1.

Read THE QUESTION FIRST.

Scroll down after the RC questions and you will find the summary question. This should be
done BEFORE reading the passage.*
For example,
31 Based on the passage given, write a summary on:
the suggestions given by Mahes to promote laughter therapy at the office.
Credit will be given for use of own words but care must be taken not to change the
original meaning.
Your summary must:
be in continuous writing form (not in note form)
use material from lines 16 to 34
not be longer than 130 words, including the 10 words given below
Begin your summary as follows: Mahes suggests that laughter clubs are set up to
make ...
*You should get the idea of what the passage is about just by looking at the question.
Reading the questions before reading the passage is good because it gives you focus on your
reading and you will understand the passage a lot faster.
2. Read the passage
3. Complete the Reading Comprehension Questions
4. To start summarizing, use the BRIEF technique

B BOX
R READ
I IDENTIF
Y
E EXTRAC
T
F FINALIZ
E
5. B=BOX
This is VERY SIMPLE. Just draw a box on the paper. Start the first horizontal line ABOVE
the line mentioned in the instruction (In RED) and another after the last line mentioned. In
this case it is line 16 and line 34.
31. Practice 3 Questions 26 31 are based on the following passage.

1 Work-related stress is a common problem among employees. It can result in feelings of depression,
frustration and demotivation. Stress management therapist, Mahes Karuppiah recommends laughter
therapy to deal with this problem. Mahes says that laughter helps to reduce levels of cortisol, a stress
hormone that weakens the immune system.
5 Studies have found that a good laugh session can lead to a sense of wellbeing and optimism. It can
also reduce blood pressure, increase circulation and relax the muscles. Mahes, who began using
laughter as therapy four years ago says laughter is the easiest and most practical way to manage stress.
It is also inexpensive as everyone possesses the natural ability to laugh. You don t have to learn how
to do it or buy equipment to help you laugh; it is in you.
10 If you look at children, they laugh at the simplest things while adults are finding it difficult even
to smile. Mahes says employees who are facing pressure and stress usually cannot cope with their
work. This drags down their productivity and may even compel them to come up with excuses not to
come to work. If you start work at the age of 25 and retire at 55, you would be spending 30 years of
your life at the office. And you work about nine hours or more there every day. So, if you are
unhealthy and

15 unhappy during this period which is the prime time of your life, you have wasted the bulk of your
life with these emotions. To make the office a fun place, she suggests the establishment of a laughter
club at each company. Get a few people together every morning and have a laughter therapy session
for about 15 minutes. All the laughter club members should try to identify and remove negative
feelings such as guilt, anger, fear, jealousy and ego, she says.
20 According to Mahes, there are a few types of laughter therapy. Among them are putting a pen
between your teeth to simulate a smile and the Ho, Ho, Ha, Ha, which involves laughing while
clapping your hands. You dont need to listen to a joke or look at something funny. You can do it as a
form of exercise just like aerobics. It is said that laughter is like internal jogging. It keeps the mind
and body fit. There should also be a laughter room in every office, she says. Youve heard of
people

25 screaming to release their tension. Why not have a laughter room where instead of screaming, they
can laugh? Employees can use the room to practise laughter exercises, watch a funny video or sit
there and just laugh their frustrations away. The cost of having this room is small. And in return it will
help boost morale among the workers, reduce absenteeism and increase productivity. Another
suggestion is to have a Public Announcement or P.A. system in the office so that someone can tell a
30 joke of the day or just begin laughing. Laughter is contagious. Once you get someone to laugh,
soon everyone in the room will be laughing or smiling as well. Post funny jokes or cartoons on a
bulletin board, as long as they are not lewd or offensive. Employees can rotate the postings every
week. The best joke or cartoon should be declared the Humour of the week. This is the cheapest
way to bring fun into the office.
35 According to a study by David Abrams of California State University in the United States, people
who have fun on the job are more creative and productive, are better decision-makers and get along
better with co-workers. So, start the day with a laugh and you ll find the saying Laughter is the best
medicine is really true. (Adapted from The New Straits Times, July 2003)
Example of the box:

6. R=Read the passage

This is not simply reading. Focus on what you are going to summarize. Especially the one in
the box.
7. I=Identify
This means you must identify the points/ key ideas that are relevant to what the instructions
want. Be careful of what the question wants especially the PARTS OF SPEECH.
For example-the instruction above is QUESTIONING about SUGGESTIONS TO PROMOTE
LAUGHTER THERAPY IN THE OFFICE. Now SUGGESTIONS should fall into the NOUN
CATEGORY/PART OF SPEECH. So you have to search for ACTIVITIES.

