概要写作练习

（一）
阅读下面短文，根据其内容写一篇 60 词左右的内容概要。
According to most people, after a long period of studying or working, we need to have a rest to refresh
ourselves. However, that may not be the case. According to a recent report, you don’t need the break as much as
you may think that makes you feel less tired.
Scientists have long assumed that willpower is a limited resource, which is why you feel the need to have a
rest, have a snack and then get back to task when you are feeling better. They argue that the only way it restores
willpower is by rest, food or entertainment.
But psychologists have challenged this theory, saying weak willpower is all in your head. They have found
that people’s belief in willpower determines how long and how well they’ll be able to work on tough mental
exercise. “If you think of willpower are something that is not really used up, you can go on and on.” said Professor
Veronika Job.
The researchers designed four experiments to test students’ belief in willpower. After a tiring task, those who
believed, or were led to believe that willpower is a limited resource, performed worse on standard concentration
tests than those who thought of willpower as something they had more control over. They also found that leading
up to the final exam week, students who believed the limited resource theory ate junk food 24 percent more often
than those who believed they had more control in resisting the temptation.
Mr. Job said, “The theory that willpower is a limited resource is interesting. Belief in willpower as a non-
limited resource makes people stronger in their ability to work through challenges.”
The findings can help people who are battling against temptation. Willpower isn’t driven by a biologically-
based process as much as we used to think. The belief in it is what influences your behaviors.
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答案及解析：

Based on a recent report, having a rest to refresh yourself is not so essential as some people think. (要点 1)
Will-power, assumed to be a limited resource by some scientists, were thought to be only regained by rest, food, as
well as entertainment. (要点 2) However, this theory has been challenged. Researchers, including Veronica Jobs,
conducted experiments and made some new discoveries. (要点 3) If you believe that willpower is limitless, you
will be more powerful, which is a potential help to resist temptation. (要点 4)

（二）
阅读下面短文，根据内容写一篇 60 词左右的内容概要。
While contact between adolescents (between the ages of fifteen and nineteen) and their peers (同龄人) is a
universal characteristic of all cultures, the nature and the degree of such contact vary a great deal. In American

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contemporary society, adolescents spend much more time with their peers than with younger children or adults.
This pattern of age segregation (隔离) in American society did not become usual until the beginning of the
industrialized society. Changes in the workplace separated children from adults, with adults working and children
attending school. The dramatic increase of mothers in the workplace has further contributed to the reduction in the
amount of time adolescents spend with adults.
School reform efforts during the nineteenth century, which resulted in age-segregated schools and grades, have
reduced the amount of time adolescents spend with younger children.
Finally, the changes in population are considered a factor that may have contributed to the emergence of
adolescent peer culture. From 1955 to 1975, the adolescent population increased dramatically, from 11 percent to
20.9 percent. This increase in the number of adolescents might be a contributing factor to the increase in adolescent
peer culture in terms of growth in size as well as in terms of its impact on society's other cultures (adults, younger
children).
Research supports the view that adolescents spend a great deal of time with their peers. Reed Larson and his
colleagues examined adolescents’ daily activities and found that they spend more time talking to their friends than
engaging in any other activity. In a typical week, high school students will spend twice as much time with their
peers as with adults. This gradual withdrawal from adults begins in early adolescence. In sixth grade, adults
(excluding parents) account for only 25 percent of adolescent social networks. Another important characteristic of
adolescent peer culture is its increasingly autonomous ( 自 治 的 ) function. While childhood peer groups are
conducted under the close supervision of parents, adolescent peer groups typically make an effort to escape adult
supervision and usually succeed in doing so.
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答案及解析：

Adolescent peer culture is a universal phenomenon and for American adolescents more time is spent with
peers than with younger children or adults. (要点 1) Firstly, changes in workplace reduce the amount of time
adolescents spend with their parents. (要点 2) School reforms also result in less time spent with younger children.
(要点 3) Additionally, the increase in adolescent population is another contributing factor. (要点 4) A research
shows adolescents’ gradual separation from adults starts in their early teens when they manage to escape adult
supervision. (要点 5) (77 words)
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（三）
阅读下面短文，根据内容写一篇 60 词左右的内容概要。
Stress for a teenager is as real as stress for an adult. Therefore, it’s important to understand the causes of stress

