Auto Summary Tools:

I was unable to utilize the autosummary tool that is available in Word programs prior to 2010; however, I did try out www.textcompactor.com.  I summarized the chapter quite effectivitely without losing too much essential meaning to about 45% of the original length of the text.  I must say that I do have some concerns utitlizing this type of autosummary tool with literature texts just because I fear much of the unique author's voice and intention would be lost.  I do see how this tool could be useful to teach students how to scan passages for the most important features, especially in preparation for test taking or other environments where students need to be able to quickly scan text to extract the essential meaning from it.  Here are the results from the compacted text of Pride and Prejudice Chapter 1.

Chapter 1
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighborhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.
"My dear Mr. Bennet," said his lady to him one day, "have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?"
Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.
"But it is," returned she; "for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about it."
Mr. Bennet made no answer.
"Do you not want to know who has taken it?" cried his wife impatiently.
"YOU want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it."
This was invitation enough.
"Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England; How can it affect them?"
"My dear Mr. Bennet," replied his wife, "how can you be so tiresome! You and the girls may go, or you may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be still better, for as you are as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley may like you the best of the party."
"My dear, you flatter me. When a woman has five grown-up daughters, she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty."
"In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of."
"But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr. Bingley when he comes into the neighborhood."
"It is more than I engage for, I assure you."
"But consider your daughters. But you are always giving HER the preference."
"They have none of them much to recommend them," replied he; but Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sisters."
"Mr. Bennet, how CAN you abuse your own children in such a way? I have heard you mention them with consideration these last twenty years at least."
Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humor, reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three-and-twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character. The business of her life was to get her daughters married;