Summary Completion In Ielts Reading

On this page, we will learn about: What is Summary Completion?, Examples of Summary Completion, Strategies to Answer the Summary Completion Questions, Tips for the Summary Completion Question, IELTS Summary Completion Practice Exercise, and Answers and Explanations.

What is Summary Completion?

In the reading section, you will be given a summary of information from a text, and there will be a few gaps. You will be given a list of words to be filled in the gaps, or you could be asked to find answers from the reading passage. You must fill the gaps with a few words from the text. All of the information in the summary is provided from the reading text. They will, however, use paraphrasing and synonyms. So, you cannot expect to find the exact words.

Example of Summary Completion:

ielts reading summary completion with list

Or

ielts reading summary completion questions

Strategies to answer the summary completion questions:

  1. Read the entire question carefully. Underline how many words you will have to write (generally one, two, or three) and if it is possible to get the words from the reading list or the text.
  2. Skim through the entire summary and try to understand its general meaning.
  3. Predicting the answers before looking into the reading text . In addition, try to think about the type of word (adjective, verb, noun) that must be included.
  4. If you have a list of words, try to guess which answer would fit in.
  5. Identify the part of the reading text to which the summary is related. Scan the summary for synonyms.
  6. Look at specific parts of the section and select the correct answer. Keep in mind that synonyms must be used with care.
  7. Check and find out if your words are correct grammatically.

Tips for the summary completion question:

  1. Try to guess the answers even before you glance at the given options . This will assist you in finding the correct answer.
  2. Find out that the gap has to be filled with an adverb, adjective, noun, or verb. If your sentence is grammatically incorrect, you will have selected the wrong answer..
  3. Find synonyms as well as paraphrases in the text instead of words that seem to directly match.
  4. Don’t spend a lot of time looking for an answer to just one question. If you are not able to find it, move on to the next. Focus more on the easy answers because it takes less time.
  5. Generally, the answers would come in a similar order as the questions.
  6. If you have got a list of words, try to think about those that incorrect as per their grammar or meaning. Then remove these words.

IELTS Summary Completion Practice Exercise:



Sample:1


1.To overcome the consequent difficulty of accessing people at a physical level, we have now established technological access. Computers sit on every desk and are linked to one another, and in many cases, to an external universe of other computers, so that messages can be transferred to and fro. Here, security plays an important part, since we must not be allowed access to messages intended for others. And so the password was invented. Now, correspondence between individuals is passed from desk to desk and cannot be accessed by colleagues. Library catalogues that can be searched from one’s desk.

2. At the press of a button, papers can be delivered to, and received from, other people. Nonetheless it seems that, just as work is isolating individuals more and more, organizations are recognizing the benefits of "team-work"; perhaps to motivate employees to talk to one another again. However, how can groups work in teams if the possibilities for communication are narrow? How can they collaborate together if e-mail provides a convenient electronic shield behind which the blurring of public and private can be exploited by the less scrupulous? If voice-mail encrypts messages behind a password? If I am unable to leave a message on my colleague’s desk because his office is locked?


Question:

Complete the following summary. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in blank spaces next to 1-3 on your answer sheet.

Every desk has a computer, and they are linked to one another, and in many cases, to an (1)……… of other computers so that messages can be transmitted to and fro. Communication between individuals goes from (2)…… and cannot be accessed by colleagues. And yet it seems that, just as work is (3)…… individuals, organizations are recognizing the advantages of "team-work".

Answer and Explanations:

1. For the first question, the answer can be found in the second sentence of the first passage 

" Computers sit on every desk and are linked to one another, and in many cases, to an external universe of other computers, so that messages can be transmitted back and forth."

So,the answer is external universe.

2. For the second question, the answer is located toward the end of the first passage.
" Individual correspondence is now passed from desk to desk and is no longer accessible to employees."

So,the answer is desk to desk.

3. Here, the keyword is individuals and team-work. These words are located in the second sentence of the second passage.
" Nevertheless it appears that, just as work is isolating individuals, corporations are embracing the benefits of "team-work" "

The third answer is isolating


Sample: 2


Complete the following summary. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the box for each answer. Write your answers in blank spaces next to 1-6 on your answer sheet.

The issue of physical access to buildings has now been (1)…………………………by technology. Messages are (2)……………………with passwords impossible (3)………………………to read someone else’s messages. However, while individuals are becoming increasingly (4)………………………..socially by the way, they do their job, at the same time, more value is being put on (5)…………………………. Nevertheless, e-mail and voice-mail have led to (6) …………………opportunities for person-to-person connection.


Reducing off computer Other people
isolating teamwork Decrease in
similar solved No different from
overcame physical protected
combat developed cut-off

Answer and Explanations:

1. For the first question, although the word "overcome" appears in the original, it does not fit here grammatically. The word "solved" is the answer because it is simple past tense and grammatically correct here.

The answer is solved.

2. As you can see in the second paragraph, it is said that the messages cannot be viewable by others. So, we had to use a suitable word here. Protected seems like the perfect fit.

The answer is Protected.

3. In the first paragraph, passwords were invented to protect messages and prevent other people from getting access to somebody’s messages.

So, the answer is Other people

4. The word "isolating" is grammatically incorrect here . We required an adjective made from the past participle of the verb. 

The correct answer is cut-off.

5. The advantages of teamwork are being recognized in the second paragraph; thus, it gets more value.

The correct answer is teamwork.

6. At the end of the second paragraph, you can see how emails are blurring the lines between public and private chats, resulting in less person-to-person interactions.

The correct answer is Decrease in.