয় বা দিক
Example: The writer makes several important points.
Syn: ideaAnt: irrelevance
💡 Exam tip: Combine similar points to save words.
content[/ˈkɒntent/]nounmedium
Meaning: বিষয়বস্তু
Alt: লিখিত বক্তব্য
Example: The final paragraph often summarizes the content.
Syn: substanceAnt: emptiness
💡 Exam tip: A summary should preserve the content but reduce the length.
understand[/ˌʌndəˈstænd/]verbeasy
Meaning: বোঝা
Alt: অনুধাবন করা
Example: Read the passage until you understand its general meaning.
Syn: comprehendAnt: misunderstand
💡 Exam tip: Comprehension comes before summarization.
3. Reading Purposes and Methods (8 words)
pleasure[/ˈpleʒə/]nouneasy
Meaning: আনন্দ
Alt: বিনোদন
Example: People often read novels for pleasure.
Syn: enjoymentAnt: discomfort
💡 Exam tip: Pleasure is one of the purposes of reading.
instruction[/ɪnˈstrʌkʃən/]nouneasy
Meaning: নির্দেশনা
Alt: শিক্ষাদান
Example: Read the cooking instructions carefully.
Syn: directionAnt: misdirection
💡 Exam tip: Recipes and rules are generally read slowly and carefully.
direction[/dəˈrekʃən/]nouneasy
Meaning: নির্দেশ
Alt: দিকনির্দেশনা
Example: The map gives clear directions to the station.
Syn: guidanceAnt: confusion
💡 Exam tip: Directions are read for practical information.
efficiently[/ɪˈfɪʃəntli/]advmedium
Meaning: দক্ষতার সঙ্গে
Alt: কার্যকরভাবে
Example: Skimming helps us read efficiently.
Syn: effectivelyAnt: inefficiently
💡 Exam tip: Notice the adverb ending -ly in grammar questions.
skim[/skɪm/]verbeasy
Meaning: দ্রুত উপরিভাগে পড়া
Alt: সামগ্রিক ধারণা নেওয়া
Example: Skim the article to get its general idea.
Syn: glanceAnt: study
💡 Exam tip: Skimming is used to find the gist, not specific facts.
scan[/skæn/]verbeasy
Meaning: দ্রুত খুঁজে পড়া
Alt: নির্দিষ্ট তথ্য অনুসন্ধান করা
Example: Scan the television guide for the programme time.
Syn: searchAnt: overlook
💡 Exam tip: Scanning is used to find a particular word, date, or fact.
gist[/dʒɪst/]nounmedium
Meaning: সারমর্ম
Alt: সাধারণ মূলভাব
Example: Skimming reveals the gist of a text.
Syn: essenceAnt: detail
💡 Exam tip: The phrase 'get the gist' means understand the general idea.
rapidly[/ˈræpɪdli/]adveasy
Meaning: দ্রুত
Alt: তাড়াতাড়ি
Example: We read familiar material rapidly.
Syn: quicklyAnt: slowly
💡 Exam tip: Reading speed should suit the type of material.
4. Language of Stories and Fables (8 words)
fable[/ˈfeɪbəl/]nouneasy
Meaning: নীতিগল্প
Alt: শিক্ষামূলক পশুকাহিনি
Example: The Lion and the Mouse is a famous fable.
Syn: parableAnt: fact
💡 Exam tip: A fable usually teaches a moral lesson.
mischievous[/ˈmɪstʃɪvəs/]adjmedium
Meaning: দুষ্টু
Alt: দুষ্টুমি-প্রবণ
Example: A mischievous mouse awakened the sleeping lion.
Syn: naughtyAnt: obedient
💡 Exam tip: Use mischievous to describe playful but troublesome behaviour.
forgive[/fəˈɡɪv/]verbeasy
Meaning: ক্ষমা করা
Alt: অপরাধ মার্জনা করা
Example: The mouse asked the lion to forgive him.
Syn: pardonAnt: punish
💡 Exam tip: Forgive is an irregular verb: forgive, forgave, forgiven.
kindness[/ˈkaɪndnəs/]nouneasy
Meaning: দয়া
Alt: সদয় আচরণ
Example: The mouse returned the lion’s kindness.
Syn: goodwillAnt: cruelty
💡 Exam tip: The noun kindness is formed from kind with -ness.
prisoner[/ˈprɪzənə/]nouneasy
Meaning: বন্দি
Alt: আটক ব্যক্তি
Example: The lion held the frightened mouse as a prisoner.
Syn: captiveAnt: liberator
💡 Exam tip: Prisoner means someone who is not free.
prey[/preɪ/]nounmedium
Meaning: শিকার
Alt: শিকারযোগ্য প্রাণী
Example: The lion went into the forest in search of prey.
Syn: quarryAnt: predator
💡 Exam tip: Prey is a noun; pray means প্রার্থনা করা.
snare[/sneə/]nounmedium
Meaning: ফাঁদ
Alt: জাল বা আটকানোর ব্যবস্থা
Example: The lion was caught in a hunter’s snare.
Syn: trapAnt: escape
💡 Exam tip: Snare can be used as both a noun and a verb.
release[/rɪˈliːs/]verbeasy
Meaning: মুক্ত করা
Alt: ছেড়ে দেওয়া
Example: The lion released the mouse.
Syn: freeAnt: capture
💡 Exam tip: Release is the opposite of capture.
