Summary Completion
Topic: The History of Glass
Skill: Synthesizing information and vocabulary usage.
Directions: Complete the summary using the words from the box below.
Passage:
The History of Glass. Glass is one of the most versatile materials in human history. The earliest known glass objects were beads, dating back to 2500 BC in Mesopotamia. However, it was the Roman invention of glassblowing in the 1st century BC that revolutionized the industry. This technique allowed for the mass production of glass containers, making them affordable for ordinary citizens. Previously, glass had been a luxury item available only to the wealthy.
Summary:
The history of glass dates back thousands of years. While early objects like beads appeared in Mesopotamia, the industry saw a major change with the (1) __________ of glassblowing by the Romans. This innovation enabled the (2) __________ of glass items, transforming them from exclusive luxury goods into items accessible to the general public.
Word Box
A. discovery | B. invention | C. decline | D. mass production | E. decoration |
Answer Key
B (invention)
Explanation: The original text says "the Roman invention of glassblowing". This fits the summary sentence asking for the start of the technique.
D (mass production)
Explanation: The original text says "allowed for the mass production of glass containers". This fits the summary sentence describing how glass became accessible to everyone.
Tips for Summary Completion
Grammar is your best friend: The summary must make grammatical sense. If an option does not fit grammatically (e.g., putting a verb where a noun belongs), it is wrong.
Synonyms matter: If you are selecting words from a box (like in Exercise 5), the words in the box will rarely be in the text. They will be synonyms of the words in the text.
