Identifying the Main Idea

It is often said that lightning never strikes twice in the same place, but this isn’t true. Go ask the forest rangers. Rangers who spend their summers as fire-fighters will tell you that every thundershower brings several bolts of lightning to their lookout stations.

• Go ask the forest rangers.

• It is often said that lightning never strikes twice in the same place, but this isn’t true.

• Rangers who spend their summers as fire-fighters will tell you that every thundershower brings several bolts of lightning to their lookout stations.

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CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

Costs were low that year and the output high. There was a good person for each job and the market remained firm. There were no losses from fire. All in all, it was the best year in the history of the company.

• Costs were low that year and the output high.

• All in all, it was the best year in the history of the company.

• There was a good person for each job and the market remained firm. There were no losses from fire.

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CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

There are great numbers of deer around here. This whole area is a great country for hunters and fishermen. There are bears, mountain lions, and coyotes. To the east, there are streams full of trout, and there are ducks and geese.

• There are great numbers of deer around here.

• To the east, there are streams full of trout, and there are ducks and geese.

• This whole area is a great country for hunters and fishermen.

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CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

Advertising affects our lives every day. Brand names are common household words. We start each day using the toothpaste, soap, and breakfast foods promoted by advertisers. Ads have made the cars we drive signs of our success. Our choices of food, dress, and entertainment are swayed by ads. Not one aspect of American life is untouched by advertising.

• Advertising affects our lives every day.

• Brand names are common household words.

• We start each day using the toothpaste, soap, and breakfast foods promoted by advertisers.

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CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

Penicillin is one of the greatest of the wonder drugs. It has saved thousands of lives already and will save many more in the future. Unfortunately, it has no effect at all on most of the ills of mankind. Penicillin is a very good drug, but it is certainly not a cure-all.

• Penicillin is one of the greatest of the wonder drugs.

• It has saved thousands of lives already and will save many more in the future.

• Unfortunately, it has no effect at all on most of the ills of mankind.

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CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

The fact that electronic computers are now used for data processing has led the general public to believe that it is a mysterious, complicated science and that computers are giant brains. Both of these ideas are false. A computer is basically just a high-speed adding machine that performs the functions it is told to. If the input data are varied even a little, the computer is unable to operate until it is programmed to accept the variations. The business operations it performs are impressive only because of the extremely high speed of manipulation, but most of these operations have been used for decades. Unlike man, the computer performs repetitive calculations without getting tired or bored.

• A computer is a high-speed adding machine.

• A computer is a mysterious giant brain.

• A computer is impressive because of its high speed

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CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

The Louisiana Purchase proved to be one of the shrewdest business pacts in the entire history of the United States. The purchase doubled in the area of the country and provided territory from which fourteen new states were created either wholly or in part. It also gave us control over the mouth of the Mississippi River and opened up the way to foreign trade. Prior to the purchase, the waterway had been blocked by the Spanish, probably with the approval of Napoleon. The land that was bought was rich in timber, minerals, and natural resources of many kinds. Finally, the cost of the transaction was unbelievably low; the total of $15 million amounted to about four cents an acre.

• Most Americans were very pleased with the purchase.

• The land bought by the Louisiana Purchase was very cheap.

• The Louisiana Purchase was a very good business deal for the U.S.

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CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

There is a common belief that while the dog is man’s best friend, the coyote is his worst enemy. The bad reputation of the coyote traces back to his fondness for small animals; he hunts at night and is particularly destructive to sheep, young pigs, and poultry. Yet it is sometimes wise to encourage coyotes. Provided valuable farm animals are protected, the coyote will often free the property of other animals, like rabbits, which are ruinous to crops and certain trees. He is especially beneficial in keeping down the rodent population. Where coyotes have been allowed to do their work without molestation, ranchers and fruit growers have found them so valuable that they would no more shoot them than they would shoot their dogs.

• Under certain conditions, the coyote is helpful to man.

• The coyote is feared because of his fondness for small animals.

• Modern ranchers would no sooner shoot coyotes than they would shoot dogs.

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CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

The attitudes of Americans toward gambling are amazingly contradictory. You may find, for example, that horse racing is legal in your state, but that you cannot legally play poker for money on your front porch; bookies may be prosecuted by state law, but they are supposed to purchase a federal license nonetheless; one church condemns gambling, while another raises money by sponsoring Bingo games. Gambling laws are inconsistent from state to state or even from town to town and are very difficult to enforce.

• Americans have negative attitudes toward gambling.

• Gambling laws are difficult to enforce.

• Gambling laws are inconsistent from community to community.

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CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

In earlier days those who had overseas business which they believed should be discussed personally, took ship and set out across the briny deep. Once aboard they transacted their affairs, engaging in commercial and social matters or conducting government business. Today ships and passengers continue to sail the seven seas, and airplanes soar overhead. But above them all, words speed through the sky – telephone conversations quickly bring together in the most personal fashion people who are separated by thousands of miles.

• Even with modern overseas telephone service, people continue to travel abroad by ship or by plane.

• Many conversations which once required overseas travel can now be conducted by telephone.

• Nothing can take the place of person-to-person conversation in settling business, social, and government problems.

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CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.6.2