NCERT Textbook: Summarising | English Class 11 PDF Download

 Page 1


2.  Summarising
Summari Sing follows note-making. The purpose of note-making is usually 
for one’s own personal reference. If the main points are to be reported 
we present a summary. It is not as severely shortened as note-making.
 Summarising is the selection and paraphrasing of all important 
information of the original source. This is done by analysing the 
paragraphs/passage in order to formulate a plan of writing.
 The process of summarising would involve the steps followed in 
note-making:
1. underlining important ideas
2. writing them down, abridging the verbs
3. avoiding examples, explanations, repetition.
 However, instead of nominalising the points (changing verbs into 
nouns), we expand the points into full sentences and link them using 
suitable connectors. We need to be precise in our expression. The 
summary will contain all the main ideas of the original. Practice in 
using one word for many will help.
For example:
?? Children who show intelligence far beyond their age often turn out 
to be mediocre in adult life.
or
 Precocious children often turn out to be mediocre in adult life.
??	 Her genius was marked by excellence in the various arts, languages 
and science.
or
 She was a versatile genius.
Now read the following text underlining important words as you go 
along.
Soybeans belong to the legume family. The beans are the seeds 
of the leguminous soybean plant. They can be grown on a variety 
of soils and in a wide range of climates. Soybeans are versatile 
Chap 8.indd   77 12/5/2024   10:14:34 AM
Reprint 2025-26
Page 2


2.  Summarising
Summari Sing follows note-making. The purpose of note-making is usually 
for one’s own personal reference. If the main points are to be reported 
we present a summary. It is not as severely shortened as note-making.
 Summarising is the selection and paraphrasing of all important 
information of the original source. This is done by analysing the 
paragraphs/passage in order to formulate a plan of writing.
 The process of summarising would involve the steps followed in 
note-making:
1. underlining important ideas
2. writing them down, abridging the verbs
3. avoiding examples, explanations, repetition.
 However, instead of nominalising the points (changing verbs into 
nouns), we expand the points into full sentences and link them using 
suitable connectors. We need to be precise in our expression. The 
summary will contain all the main ideas of the original. Practice in 
using one word for many will help.
For example:
?? Children who show intelligence far beyond their age often turn out 
to be mediocre in adult life.
or
 Precocious children often turn out to be mediocre in adult life.
??	 Her genius was marked by excellence in the various arts, languages 
and science.
or
 She was a versatile genius.
Now read the following text underlining important words as you go 
along.
Soybeans belong to the legume family. The beans are the seeds 
of the leguminous soybean plant. They can be grown on a variety 
of soils and in a wide range of climates. Soybeans are versatile 
Chap 8.indd   77 12/5/2024   10:14:34 AM
Reprint 2025-26
78 Hornbill as they can be used as whole beans, soy sprouts, or processed as 
a variety of food items, such as soy milk, tofu, tempeh, textured 
vegetable protein, miso, soy sauce, soy oil and margarine, and 
soy dairy alternatives. They are also used for making candles and 
bio-diesel.
Soy is an excellent source of high quality protein; is low in 
saturated fats and is cholestrol-free. It is also rich in vitamins, 
especially Vitamin B complex, minerals such as magnesium, 
calcium, iron, potassium and copper and also fibres. In recent 
times it has been highly recommended because of its ability to lower 
the levels of Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), a bad cholesterol. The 
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has confirmed that foods 
containing soy protein are likely to reduce the risk of coronary 
heart disease.
An easy way to take soy is as soymilk now available with 
added flavour. Soymilk does not contain lactose (milk sugar) 
and can be drunk by those who are allergic to normal milk. To 
get soymilk, soybeans are soaked in water, ground and then 
strained. If you don’t mind the trouble, you can also make it at 
home. (225 words). 
Now note down the important points.
?? 	 Soybeans are the seeds of the soybean plant of the legume family.
?? 	 They grow in a variety of soils and climates.
?? 	 They can be used in various forms — beans, sprouts and a variety 
of food items.
?? 	 They are also used to make candles and bio-diesel.
?? 	 They are a source of high quality protein, vitamins, minerals and 
fibres. They are low in fat content and cholesterol. They can lower 
LDL levels and reduces risk of coronary heart disease.
?? 	 Soymilk, lactose-free, is available as flavoured milk and can be 
drunk by those allergic to ordinary milk and can also be made at 
home by soaking the beans, grinding them and straining the water. 
