1. Instructions for writing a summary
1) Read the text and check that you understand everything.
2) Select important and useless information.
3) Decide what is the main topic(s) of the text.
4) Start to write the summary using your own words. Try not to
give your opinion and use facts and not the examples. The
extention of the summary should be 20% of the original text.
5) Revise and correct until you are happy with the result.
Example
Teenagers and money
About 75% of British and American teenagers get pocket money
from their parents. Some also get money from their parents or
relatives at Christmas and on birthdays. Some teenagers get money
when they help at home.
Part-time jobs or “Saturday jobs” are also popular. 40% of British
teenagers go to school and also work. In Britain a 14-year-old can
work seventeen hours a week, but only two hours on a school day.
These part-time jobs are popular: paperboy or papergirl, shop
assistant, babysitter, waiter or waitress, cleaner, assistant in a fast
food restaurant.
Young people usually spend their money on entertainment,
transport, food and clothes.The cinema and videos are very popular.
Teenagers in the USA watch four or five videos or DVDs every
month. British and American teenagers also spend their money on
sports activities and they often buy CDs, games, books and
magazines. Boys and girls buy different things. Boys buy more
computer games and sports equipment. Girls buy more books and
clothes.
1) Do you understand everything?
2) Select important information.
3) What does the text talk about?

2. What are the main topics in these two sections of the text?
Underline critical information
Teenagers and money
About 75% of British and American teenagers get pocket money
from their parents. Some also get money from their parents or
relatives at Christmas and on birthdays. Some teenagers get money
when they help at home.
Part-time jobs or “Saturday jobs” are also popular. 40% of British
teenagers go to school and also work. In Britain a 14-year-old can
work seventeen hours a week, but only two hours on a school day.
These part-time jobs are popular: paperboy or papergirl, shop
assistant, babysitter, waiter or waitress, cleaner, assistant in a fast
food restaurant.
Young people usually spend their money on entertainment,
transport, food and clothes.The cinema and videos are very popular.
Teenagers in the USA watch four or five videos or DVDs every
month. British and American teenagers also spend their money on
sports activities and they often buy CDs, games, books and
magazines. Boys and girls buy different things. Boys buy more
computer games and sports equipment. Girls buy more books and
clothes.
Teenagers and money
About 75% of British and American teenagers get pocket money
from their parents. Some also get money from their parents or
relatives at Christmas and on birthdays. Some teenagers get money
when they help at home.
Part-time jobs or “Saturday jobs” are also popular. 40% of British
teenagers go to school and also work. In Britain a 14-year-old can
work seventeen hours a week, but only two hours on a school day.
These part-time jobs are popular: paperboy or papergirl, shop
assistant, babysitter, waiter or waitress, cleaner, assistant in a fast
food restaurant.
Young people usually spend their money on entertainment,
transport, food and clothes.The cinema and videos are very popular.
Teenagers in the USA watch four or five videos or DVDs every
month. British and American teenagers also spend their money on
sports activities and they often buy CDs, games, books and
magazines. Boys and girls buy different things. Boys buy more
computer games and sports equipment. Girls buy more books and
clothes.

3. Summary
British and American teenagers get money from their parents or
relatives, by helping at home or by working on part-time jobs.
They usually spend the money to have fun, on culture, transport,
food and clothes. Boys and girls spend money on different things.