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WRITING A SUMMARY
Read the following passage carefully. Based on the information given in the passage, write in
about 75 words the steps that one should take to reduce cholesterol.
Cholesterol is a type of fat which the body needs to build cells and to produce hormones.
Much of our body’s cholesterol requirement is manufactured in our liver. The rest of it is
obtained from foods rich in cholesterol such as red meat and dairy products. When we have too
much cholesterol in our body, some of it gets deposited on the artery walls which make them
gradually narrower. When the coronary arteries of the heart are affected in this way, the blood
is unable to carry enough oxygen to the heart. In such situation we may suffer from a heart
attack.
If you are overweight, suffering from high-blood pressure, a diabetic, a cigarette smoker or
from a family history of heart trouble, there is a possibility that your blood cholesterol is high.
Hence, it is advisable to see your family doctor to check your cholesterol level on a regular
basis.
To reduce cholesterol, the first step you can take is to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Eat right,
add exercise to your daily routine and quit smoking.
The American Heart Association Diet recommends that our total fat intake should be less
than 30 percent of daily calories. The level of cholesterol in the blood is influenced by the
amount of fat other than cholesterol in one’s diet. Doctors advise that we should try to reduce
our overall fat whenever possible. Vegetable oils should be substituted for hard fats like butter
and ghee. We should cut out saturated fats found in dairy products and animal fat and learn to
eat the right meal. Stay away from red and organ meats such as liver, kidney and brain and opt
for lean white meat like chicken and fish. We should also increase our carbohydrate intake by
adding an extra serving of complex carbohydrates like fuits, vegetables and grains. Such food
will leave us feeling full and satisfied thus leaving less space for fatty meats and desserts.
Studies have shown that regular exercise can boost levels of good cholesterol. Exercise
helps reduce body weight and this can help control cholesterol levels. Doctors recommend 30
to 45 minutes of moderate exercise such as walking, five days per week. When exercising, it is
important to accelerate your heart rate and keep it up for at least 20 minutes. It could include
normal day activities like parking your car a quarter of a mile away from your work place and
walking to it twice a day or taking the stairs instead of the elevator.
Many of us are now aware that smoking can lead to lung cancer and increase one’s risk of a
heart attack but few people are aware that smoking can actually affect your cholesterol levels.
Dr. Brown, who is attached to the Emory University School of Medicine at Atlanta, says that
when you stop smoking, your good cholesterol levels will increase significantly. He adds that a
two-pack-a-day smoker who quits may have an eight-point rise in his good cholesterol.
(508 words)
Step 1: Read the passage and identify the main or general idea of the whole passage.
The passage is mainly about ways to reduce cholesterol in our body.
Step 2: Read and understand the question and task at hand. Underline or circle the key
phrases.
Read the following passage carefully. Based on the information given in the passage,
write in about 75 words the steps that one should take to reduce cholesterol.
Step 3: Identify the paragraphs where the relevant information can be obtained.
The relevant information can be found from paragraphs 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Step 4: Underline or jot down the main points and supporting details. Remember to leave out
irrelevant explanations, examples and elaborations.
Refer to the passage. The main points and supporting details are underlined.
Step 5: Arrange your points and using your own words, link the points to write your first draft.
Use suitable logical connectors.
Reduce overall fat intake –
substitute hard and saturated
fats with vegetable oils
3 main steps – eat right,
exercise, quit smoking
Increase intake of
complex carbohydrates
Instead of red meat, opt
for lean white meat
Steps to
reduce
cholesterol
Exercise regularly reduce
body weight and increase
good cholesterol
Quit smoking – increases
good cholesterol
Step 6: Count the number of words as you edit your work. Write out your final summary.
Step 7: Check your work for grammatical, spelling and punctuation errors. Write down the
number of words in brackets.