I WOULD HIGHLIGHT THE POINTS

8 E=Extract
This basically means when you have identified the ideas, you have to take the idea out from
the text and ON A PIECE OF A DIFFERENT PAPER, write them out again according to
the ORDER THEY ARE FOUND IN THE PASSAGE. Making this list of ideas/points is
CRUCIAL because we need to weed out the unnecesssary details and to recheck whether the
ideas we identify is relevant or not. Remember, only highlighting on the text IS NOT
ENOUGH. You have to REWRITE THE POINTS.
Ok, lets look at the list
SUGGESTIONS ON PROMOTING LAUGHTER THERAPY AT THE OFFICE
1.

she suggests the establishment of a laughter club at each company. Get a few people together every
morning and have a laughter therapy session for about 15 minutes. All the laughter club members
should try to identify and remove negative feelings such as guilt, anger, fear, jealousy and ego, she
says
WHAT IS STRUCK OUT: ELABORATION ON WHAT IS A LAUGHTER CLUB

2.

According to Mahes, there are a few types of laughter therapy.

WHAT IS STRUCK OUT: MENTIONING THE WRITER IS UNNECESSARY

3.

Among them are putting a pen between your teeth to simulate a smile and the Ho, Ho, Ha, Ha,
which involves laughing while clapping your hands. You dont need to listen to a joke or look at
something funny. You can do it as a form of exercise just like aerobics. It is said that laughter is like
internal jogging. It keeps the mind and body fit.
WHAT IS STRUCK OUT: ELABORATION OF LAUGHTER THERAPY AND HOW IT
WORKS

4.

There should also be a laughter room in every office, she says. Youve heard of people screaming
to release their tension. Why not have a laughter room where instead of screaming, they can laugh?
WHAT IS STRUCK OUT: JUSTIFICATION FOR HAVING A LAUGHTER ROOM

5.

Employees can use the room to practise laughter exercises,

WHAT IS STRUCK OUT: WHO IS USING THE ROOM BECAUSE IT IS EXPLAINED IN THE
POINTS ABOVE.

6.

watch a funny video or

7.

sit there and just laugh their frustrations away. The cost of having this room is small. And in return it
will help boost morale among the workers, reduce absenteeism and increase productivity.
WHAT IS STRUCK OUT: THE COST AND BENEFITS OF THE ROOM

8.

Another suggestion is to have a Public Announcement or P.A. system in the office so that someone
can tell a joke of the day or just begin laughing. Laughter is contagious. Once you get someone to
laugh, soon everyone in the room will be laughing or smiling as well.
WHAT IS STRUCK OUT: REASON FOR USING THE P.A SYSTEM

9.

Post funny jokes or cartoons on a bulletin board, as long as they are not lewd or offensive.
Employees can rotate the postings every week.
WHAT IS STRUCK OUT: WHAT CAN BE POSTED AND WHO CAN POST IT.

10. The best joke or cartoon should be declared the Humour of the week. This is the cheapest way to
bring fun into the office.
WHAT IS STRUCK OUT: THE COST
.

Remember, NO EXAMPLES, ELABORATIONS AND

REPEATED IDEAS IN A SUMMARY
.

9. F=FINALIZE
Use the sentence as an opener for your summary given to start writing a paragraph of
summary. Be sure not to exceed 120 words.

Mahes suggests that laughter clubs are set up to make people release their
tension. First, there are a few types of laughter therapy: Among them are putting a pen
between your teeth to simulate a smile and the Ho, Ho, Ha, Ha, which involves laughing
while clapping your hands. Second, create a laughter room in every office. Then use the room
to practise laughter exercises, watch a funny video or sit there and just laugh their
frustrations away. Third, use the Public Announcement or P.A. system in the office so that
someone can tell a joke of the day or just begin laughing. Finally, post funny jokes or
cartoons on a bulletin board and the best joke or cartoon should be declared the Humour of
the week
You must write the number of word

(126 words)

In finalizing, you can write in Sequence connectors like the numbering of

points to make your points clearer. Before submitting, check your

sentences and grammar.
There you are. we are done. You can start practising!
Good Luck!