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in teenagers.
When parents change their jobs or if the family "decides to move to a different place, the child has to change
schools, find new friends, adapt to the new social circle and fit into new groups. It is always difficult for children to
adapt to such changes, which can be a serious cause of stress in their life.
Academic difficulties, such as inability to understand a certain subject can cause stress. Not every child has
the ability to understand every subject. Some kids need extra help besides school work to grasp a few concepts.
Poor academic performance is often laughed at and is looked down upon by both teachers and peers. In such cases,
it can make the child feel isolated, neglected and hurt. All of this, put together, can add to stress, which many times
worsens grades.
Extra curricular（课外活动）such as playing a sport, or attending art classes can weigh heavily on your
child's mind. Balancing school and extra curricular activities does seem like a burden when you have to be
outstanding at both. When the pressures from both the ends get unmanageable, teenagers tend to get tired and
annoyed. Tiredness sets in, leading to stress related issues such as lack of concentration in school.
These are the common causes of stress in teenagers, which can be noticed through signs suchas poor memory,
anxiety, negative and pessimistic attitude. If the signs of teenage stress go unrecognized for a long time, it can make
the child emotionally out of balance. And next step, if this happens, it is necessary for parents to know how to deal
with stress.
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答案及解析：

Possible version: The passage talks about the causes of stress among teenagers. One of the factors is teenagers’
inability to adapt to new environment after moving to another place. Other causes include poor academic
performance and extra curricular. Once teenagers show signs of pressure, parents are encouraged to help them cope
with it.

（四）
阅读下面短文，根据内容写一篇 60 词左右的内容概要。
In the United States,employees typically work five days a week for eight hours each day.However,many employees
want to work a four-day week and are willing to accept less pay in order to do so.A mandatory policy requiring
companies to offer their employees the option of working a four-day workweek for four-fifths of their normal pay
would benefit the economy as a whole as well as the individual companies and the employees who decided to take
the option.The shortened workweek would increase company profits because employees would feel more rested
and alert,and as a result,they would make fewer costly errors in their work.Hiring more staff to ensure that the same
amount of work would be accomplished would not result in additional payroll costs because four-day employees
would only be paid 80 percent of the normal rate.In the end,companies would have fewer overworked and error-
prone employees for the same money,which would increase company benefits.For the country as a whole, one of
the primary benefits of offering this option to employees is that it would reduce unemployment rate.If many full-

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time employees started working fewer hours,some of their workload would have to be shifted to others.Thus,for
every four employees who went on an 80 percent week,a new employee could be hired at the 80 percent
rate.Finally, the option of a four-day workweek would be better for individual employees.Employees who could
afford a lower salary in exchange for more free time could improve the quality of their lives by spending the extra
time with their families,pursuing private interests or enjoying leisure activities.
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答案及解析：

Working for four-days a week with less pay will do good to the country,companies,and employees.First,
companies can hire more efficient employees with same payroll costs.Second,with more people at work,the country
will benefit from reduced unemolyment rate.Finally,with more time,employs will lead a life of higher quality.(55 字)

（五）
阅读下面短文，根据内容写一篇 60 词左右的内容概要。
A new, first-of-its-kind study examines the connection between teacher burnout and students’ stress levels.
Researchers from the University of British Columbia collected saliva (唾液) samples from over 400 elementary
school children, grades four to seven, at 17 public schools. Cortisol (皮质醇) levels were then assessed from the
samples as the hormone is commonly used as a biological indicator of stress. Correspondingly, teacher burnout was
determined through survey results.
Investigators found that in classrooms in which teachers experienced more burnout, or feelings of emotional
exhaustion, students’ cortisol levels were elevated (提升). Higher cortisol levels in elementary school children have
been linked to learning difficulties as well as mental health problems. The study appears in the journal Social
Science & Medicine. “This suggests that stress contagion (蔓延) might be taking place in the classroom among
students and their teachers,” said Eva Oberle, Ph.D., the study’s lead author.
Indeed, the relationship between student stress and teacher burnout is a chicken and egg question. “It is
unknown what came first, elevated cortisol or teacher burnout. We consider the connection between student and
teacher stress a cyclical problem in the classroom.” Oberle said a stressful classroom climate could be a result of
inadequate support for teachers, which may impact teachers’ ability to effectively manage their students. A poorly
managed classroom can contribute to students’ needs not being met and increasing stress. This could be reflected in
elevated cortisol levels in students.
Alternatively, stress could originate from students, who may be more challenging to teach because of increases
in anxiety, behavioral problems, or special needs. In this case, teachers could feel overwhelmed and report higher
levels of burnout.
“Our study is a reminder of the systemic issues facing teachers and educators as classroom sizes increase and
supports for teachers are cut,” said Oberle. “It is clear from a number of recent research studies that teaching is one
of the most stressful professions, and that teachers need adequate resources and support in their jobs in order to

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battle burnout and relieve stress in the classroom,” said University of British Columbia education professor
Kimberly Schonert Reichl, Ph.D., the study’s co-author. “If we do not support teachers, we risk the damage of
students.”
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答案及解析：

A new research shows that student strain often coexists with teacher exhaustion. (要点 1) Students, who find
their requirements unsatisfied as a result of teachers’ low-level management over class, may feel overwhelmingly
stressed. (要点 2) Conversely, teachers, who encounter great teaching challenge from students, tend to be burned
out. (要点 3) Therefore, more sufficient resources and support to teachers should be guaranteed, or students are
likely to be ruined. (要点 4) (63 words)

