"The Summary"
Passage from "Gulliver's
Travels"
It is easy for us who travel into remote countries, which
are seldom visited by Englishmen or other Europeans, to form descriptions of
wonderful animals both at sea and land. Whereas a traveler's chief aim
should be to make men wiser and better, and to improve their minds by the bad,
as well as good, example of what they deliver concerning foreign places.
I could heartily wish a law was enacted, that every traveler,
before he were permitted to publish his voyages, should be obliged to make oath
before the Lord High Chancellor, that all he intended to print was absolutely
true to the best of his knowledge...
I have perused several books of travels with great delight
in my younger days; but having since gone over most parts of the globe, and
been able to contradict many fabulous accounts from my own observation, it has
given me a great disgust... I imposed on myself, as a maxim never to be swerved
from, that I would strictly adhere to truth...
I know very well, how little reputation is to be got by
writings which require neither genius nor learning, nor indeed any other
talent, except a good memory, or an exact journal. I know likewise, that
writers of travels—like dictionary-makers—are sunk into oblivion by the weight
and bulk of those who come last, and therefore lie uppermost. And it is
highly probable, that such travelers, who shall hereafter visit the countries
described in this work of mine, may, by detecting my errors (if there be any),
and adding many new discoveries of their own, justle
me out of vogue, and stand in my place, making the world forget that ever I was
an author. This indeed would be too great a mortification, if I wrote for
fame: but as my sole intention was the public good, I cannot be altogether
disappointed...
I am not a little pleased that this work of mine can
possibly meet with no censurers: for what objections can be made against a
writer, who relates only plain facts, that happened in such distant countries,
where we have not the least interest, with respect either to trade or
negotiations? I have carefully avoided every fault with which common
writers of travels are often too justly charged. Besides, I meddle not the least with any party, but write without
passion, prejudice, or ill-will against any man, or number of men,
whatsoever. I write for the noblest end, to inform and instruct
mankind...
Reading
Comprehension Questions
1) In the passage above, the narrator gives his opinion about
which type of written work?
a.
novels about science fiction
b.
books describing specific locations
c.
essays on philosophy
d.
pamphlets reciting a controversial argument
2) Based on the above passage, the narrator would most likely
agree with which of the following statements?
a.
"all writers have a
creative license to stretch the facts"
b.
"nothing is more
important than being honest"
c.
"the 'truth' is a
strange and hard to define concept"
d.
"the best writing
comes from the imagination"
3) In the above passage, the narrator stresses that he wrote
his book for which purpose?
a.
to provide credible information
b.
to surprise and shock the reader
c.
to establish himself as a writer
d.
to correct the errors in earlier works
4) In the above passage, the narrator compares "writers of
travels" to "dictionary-makers."
What does he mean by this?
a.
both of them are quickly replaced when a new version is
created
b.
both of them need to rely on their imaginations for their
work
c.
both of them hope that the reader will suspend belief for a
while
d.
both of them create work that will remain important forever
5) Based on the above passage, it is clear that the narrator
wants the reader to view him as which of the following?
a.
a great writer
b.
an honest man
c.
a bold adventurer
d.
a creative artist
6) In the last paragraph of the above passage, the narrator
says that "this work of mine can
possibly meet with no censurers."
In this context, who is he describing with the word
"censurers"?
a.
someone who wants to make money from the book
b.
someone who has written a similar book
c.
someone who wants to discredit the book
d.
someone who provided the information for the book
Answer Key
1)
In the
passage above, the narrator gives his opinion about which type of written work?
a.
novels about science fiction
b.
books describing
specific locations
c.
essays on philosophy
d.
pamphlets reciting a controversial argument
2)
Based on the
above passage, the narrator would most likely agree with which of the following
statements?
a.
"all
writers have a creative license to stretch the facts"
b.
"nothing is more important than being
honest"
c.
"the
'truth' is a strange and hard to define concept"
d.
"the
best writing comes from the imagination"
3)
In the above
passage, the narrator stresses that he wrote his book for which purpose?
a.
to provide
credible information
b.
to surprise and shock the reader
c.
to establish himself as a writer
d.
to correct the errors in earlier works
4)
In the above
passage, the narrator compares "writers of travels" to
"dictionary-makers." What does
he mean by this?
a.
both of them are
quickly replaced when a new version is created
b.
both of them need to rely on their
imaginations for their work
c.
both of them hope that the reader will suspend
belief for a while
d.
both of them create work that will remain
important forever
5)
Based on the
above passage, it is clear that the narrator wants the reader to view him as
which of the following?
a.
a
great writer
b.
an honest man
c.
a bold adventurer
d.
a creative artist
6)
In the last
paragraph of the above passage, the narrator says that "this work of mine can possibly meet with no censurers." In this context, who is he describing with
the word "censurers"?
a.
someone who wants to make money from the book
b.
someone who has written a similar book
c.
someone who wants
to discredit the book
d.
someone who provided the information for the
book