(111 words)
A summary is usually one-third the length of the original passage. 
This is about half.
Now think of what we can omit to make the summary more brief as 
shown below.
The soybean leguminous plant which grows in all kinds of soil 
and climate yields beans, sprouts and a variety of processed food 
Chap 8.indd   78 12/5/2024   10:14:34 AM
Reprint 2025-26
Page 3


2.  Summarising
Summari Sing follows note-making. The purpose of note-making is usually 
for one’s own personal reference. If the main points are to be reported 
we present a summary. It is not as severely shortened as note-making.
 Summarising is the selection and paraphrasing of all important 
information of the original source. This is done by analysing the 
paragraphs/passage in order to formulate a plan of writing.
 The process of summarising would involve the steps followed in 
note-making:
1. underlining important ideas
2. writing them down, abridging the verbs
3. avoiding examples, explanations, repetition.
 However, instead of nominalising the points (changing verbs into 
nouns), we expand the points into full sentences and link them using 
suitable connectors. We need to be precise in our expression. The 
summary will contain all the main ideas of the original. Practice in 
using one word for many will help.
For example:
?? Children who show intelligence far beyond their age often turn out 
to be mediocre in adult life.
or
 Precocious children often turn out to be mediocre in adult life.
??	 Her genius was marked by excellence in the various arts, languages 
and science.
or
 She was a versatile genius.
Now read the following text underlining important words as you go 
along.
Soybeans belong to the legume family. The beans are the seeds 
of the leguminous soybean plant. They can be grown on a variety 
of soils and in a wide range of climates. Soybeans are versatile 
Chap 8.indd   77 12/5/2024   10:14:34 AM
Reprint 2025-26
78 Hornbill as they can be used as whole beans, soy sprouts, or processed as 
a variety of food items, such as soy milk, tofu, tempeh, textured 
vegetable protein, miso, soy sauce, soy oil and margarine, and 
soy dairy alternatives. They are also used for making candles and 
bio-diesel.
Soy is an excellent source of high quality protein; is low in 
saturated fats and is cholestrol-free. It is also rich in vitamins, 
especially Vitamin B complex, minerals such as magnesium, 
calcium, iron, potassium and copper and also fibres. In recent 
times it has been highly recommended because of its ability to lower 
the levels of Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), a bad cholesterol. The 
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has confirmed that foods 
containing soy protein are likely to reduce the risk of coronary 
heart disease.
An easy way to take soy is as soymilk now available with 
added flavour. Soymilk does not contain lactose (milk sugar) 
and can be drunk by those who are allergic to normal milk. To 
get soymilk, soybeans are soaked in water, ground and then 
strained. If you don’t mind the trouble, you can also make it at 
home. (225 words). 
Now note down the important points.
?? 	 Soybeans are the seeds of the soybean plant of the legume family.
?? 	 They grow in a variety of soils and climates.
?? 	 They can be used in various forms — beans, sprouts and a variety 
of food items.
?? 	 They are also used to make candles and bio-diesel.
?? 	 They are a source of high quality protein, vitamins, minerals and 
fibres. They are low in fat content and cholesterol. They can lower 
LDL levels and reduces risk of coronary heart disease.
?? 	 Soymilk, lactose-free, is available as flavoured milk and can be 
drunk by those allergic to ordinary milk and can also be made at 
home by soaking the beans, grinding them and straining the water. 
(111 words)
A summary is usually one-third the length of the original passage. 
This is about half.
Now think of what we can omit to make the summary more brief as 
shown below.
The soybean leguminous plant which grows in all kinds of soil 
and climate yields beans, sprouts and a variety of processed food 
Chap 8.indd   78 12/5/2024   10:14:34 AM
Reprint 2025-26
Summari Sing 79
items and  dairy alternatives and is also used to make candles and 
bio-diesel.
Rich in protein, vitamins, minerals and fibres, it has a low fat 
and cholesterol content. It lowers LDL levels and reduces the risk 
of coronary heart disease.
Soymilk which is lactose-free is available as flavoured milk and 
agrees with people allergic to ordinary milk. It can be made at home 
by soaking, grinding and straining soybean. (90 words)
Try reducing it further to about 72 words.
Soybean, a legume, growing in a variety of soil and climatic 
conditions, yields beans, sprouts and a variety of food items and 
is used in making candles and bio-diesel.