（六）

阅读下面短文，根据其内容写一篇 60 词左右的内容概要。
Have you heard an old saying “The grass looks greener on the other side of the fence”? It means other places
often look better, more interesting than the place where you live. “Let’s go to KFC for dinner and then watch some
Japanese cartoons!” We all know it: more and more Chinese kids love American and Japanese food and movies.
Some people worry that young Chinese are beginning to feel that way. They see young Chinese ignoring（忽视）
Chinese culture and, instead, buying Japanese cartoon books, watching Korean soap operas and even celebrating
western holidays.
Foreign books and soap operas are good, but Chinese writers and actors are just as good. As for holidays,
Christmas is nice, but it can never have the meaning for Chinese that Spring Festival has, and the West has nothing
to compare with the Mid-Autumn Festival. China has lots of cool things in its culture: calligraphy, Beijing Opera,
quick meals on the streets, and even Jay Chou! And let’s not forget the part of Chinese culture I like best: its
friendliness. Not all countries are as warm as China.
It’s good to enjoy other cultures and learn from them, but they can never replace your own culture. It’s good to
look on the other side of the fence, but make sure you take a good long look. You will find that the grass isn’t
always greener.
Although some people become worried about that, I don’t think they should. Will we get more powerful
without learning from other countries? Will Chinese people live more happily without American fast food? Besides,
it’s fun to learn about different cultures. Chinese kids can learn about other cultures and have fun, but they also
need to learn more about their own culture. Be proud of Chinese culture and of being Chinese!
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答案及解析：

Many young Chinese prefer foreign items, considering them to be better.（要点 1）Nevertheless, Chinese
culture is equally good, colorful and even more meaningful, such as its festivals, calligraphy and friendliness.（要

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点 2）Foreign cultures, which are not always good, can never replace your own culture.（要点 3）In a word,
Chinese kids just need to learn more and take pride in Chinese culture while enjoying other cultures.（要点 4）

（七）

阅读下面短文，根据其内容写一篇 60 词左右的内容概。
According to most people, after a long period of studying or working, we need to have a rest to refresh
ourselves. However, that may not be the case. According to a recent report, you don’t need the break as much as
you may think that makes you feel less tired.
Scientists have long assumed that willpower is a limited resource, which is why you feel the need to have a
rest, have a snack and then get back to task when you are feeling better. They argue that the only way it restores
willpower is by rest, food or entertainment.
But psychologists have challenged this theory, saying weak willpower is all in your head. They have found
that people’s belief in willpower determines how long and how well they’ll be able to work on tough mental
exercise. “If you think of willpower are something that is not really used up, you can go on and on.” said Professor
Veronika Job.
The researchers designed four experiments to test students’ belief in willpower. After a tiring task, those who
believed, or were led to believe that willpower is a limited resource, performed worse on standard concentration
tests than those who thought of willpower as something they had more control over. They also found that leading
up to the final exam week, students who believed the limited resource theory ate junk food 24 percent more often
than those who believed they had more control in resisting the temptation.
Mr. Job said, “The theory that willpower is a limited resource is interesting. Belief in willpower as a non-
limited resource makes people stronger in their ability to work through challenges.”
The findings can help people who are battling against temptation. Willpower isn’t driven by a biologically-
based process as much as we used to think. The belief in it is what influences your behaviors.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
答案及解析：

Based on a recent report, having a rest to refresh yourself is not so essential as some people think. (要点 1) Will-
power, assumed to be a limited resource by some scientists, were thought to be only regained by rest, food, as well
as entertainment. (要点 2) However, this theory has been challenged. Researchers, including Veronica Jobs,
conducted experiments and made some new discoveries. (要点 3) If you believe that willpower is limitless, you
will be more powerful, which is a potential help to resist temptation. (要点 4)