5. Robotics and Science-Fiction Vocabulary (8 words)
robot[/ˈrəʊbɒt/]nouneasy
Meaning: রোবট
Alt: স্বয়ংক্রিয় যন্ত্রমানব
Example: The robot is designed to help human beings.
Syn: androidAnt: human
💡 Exam tip: Remember that robot is a countable noun.
designation[/ˌdezɪɡˈneɪʃən/]nounhard
Meaning: নাম বা পরিচিতি
Alt: পদবি বা সংকেত
Example: TN-3 is the robot’s official designation.
Syn: titleAnt: anonymity
💡 Exam tip: Designation means an official name or label.
mechanical[/məˈkænɪkəl/]adjmedium
Meaning: যান্ত্রিক
Alt: যন্ত্রসংক্রান্ত
Example: Tony is more than a simple mechanical machine.
Syn: automaticAnt: biological
💡 Exam tip: Mechanical is an adjective formed from mechanism.
calculate[/ˈkælkjuleɪt/]verbeasy
Meaning: হিসাব করা
Alt: গণনা করা
Example: The machine can calculate difficult problems.
Syn: computeAnt: estimate
💡 Exam tip: Calculate, calculation, calculator are related forms.
artificial[/ˌɑːtɪˈfɪʃəl/]adjeasy
Meaning: কৃত্রিম
Alt: মানবনির্মিত
Example: The robot has an artificial brain.
Syn: syntheticAnt: natural
💡 Exam tip: Artificial is frequently contrasted with natural.
complicated[/ˈkɒmplɪkeɪtɪd/]adjmedium
Meaning: জটিল
Alt: দুর্বোধ্য
Example: The robot has a complicated brain.
Syn: complexAnt: simple
💡 Exam tip: Complicated and complex are useful synonyms in summaries.
manufacture[/ˌmænjəˈfæktʃə/]verbmedium
Meaning: উৎপাদন করা
Alt: কারখানায় তৈরি করা
Example: The company manufactures different models of robots.
Syn: produceAnt: destroy
💡 Exam tip: Manufacture can be a verb or a noun.
harm[/hɑːm/]nouneasy
Meaning: ক্ষতি
Alt: আঘাত বা অনিষ্ট
Example: The robot cannot harm a human being.
Syn: damageAnt: benefit
💡 Exam tip: The phrase 'come to harm' means suffer injury or damage.
6. Dreams, Inventions, and Change (8 words)
dream[/driːm/]nouneasy
Meaning: স্বপ্ন
Alt: আকাঙ্ক্ষা বা কল্পনা
Example: Many impossible dreams have eventually come true.
Syn: visionAnt: reality
💡 Exam tip: Dream can be used as both a noun and a verb.
impossible[/ɪmˈpɒsəbəl/]adjeasy
Meaning: অসম্ভব
Alt: যা করা যায় না
Example: People once thought air travel was impossible.
Syn: unachievableAnt: possible
💡 Exam tip: The prefix im- makes possible negative.
absurd[/əbˈsɜːd/]adjmedium
Meaning: অযৌক্তিক
Alt: হাস্যকরভাবে অবাস্তব
Example: Some inventions once seemed absurd.
Syn: ridiculousAnt: reasonable
💡 Exam tip: Absurd describes an idea that seems foolish or unreasonable.
eventually[/ɪˈventʃuəli/]adveasy
Meaning: অবশেষে
Alt: শেষ পর্যন্ত
Example: The scientists eventually achieved their goal.
Syn: finallyAnt: initially
💡 Exam tip: Eventually refers to a result after some time.
invent[/ɪnˈvent/]verbeasy
Meaning: উদ্ভাবন করা
Alt: নতুন কিছু তৈরি করা
Example: Human beings invent tools to solve problems.
Syn: createAnt: imitate
💡 Exam tip: Invent, invention, inventor are common word forms.
microscope[/ˈmaɪkrəskəʊp/]nounmedium
Meaning: অণুবীক্ষণযন্ত্র
Alt: অতি ক্ষুদ্র বস্তু দেখার যন্ত্র
Example: A microscope helps us see objects that are too small for the eye.
Syn: magnifierAnt: telescope
💡 Exam tip: A microscope views very small objects; a telescope views distant objects.
distant[/ˈdɪstənt/]adjeasy
Meaning: দূরবর্তী
Alt: দূরে অবস্থিত
Example: Modern phones carry distant voices instantly.
Syn: remoteAnt: near
💡 Exam tip: Distant can describe both place and relationship.
technology[/tekˈnɒlədʒi/]nounmedium
Meaning: প্রযুক্তি
Alt: বৈজ্ঞানিক জ্ঞানভিত্তিক কৌশল
Example: Technology has made many old dreams come true.
Syn: innovationAnt: primitiveness
💡 Exam tip: Technology is an uncountable noun in most contexts.
💡 Exam Tips
• Read the passage at least twice before writing the summary.
• Underline or note the main ideas and omit minor details.
• Write the summary in your own words; do not copy long phrases.
• A summary is usually about one-third the length of the original passage.
• Use complete sentences and maintain the original meaning.
• Do not add personal opinions, explanations, or examples that are absent from the passage.
• Use linking words such as first, then, however, therefore, and finally for coherence.
• For a story, include the main characters, major events, problem, and result.
• For a poem, identify its central message and express it in four or five sentences when required.
• Use the past tense when summarizing a past narrative, unless a general truth is being stated.
• Distinguish skimming, which finds the general idea, from scanning, which finds specific information.
• Check spelling, subject-verb agreement, tense, punctuation, and word limit before submitting.