Summary Writing Practice [0500/11, Nov 2021]

Text B: Changing seasons

The text describes what living through a severe winter is like in the writer’s locality.

It’s no longer winter. I see fishermen readying their boats and gear for a new season,

stacking lobster traps along the wharves and scraping and painting their vessels. And,

alas, I notice the appearance of mud and potholes – all signs of spring. But something

is missing.

I am no longer rushing to the market to make sure we have enough milk and eggs,

candles and batteries – in case the next storm knocks out the power – oh, and to buy

an extra shovel, should this replacement one also break.

Nor am I leaping out of bed early each morning, adrenalin rushing as I brush my teeth,

donning snow pants, sweater, hooded coat over pyjamas, then climbing into boots and

heading downstairs to try the kitchen door. More often than not, I would find it sealed

fast by snow. I’d gulp down coffee, and, with help from my husband, force open the

front door. Shovels in hand, we’d begin the ritual: clear the front steps as the neighbours

across the street run their snow blower and those next door shovel. We’d exchange

nods, the occasional groan, ask, ‘Where are we going to put it all?’ – all the while eyeing

property lines to make sure that shovelled snow lands where it ought to.

In novels I’ve read, winter is often the quiet season: a time for reading and reflection,

letter writing, baking bread, stirring thick soups and curling up by the fire with a long

novel.

In reality, we were all frenzied by the massive (and historic) back-to-back snowstorms,

anxious about the next assault, and worried about our houses and families and jobs,

not to mention the ice dams and ensuing leaky roofs.

Our frenzy was fed not just by the quantity and relentlessness of the storms, but by the

anxiety (and exhaustion) they engendered and the fact that there was no one to blame.

We could vent our anger at our neighbours or at the snow-ploughing crews, but everyone

was doing the best they could.

Lately, however, an unusual quiet appears to have descended, not suddenly, as it might

when we’re snowed in during a normal winter, but stealthily, without our even noticing

it. In fact, what’s noticeable is not what’s present, but what’s not: the stress.

Neighbours and friends have been emerging, tentatively, like bears from hibernation,

as if nervous (and uncertain) about what will come next. I find myself stopping to make

friendly chat at the post office, in the library, on the street. I pause to observe snowdrops

arising from a patch of icy snow, the fattening buds on the lilacs and the calls of the

first redwings in the marsh.

 

Questions

(f)     According to Text B, what did the residents of this community feel and do during the most recent severe winter?

You must use continuous writing (not note form) and use your own words as far as possible. Your summary should not be more than 120 words.

Up to 10 marks are available for the content of your answer and up to 5 marks for the quality of your writing.

Suggested points to include in your summary:

1       Stock up on food / concerned about food running out

 

2       Prepare for power cuts / buy candles and batteries as emergency power / worried about power cuts

 

3       Buy extra tools just in case / replace broken ones / concerned essential tools might break

4       Get up early / check snow levels each morning / anxiety to see how much snow has fallen overnight / check if can open door first thing

 

5       Wear extra clothing / keep pyjamas on under clothes / wear warm clothes / wear layers of clothing

6       Rushing about / doing things quickly / can’t stay still

7       Clear the snow / clear the (snow from) front step(s)

8       Tension with neighbours / limited communication with neighbours / mistrust neighbours / throw snow on neighbour’s property

 

9       Exhausted by relentlessness of storms / tired out by it all / overwhelmed by it all / constantly worried (e.g. about next storm) / ongoing stress of the situation / fed up with everything

10    Worried about potential consequences / waiting for the next disaster (e.g. leaky roof or ice dam) / fearful about what would happen next (e.g. job, family or home problem)

 

11    Frustrated there was no one to blame / knew there was no one to blame / took anger out on others

12    Coped as best they could / got on with it

13    Stayed inside as much as possible / practically hibernated