Summarizing | Answer Keys

Student Concept Worksheet Answers

Question	Answer
"The Rescue" - SOMEBODY	Malik (or a young boy/grandson)
WANTED	to save/protect his grandmother from the flood
BUT	the floodwaters were rising, his grandmother couldn't walk well, his parents weren't home, and phone lines were down
SO	he found an inflatable raft, put his grandmother in it, and paddled to the community center on higher ground
THEN (theme)	He learned that when you love someone, you find the courage to help them / Family comes first / Sometimes we must step up and be heroes
Complete Summary	Sample: "Malik, a young boy, needed to save his grandmother when floodwaters rose around their home. Although he was alone and scared, he found an inflatable raft and paddled her to safety at the community center. This shows that love for family can give us courage in emergencies."
"Sleep and the Teen Brain" - TOPIC	Teen sleep (or Sleep deprivation in teenagers)
MAIN IDEA	Teenagers need more sleep than they're getting, and this sleep deprivation has serious negative effects on their grades, mental health, and brain development.
KEY DETAIL 1	Teens need 8-10 hours of sleep but most get less than 7
KEY DETAIL 2	Sleep-deprived teens have lower grades, higher depression rates, and slower reaction times / OR Schools pushing back start times are seeing improved attendance and test scores
Complete Summary	Sample: "Teenagers need 8-10 hours of sleep but most are getting less than 7, which leads to lower grades, higher depression rates, and impaired brain function. Research shows that sleep is essential for memory and emotional processing during adolescence. Some schools are addressing this by starting later, and early results show improvement."

Practice Worksheet Answers

Question	Answer
1	B. Jade nearly panicked during the spelling bee finals but persevered and won, learning that effort matters more than perfection. This captures plot (competition, near-panic, win) and theme (perseverance over perfection).
2	Perseverance and staying calm under pressure lead to success / Trying your best matters more than being perfect / Success comes from persistence, not perfection.
3	Sample: "Jade prepared for months for the regional spelling bee with her brother's intense coaching. When she nearly panicked during the finals, she took a deep breath and simply tried her best, ultimately winning. She realized that success came from perseverance, not perfection."
4	C. Her brother Marcus quizzed her This is a minor detail. The essential points are: Jade competed, almost panicked, persevered, and learned a lesson.
5	B. Ocean plastic pollution is a serious threat, but solutions exist if we act now.
6 - Detail 1	8 million metric tons of plastic enter oceans yearly / Sea creatures mistake plastic for food / Great Pacific Garbage Patch is twice the size of Texas / Plastic pollution damages ecosystems and ends up in food
6 - Detail 2	Countries are banning single-use plastics / Cleanup organizations are collecting debris / New technologies like hydroponics are being developed / Biodegradable alternatives are emerging
7	Sample: "Ocean plastic pollution poses a serious threat to marine life and ecosystems, with 8 million metric tons entering oceans annually. Sea creatures eat plastic, and pollution creates massive garbage patches. However, solutions are emerging, including bans on single-use plastics and cleanup efforts."
8	C. This is a really important issue that everyone should care about. This is a personal opinion, not objective information from the text.
9 - SOMEBODY	Aiden
9 - WANTED	to apologize to his grandmother / to repair his relationship with her
9 - BUT	he was too ashamed after saying awful things during an argument
9 - SO	his grandmother sent a letter sharing her own regrets, which gave him courage to call and visit her, leading to forgiveness
10	B. It's never too late to apologize and repair relationships
11	Sample: "Aiden avoided his grandmother after an argument, too ashamed to apologize. When she sent a letter sharing her own past regret about not apologizing, Aiden found the courage to call and visit. They reconciled, showing that it's never too late to repair relationships."
12	Esports (or Competitive gaming / Professional gaming)
13	Esports has grown from a hobby into a legitimate, billion-dollar industry and career path, despite some health concerns.
14	D. All of the above The summary includes opinions ("really cool," "sounds awesome"), personal wishes, and fails to capture the main idea about esports' transformation.
15	Sample: "Esports has grown from a hobby into a global phenomenon with $1.8 billion in revenue and 500 million viewers. Universities now offer gaming scholarships, and the 2022 Asian Games included esports as a medal event. While critics worry about health effects, the industry emphasizes that gaming requires strategic thinking and teamwork, and many organizations now include fitness programs."

FAST Format Quiz Answers

Question	Answer
1	C. Mira nervously displayed a meaningful painting and discovered that art creates connection when a stranger understood its emotional depth.
2	B. Art has the power to express emotions and create meaningful connections between people.
3	B. The emotional significance of the painting and the theme about art creating connection The weak summary mentions the plot events but misses why the painting mattered and what Mira learned.
4	B. The painting was about her grandfather who had passed away This is essential because it explains the emotional significance. The other options are minor details.
5	See rubric and sample response below.
6	B. Urban farming is an innovative solution to food access and environmental challenges in cities, though obstacles remain.
7	B. Urban farms reduce transportation's environmental impact and increase food access in underserved areas This directly supports the main idea about solutions to environmental and food access challenges.
8	B. It includes personal opinions ("really cool," "I think") instead of staying objective
9	B. Benefit: reduces food transportation distance; Challenge: limited space in cities
10	See rubric and sample response below.

Question 5 Scoring Rubric (Literary Summary)

Score	Criteria
2	Summary includes: main character (Mira), conflict (fear of sharing emotional art), resolution (stranger understands the painting), and theme (art creates connection). Written objectively in student's own words.
1	Summary includes some elements but is missing theme OR conflict OR resolution. May include minor unnecessary details or slight opinion.
0	Summary is a retelling of details without capturing main elements, OR includes significant personal opinion, OR is off-topic.

Sample 2-Point Response for Question 5:
Mira created a painting filled with memories of her late grandfather and was terrified to display it at the school art show. When an elderly woman approached and said the painting felt like love and loss, Mira realized the stranger truly understood. Through this experience, Mira learned that art creates deep connections between people - and that's why artists share their work.

Question 10 Scoring Rubric (Informational Summary)

Score	Criteria
2	Summary includes: main idea (urban farming as solution to food/environmental challenges), at least 2 key supporting details (types of farms, benefits like reduced transportation or increased food access, challenges, or solutions), and logical connections. Written objectively.
1	Summary includes main idea and 1 key detail OR main idea is unclear but details are present. May lack logical connection between ideas.
0	Summary misses main idea, includes only minor details, includes personal opinions, or is off-topic.

Sample 2-Point Response for Question 10:
Urban farming is growing in popularity as a solution to food access and environmental challenges in cities. Different types of urban farms, including rooftop gardens and vertical farms, provide fresh produce while reducing the environmental impact of transporting food long distances. Although challenges like limited space and soil contamination exist, innovative technologies like hydroponic systems are helping urban farming become a more viable part of our food system.

Quick Reference: Summary Checklist