Rich in protein, vitamins, minerals and fibres, it is low in 
cholesterol and fat. It lowers LDL levels and reduces the risk of 
coronary heart disease. Soymilk, lactose-free, is available flavoured 
and taken by people allergic to milk. It can also be made at home. 
(74 words)
Notice that we have phrases in apposition: ‘a legume’, between commas; 
present participles: ‘growing’ to effect reduction. Instead of ‘it is rich 
in…’ we have used ‘rich in…’ and postponed the main verb in the 
sentence. Almost all the main points have been covered.
Read the text below and summarise it.
Green Sahara
 The Great Desert Where Hippos Once Wallowed
The Sahara sets a standard for dry land. It’s the world’s largest 
desert. Relative humidity can drop into the low single digits. There 
are places where it rains only about once a century. There are 
people who reach the end of their lives without ever seeing water 
come from the sky.
 Yet beneath the Sahara are vast aquifers of fresh water, enough 
liquid to fill a small sea. It is fossil water, a treasure laid down in 
prehistoric times, some of it possibly a million years old. Just 6,000 
years ago, the Sahara was a much different place.
It was green. Prehistoric rock art in the Sahara shows something 
surprising: hippopotamuses, which need year-round water.
“We don’t have much evidence of a tropical paradise out there, 
but we had something perfectly liveable,” says Jennifer Smith, a 
geologist at Washington University in St Louis.
Chap 8.indd   79 12/5/2024   10:14:34 AM
Reprint 2025-26
Page 4


2.  Summarising
Summari Sing follows note-making. The purpose of note-making is usually 
for one’s own personal reference. If the main points are to be reported 
we present a summary. It is not as severely shortened as note-making.
 Summarising is the selection and paraphrasing of all important 
information of the original source. This is done by analysing the 
paragraphs/passage in order to formulate a plan of writing.
 The process of summarising would involve the steps followed in 
note-making:
1. underlining important ideas
2. writing them down, abridging the verbs
3. avoiding examples, explanations, repetition.
 However, instead of nominalising the points (changing verbs into 
nouns), we expand the points into full sentences and link them using 
suitable connectors. We need to be precise in our expression. The 
summary will contain all the main ideas of the original. Practice in 
using one word for many will help.
For example:
?? Children who show intelligence far beyond their age often turn out 
to be mediocre in adult life.
or
 Precocious children often turn out to be mediocre in adult life.
??	 Her genius was marked by excellence in the various arts, languages 
and science.
or
 She was a versatile genius.
Now read the following text underlining important words as you go 
along.
Soybeans belong to the legume family. The beans are the seeds 
of the leguminous soybean plant. They can be grown on a variety 
of soils and in a wide range of climates. Soybeans are versatile 
Chap 8.indd   77 12/5/2024   10:14:34 AM
Reprint 2025-26
78 Hornbill as they can be used as whole beans, soy sprouts, or processed as 
a variety of food items, such as soy milk, tofu, tempeh, textured 
vegetable protein, miso, soy sauce, soy oil and margarine, and 
soy dairy alternatives. They are also used for making candles and 
bio-diesel.
Soy is an excellent source of high quality protein; is low in 
saturated fats and is cholestrol-free. It is also rich in vitamins, 
especially Vitamin B complex, minerals such as magnesium, 
calcium, iron, potassium and copper and also fibres. In recent 
times it has been highly recommended because of its ability to lower 
the levels of Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), a bad cholesterol. The 
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has confirmed that foods 
containing soy protein are likely to reduce the risk of coronary 
heart disease.
An easy way to take soy is as soymilk now available with 
added flavour. Soymilk does not contain lactose (milk sugar) 
and can be drunk by those who are allergic to normal milk. To 
get soymilk, soybeans are soaked in water, ground and then 
strained. If you don’t mind the trouble, you can also make it at 
home. (225 words). 
Now note down the important points.
?? 	 Soybeans are the seeds of the soybean plant of the legume family.
?? 	 They grow in a variety of soils and climates.
?? 	 They can be used in various forms — beans, sprouts and a variety 
of food items.
?? 	 They are also used to make candles and bio-diesel.
?? 	 They are a source of high quality protein, vitamins, minerals and 
fibres. They are low in fat content and cholesterol. They can lower 
LDL levels and reduces risk of coronary heart disease.
?? 	 Soymilk, lactose-free, is available as flavoured milk and can be 
drunk by those allergic to ordinary milk and can also be made at 
home by soaking the beans, grinding them and straining the water. 
