PRECIS WRITING? – MCQ’S

1. What is a précis?
   a) A detailed explanation of a passage
   b) A short and clear summary of a longer passage
   c) A translation of a passage
   d) A personal opinion about a passage
2. The main purpose of a précis is to ______.
   a) add more examples to a passage
   b) shorten a passage while keeping its main ideas
   c) change the meaning of the original text
   d) criticise the original passage
3. In a précis, which of the following is usually removed?
   a) Main ideas
   b) Essential points
   c) Unnecessary details and repetitions
   d) Central theme
4. The word “précis” originally comes from which language?
   a) German
   b) French
   c) Spanish
   d) Greek
5. The French word précis is derived from the Latin word ______.
   a) precisio
   b) praecisus
   c) praeclarus
   d) praesens
6. What does the Latin word praecisus mean?
   a) Written clearly
   b) Explained fully
   c) Cut short or abridged
   d) Written creatively
7. A good précis is usually about ______ of the original passage.
   a) half
   b) one-third
   c) two-thirds
   d) the same length
8. A précis should be written in ______.
   a) the writer’s own words
   b) the exact words of the author
   c) poetic language
   d) informal language
9. Which of the following should NOT appear in a précis?
   a) Main ideas
   b) Logical order
   c) Personal opinions
   d) Central idea
10. One purpose of précis writing is to ______.
    a) test reading comprehension
    b) increase the length of a passage
    c) add personal interpretation
    d) make the text more complicated

Answers:

1. b
2. b
3. c
4. b
5. b
6. c
7. b
8. a
9. c
10. a

Dr Aswathy Aravindakshan

Dr Aswathy Aravindakshan is a teacher, bilingual writer and artist with over two decades of experience in teaching English language and literature. She currently serves as Assistant Professor of English at NSS College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. Her blog, ashlit.in brings together academic resources, creative writing in Malayalam and English, and visual art. The platform features lecture notes, study materials, poems, reflections, short prose, and a curated collection of her paintings. Through this space, she seeks to foster learning, creativity, and meaningful engagement with literature and the arts.