（八）

阅读下面短文，根据其内容写一篇 60 词左右的内容概。

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 The days of staring attentively at the computer screen pretending to be interested in an assignment even
though you are bored out of your mind may soon be coming to an end.That's because if Dr.Harry Witchel has his
way, computers of the future will be able to detect boredom and even react to it in real time.
But before you get concerned,the machine is not reading your mind.It is just keeping track of the constant
involuntary movements that people exhibit when in front of a computer or even a television.These are not the
bigger instrumental actions like moving a mouse or using the remote,but subtle barely noticeable movements like
scratching or stretching.Witchel says the level of movement is directly relative to how absorbed the person is in
what he/she is reading or watching-the higher the interest level,the lesser the movement!
To test the theory Witchel and his team invited 27 people and exposed them to a variety of digital content for
three minutes at a time.The activities ranged from playing online games to reading documents like the EU banking
regulations that most people would find boring.A video motion tracker monitored their movements as they powered
through each assignment.Just as the researchers had suspected,the involuntary actions decreased surprisingly,by as
much as 42%,when the subjects were totally absorbed in what they were reading or seeing.
Fortunately,the scientists are not planning to use the findings that were published in the online journal to create
machines that report students who are not focusing at school.Instead,they believe that combining the motion
detecting technology into future computers will help enhance（加强）the digital learning experience.
The scientists say that being able to measure the student's interest level will enable educators to adjust the
materials in real time and re-engage the student.Witchel also believes that the technology can provide filmmakers
with honest audience opinions and in the future,also be used in developing more understanding companion robots.
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（九）

阅读下面短文，根据其内容写一篇 60 词左右的内容概。
Researchers who use animals in psychological experiments must make every effort to minimize (最小化)
discomfort, illness, and pain. And procedures that cause animals great suffering are permitted only when no other
procedure is available. Moreover, there are federal regulations stating how animals art to be housed, fed. and
preserved. Not only must researches try very hard to avoid causing physical discomfort, they are also required to
promote the psychological well-being of some species of research animals, such as monkeys.
Why should animals be used for research in the first place? Is it really possible to learn about human behavior
from the results of research employing rats and pigeons? The answer is that psychological research that does
employ animals has a different focus and is designed to answer different questions than research that uses humans.
For example, the shorter life span of animals (rats live an average of two years) allows researchers to learn about
the effects of aging in a much smaller period than they could by using human participants. Moreover, some
principles of behavior are similar across species, and so some basic behavioral phenomena can be studied more
simply in animals. Finally, some studies require large numbers of participants that share similar backgrounds or
have been exposed to particular environments—conditions that could not practically be met with human beings.

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 Research using animals has provided psychologists with information that has greatly benefited humans. For
example, it provided the keys to noticing eye disorders in children early enough to prevent permanent damage
Despite the value of research with animal participants, the use of animals in psychological research is highly
controversial. For example, some critics believe that animals have rights no less significant than those of humans,
and that because animals are unable to agree to participation in studies, their use is not moral. Others object to the
use of animals on methodological (方法论的) grounds, saying it is impossible to generalize from finding on
nonhuman species to humans.
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答案及解析：

Researchers must follow rules to help animals not suffer in psychological experiments. (要点 1) Psychological
researches using animals can make psychologists learn about human behaviors more effectively, more simply and
more practically. (要点 2). And they also provided the information for psychologists to benefit humans. (要点
3)However, the use of animals in psychological experiments has caused a lot of discussion and disagreement in the
public. (要点 4)

本文是概要写作，其写作步骤如下：
1）细读原文。首先要仔细阅读短文，掌握文章主旨和结构，明确各段的大意。
2）弄清要求。是写全文概要，不是写某一部分的概要，或者就某些问题写出要点。
3）列出原文要点。分析原文的内容和结构，将内容分项扼要表述并注意在结构上的顺序。在此基础上选
出与文章主题密切相关的部分。

（十）

阅读下面短文，根据其内容写一篇 60 词左右的内容概。
When people introduce themselves, I always hear them say “I'm just a housewife.” I don’t understand why
their introduction is always filled with regret and self-pity．Is it, really a crime to be a housewife? Is it really
embarrassing when you choose not to work outside and instead choose to work in your home？
How could you be “just a housewife” when the basic social unit of society depends on you and your service?
A housewife works for the longest hour, supporting your husband, child studies, caring for elders, managing
finances, paying bills, grocery shopping, cooking according to individual taste, cleaning, etc. A housewife could be
anyone: daughter, wife, mother, teacher, financial advisor, fashion designer and nurse, gardener, driver, cook, and
so on．Don’t think you are not being paid for it. You get the reward that no money can offer—the love and
affection of your family, their trust in you, a happy home and your own satisfaction.
It is you who choose to be in this occupation, willingly or for any other reason. After a busy day, all wait to
return to the comfortable home set by you. They know you will be there to absorb all their stress and tiredness and
relax them. Would the life have been the same had you been working outside to earn some money？Would you
along with your family have been able to buy all the content in life that you are enjoying now with that money？

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 Respect yourself for what you are. Introduce yourself to the world with the same dignity（尊严）. The world
understands the importance of your job; it’s time to make them accept it. Introduce yourself with pride and with
twinkle in your eyes “I am a housewife”．Kick that “just” out．
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答案及解析：

A housewife deserves to be respected and being a housewife is rewarding. Housewives deal with many things
and play many roles in and outside the family. Besides, housewives can decrease family members’ stress and
tiredness and make them relax, which cannot be bought with the money they earn. In a word, housewives should
proudly introduce themselves, knowing they are important.

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