To summarize a passage, you should which of the following?

• A. Include every detail
• B. Present the main points concisely
• C. Quote at length
• D. Repeat the original wording

Answer: (B)

A summary aims to capture the essential ideas of a passage in a concise form. The point is to convey the main message without getting bogged down in every detail or exact wording. So the best approach is to present the main points concisely, showing you understand the overall meaning while keeping the text short.

Including every detail would overwhelm the summary and obscure the central message. Quoting at length would reproduce the original text rather than distill it. Repeating the original wording would not demonstrate the ability to restate ideas in a shorter, own-words form. Keep the focus on the key points and their relationships, then express them briefly in your own words.