FINDING THE MAIN IDEA

FINDING THE MAIN IDEA

Finding the main idea or theme of a written piece is one of the most important aspects of good reading comprehension.

Read the following paragraphs and carefully determine what the main idea is for each.

The best way to approach these questions is to first read the paragraph and then, in your own words, restate what you think the author is trying to say.

Multiple Choice

If you’re a fitness walker, there is no need for a commute to a health club. Your neighborhood can be your health club. You don’t need a lot of fancy equipment to get a good workout either. All you need is a well-designed pair of athletic shoes.

• fitness walking is a better form of exercise than weight lifting

• walking outdoors provides a better workout than walking indoors

• fitness walking is a convenient and valuable form of exercise

Multiple Choice

Critical reading is a demanding process. To read critically, you must slow down your reading and, with pencil in hand, perform specific operations on the text. Mark up the text with your reactions, conclusions, and questions. When you read, become an active participant.

• critical reading is a slow, dull, but essential process

• critical reading requires thoughtful and careful attention

• critical reading should take place at the same time each day

Multiple Choice

Mathematics allows us to expand our consciousness. Mathematics tells us about economic trends, patterns of disease, and the growth of populations. Math is good at exposing the truth, but it can also perpetuate misunderstandings and untruths. Figures have the power to mislead people.

• words are more truthful than figures

• the power of numbers is that they cannot lie

• figures are sometimes used to deceive people

Multiple Choice

When writing business letters or memos, it’s not practical to be personal. Though the first-person point of view may make the reader feel close to the writer, it also implies a certain subjectivity. That is, the writer is expressing a personal view from a personal perspective.

• effective business writing is one of the most important skills to have in an office environment.

• using the first-person point of view in business correspondence is not a wise choice.

• the first-person point of view expresses a personal view and a personal perspective.

Multiple Choice

Reality TV shows will have an adverse effect on traditional dramas and comedies. As Reality TV increases in popularity, network executives will begin canceling more traditional programs and replacing them with the latest in Reality TV

• as Reality TV gets more popular, more traditional television shows may be threatened.

• more and more people love to watch and participate in Reality TV.

• network executives make hasty and unwise decisions.

Multiple Choice

Passing fears are common in early childhood. Many 2- to 4-year-olds are afraid of animals, especially dogs. By 6 years, children are more likely to be afraid of the dark. Other common fears are of thunderstorms, doctors, and imaginary creatures.

• By 6 years, children are more likely to be afraid of the dark.

• Other common fears are of thunderstorms, doctors, and imaginary creatures.

• Passing fears are common in early childhood.

Multiple Choice

Congratulations! You have been offered a job. The time has come to negotiate your salary. The question to ask yourself is: "How much am I worth?" Your answer will likely affect the outcome of your salary negotiation. The point is, in order to negotiate the best possible salary, you must convince both yourself and the employer of the value that you will bring to the job.

• being offered a job.

• asking yourself how much you are worth.

• negotiating the best possible salary.

Multiple Choice

There are gender differences in adolescents' satisfaction with their bodies. Compared with boys, girls are usually less happy with their bodies and have more negative body images. Also, as puberty proceeds, girls often become even more dissatisfied with their bodies. This is probably because their body fat increases. In contrast, boys become more satisfied as they move through puberty, probably because their muscle mass increases.

• In contrast, boys become more satisfied as they move through puberty, probably because their muscle mass increases.

• Compared with boys, girls are usually less happy with their bodies and have more negative body images.

• There are gender differences in adolescents' satisfaction with their bodies.

Multiple Choice

Don't wait for your company to send you to school. Determine your needs and ask about the company's training program. If they don't have one, sign up for classes at a local college. When it comes to your profession, you should be a lifelong learner. Put a high priority on learning new skills and on personal growth and professional development. Learn new software technology and improve interpersonal and writing skills.

• Determine your needs and ask about the company's training program.

• When it comes to your profession, you should be a lifelong learner.

• Learn new software technology and improve interpersonal and writing skills.

Multiple Choice

Robots are being used in sumo wrestling contests. Sumo wrestling is a sport that started in Japan. It takes place in a ring. Two players try to score points by holding each other down or pushing each other out of the ring. Robot sumo uses robots instead of humans. The robot that scores the most points wins.

• Sumo wrestling takes place in a ring.

• The robot that scores the most points wins.

• Robots are being used in sumo wrestling contests.