(111 words)
A summary is usually one-third the length of the original passage. 
This is about half.
Now think of what we can omit to make the summary more brief as 
shown below.
The soybean leguminous plant which grows in all kinds of soil 
and climate yields beans, sprouts and a variety of processed food 
Chap 8.indd   78 12/5/2024   10:14:34 AM
Reprint 2025-26
Summari Sing 79
items and  dairy alternatives and is also used to make candles and 
bio-diesel.
Rich in protein, vitamins, minerals and fibres, it has a low fat 
and cholesterol content. It lowers LDL levels and reduces the risk 
of coronary heart disease.
Soymilk which is lactose-free is available as flavoured milk and 
agrees with people allergic to ordinary milk. It can be made at home 
by soaking, grinding and straining soybean. (90 words)
Try reducing it further to about 72 words.
Soybean, a legume, growing in a variety of soil and climatic 
conditions, yields beans, sprouts and a variety of food items and 
is used in making candles and bio-diesel.
Rich in protein, vitamins, minerals and fibres, it is low in 
cholesterol and fat. It lowers LDL levels and reduces the risk of 
coronary heart disease. Soymilk, lactose-free, is available flavoured 
and taken by people allergic to milk. It can also be made at home. 
(74 words)
Notice that we have phrases in apposition: ‘a legume’, between commas; 
present participles: ‘growing’ to effect reduction. Instead of ‘it is rich 
in…’ we have used ‘rich in…’ and postponed the main verb in the 
sentence. Almost all the main points have been covered.
Read the text below and summarise it.
Green Sahara
 The Great Desert Where Hippos Once Wallowed
The Sahara sets a standard for dry land. It’s the world’s largest 
desert. Relative humidity can drop into the low single digits. There 
are places where it rains only about once a century. There are 
people who reach the end of their lives without ever seeing water 
come from the sky.
 Yet beneath the Sahara are vast aquifers of fresh water, enough 
liquid to fill a small sea. It is fossil water, a treasure laid down in 
prehistoric times, some of it possibly a million years old. Just 6,000 
years ago, the Sahara was a much different place.
It was green. Prehistoric rock art in the Sahara shows something 
surprising: hippopotamuses, which need year-round water.
“We don’t have much evidence of a tropical paradise out there, 
but we had something perfectly liveable,” says Jennifer Smith, a 
geologist at Washington University in St Louis.
Chap 8.indd   79 12/5/2024   10:14:34 AM
Reprint 2025-26
80 Hornbill The green Sahara was the product of the migration of the 
paleo-monsoon. In the same way that ice ages come and go, so too 
do monsoons migrate north and south. The dynamics of earth’s 
motion are responsible. The tilt of the earth’s axis varies in a 
regular cycle — sometimes the planet is more tilted towards the 
sun, sometimes less so. The axis also wobbles like a spinning top. 
The date of the earth’s perihelion — its closest approach to the 
sun — varies in a cycle as well.
At times when the Northern Hemisphere tilts sharply towards 
the sun and the planet makes its closest approach, the increased 
blast of sunlight during the north’s summer months can cause the 
African monsoon (which currently occurs between the Equator and 
roughly 17
0
N latitude) to shift to the north as it did 10,000 years 
ago, inundating North Africa.
Around 5,000 years ago the monsoon shifted dramatically 
southward again. The prehistoric inhabitants of the Sahara 
discovered that their relatively green surroundings were undergoing 
something worse than a drought (and perhaps they migrated 
towards the Nile Valley, where Egyptian culture began to flourish 
at around the same time).
“We’re learning, and only in recent years, that some climate 
changes in the past have been as rapid as anything underway 
today,” says Robert Giegengack, a University of Pennsylvania 
geologist.
As the land dried out and vegetation decreased, the soil lost its 
ability to hold water when it did rain. Fewer clouds formed from 
evaporation. When it rained, the water washed away and evaporated 
quickly. There was a kind of runaway drying effect. By 4,000 years 
ago the Sahara had become what it is today.
No one knows how human-driven climate change may alter the 
Sahara in the future. It’s something scientists can ponder while 
sipping bottled fossil water pumped from underground.
“It’s the best water in Egypt,” Giegengack said — clean, 
refreshing mineral water. If you want to drink something good, try 
the ancient buried treasure of the Sahara.
Joel a c Henback Staff Writer, Washington Post 
Chap 8.indd   80 12/5/2024   10:14:34 AM
Reprint 2025-26