What characteristic defines a good summary of a text?

A good summary of a text is characterized by a concise retelling of the main ideas and important details. This means that the summary distills the essential points of the text without unnecessary detail or embellishment, allowing the reader to grasp the core message effectively and efficiently.

In a well-crafted summary, the focus remains on the primary themes and supporting details that contribute to the overall understanding of the text. This approach ensures that the summary is not only brief but also meaningful, accurately representing the author's intentions and the text's purpose. While summaries should present clear information, they do not delve into every event or provide extensive analysis, which might lead to an overload of information or subjective interpretations that stray from the text itself.

Therefore, the focus on conciseness and clarity distinguishes a solid summary from more elaborate rephrasing or interpretations, making it an essential skill in effective reading comprehension and communication.