Subject: English Language | Level: JHS (Basic 7 – 9) | Topic: Comprehension and Summary Writing | Difficulty: Intermediate
Introduction
Comprehension and summary writing are two of the most tested skills in the BECE English examination. Comprehension tests your ability to understand a written passage and answer questions about it. Summary writing tests your ability to identify the most important points in a passage and express them briefly in your own words. Both skills require careful, active reading, not just a quick glance at the text.
1. Comprehension Skills
What is Comprehension?
Comprehension means understanding. A comprehension exercise gives you a passage to read and then asks you questions about it. The questions test different levels of understanding:
Types of Comprehension Questions
Literal questions ask for information that is directly stated in the passage. The answer is clearly written somewhere in the text. You just need to find it.
Example: “According to the passage, what time did the market open?”
Inferential questions ask you to use clues in the passage to work out something that is not directly stated. You need to “read between the lines.”
Example: “What can you infer about Kofi’s feelings when he arrived late?”
Vocabulary questions ask you to explain the meaning of a word or phrase as it is used in the passage. Do not just give a dictionary definition – explain how the word is used in context.
Example: “As used in paragraph 2, what does the word ‘apprehensive’ mean?”
Language use questions ask about the author’s choice of words, figures of speech, or writing techniques.
Example: “Identify and explain the figure of speech in the sentence: ‘The sun was a blazing furnace.'”
How to Answer Comprehension Questions Correctly
- Read the passage carefully at least twice before looking at the questions
- Underline key ideas and unfamiliar words as you read
- Read each question carefully and identify what type of question it is
- For literal questions: locate the relevant part of the passage and use the information directly
- For vocabulary questions: look at the sentence and paragraph around the word to understand its meaning in context
- Answer in complete sentences unless the question asks for a list or a single word
- Use your own words as much as possible. Copying sentences from the passage word for word often loses marks.
- Check that your answer actually responds to what the question is asking
2. Summary Writing
What is Summary Writing?
A summary is a shorter version of a text that captures only the most important ideas. In BECE English, you are usually asked to summarize a specific section of the comprehension passage in a given number of sentences or words.
Steps for Writing a Good Summary
Step 1: Read the specified section carefully
Step 2: Identify the main points. Ask yourself: “What is the single most important idea in each paragraph?” A main point is a key piece of information. Examples, illustrations, and repetitions are NOT main points.
Step 3: Write the main points in your own words. Do not copy sentences from the passage.
Step 4: Connect the points into a flowing piece of writing. Use linking words: “also,” “furthermore,” “in addition,” “however,” “finally.”
Step 5: Check your summary against the number of sentences or words required. Cut out anything that is not a main point.
Common Mistakes in Summary Writing
- Copying long sentences directly from the passage
- Including examples and illustrations instead of the main ideas
- Writing too many sentences (going over the word or sentence limit)
- Starting the summary with “The passage says…” or “The author says…” (avoid this)
- Including your personal opinion in the summary
The Difference Between Main Points and Supporting Details
Main point: “Exercise improves physical health.”
Supporting detail (do NOT include in summary): “For example, running for 30 minutes every day can reduce the risk of heart disease by 35%.”
The example supports the main point but is not the main point itself.
3. Practice Passage
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
THE COCOA FARMER’S PRIDE
In the rolling hills of the Ashanti Region, Nana Kwame has farmed cocoa for over thirty years. His farm, which stretches across five acres of red earth, is his livelihood, his identity, and his greatest source of pride. Every season, he tends his trees with the same care a father gives his children, pruning the weak branches, clearing the undergrowth, and watching anxiously for signs of disease.
Cocoa farming in Ghana is not an easy life. The trees require constant attention and are vulnerable to pests such as the capsid bug and diseases like black pod, which can destroy an entire harvest if left untreated. Nana Kwame has learned over the years to recognize the early signs of trouble and to act quickly. He uses both traditional and modern methods to protect his crop, applying approved pesticides and practising shade management to keep his trees healthy.
The fruits of his labour are sold to a local cooperative, which pays him a fair price and ensures his beans meet export quality standards. Ghana’s cocoa, known for its rich flavour and high butter content, is prized by chocolate manufacturers around the world. Nana Kwame knows that when he harvests his beans and packs them into sacks, they will eventually find their way into Swiss chocolate bars and Belgian truffles.
Despite the challenges, Nana Kwame remains committed to his work. He has educated all four of his children from his cocoa earnings, and he hopes that at least one of them will return to help him manage the farm. He does not see farming as a lesser occupation. To him, it is a dignified and honourable profession that feeds families, earns foreign exchange for Ghana, and connects him to his ancestors who worked the same land before him.
Questions
Question 1 (Literal): For how long has Nana Kwame been farming cocoa?
Answer: Nana Kwame has been farming cocoa for over thirty years.
Question 2 (Literal): Name TWO pests or diseases that threaten cocoa trees, as mentioned in the passage.
Answer: The capsid bug (a pest) and black pod (a disease) are two threats to cocoa trees mentioned in the passage.
Question 3 (Inferential): What does the phrase “the same care a father gives his children” suggest about Nana Kwame’s attitude to farming?
Answer: The phrase suggests that Nana Kwame treats his farm with deep love, attention, and responsibility, the same way a devoted father looks after his children. He is not merely doing a job; he has a deep emotional attachment to his farm.
Question 4 (Vocabulary): As used in paragraph 2, what does the word “vulnerable” mean?
Answer: As used in the passage, “vulnerable” means easily harmed or at risk. The cocoa trees are easily attacked or damaged by pests and diseases.
Question 5 (Summary): In THREE sentences, summarize what the passage says about the challenges of cocoa farming and how Nana Kwame deals with them.
Sample answer: Cocoa farming requires constant effort and is threatened by pests and diseases that can ruin an entire harvest. Nana Kwame has developed the ability to recognize problems early and uses both traditional and modern methods to protect his trees. His commitment to careful management ensures that his beans meet the quality standards required for export.
Summary
- Comprehension tests your understanding of a passage through literal, inferential, vocabulary, and language use questions.
- Always read the passage carefully before answering questions, and use your own words in your answers.
- Summary writing requires identifying only the main points of a passage, not examples or supporting details.
- Write summaries in your own words, respect the sentence or word limit, and connect points smoothly.
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