College Composition CLEP Prep Practice Exam

What is the main goal of summarizing a text?

1. To provide a complete retelling of the text in a condensed form

2. To draw the reader's attention to a particular section

3. To expand on the text and provide additional analysis

4. To evaluate and compare different texts

The correct answer is: To provide a complete retelling of the text in a condensed form

Summarizing a text is the act of condensing its main points and ideas into a shorter form while still conveying the essential information. Option A is the correct choice because the main goal of summarizing is to provide a concise and accurate overview of the text, allowing readers to quickly understand the key points without having to read the entire text. Option B is incorrect because while it is important for a writer to draw the reader's attention to specific sections, this is not the main goal of summarizing. Option C is also incorrect because expanding on the text and providing additional analysis is more closely related to the act of synthesizing, rather than summarizing. Lastly, Option D is incorrect because evaluating and comparing different texts is more closely related to the act of analyzing, rather than summarizing. Therefore, option A is the most accurate and relevant choice for the main goal of summarizing a text.