Main Ideas

The umbrella statement that covers all of the material in a paragraph is called the

• topic

• main idea

• supporting details

Supporting details are always more _________ than the main idea.

• general

• specific

To locate the main idea of a selection, you may find it helpful to first decide on its

• topic

• structure

• length

While a main idea may appear anywhere within a paragraph, in textbooks it very commonly appears

• at the beginning

• in the middle

• at the end

In which sentence does the main idea appear?

(1)The stages of life, from birth to death, may seem controlled by biology. (2)However, the way we thing about life's stages is shaped by society. (3)During the Middle Ages, for example, children dressed - and were expected to act - just like little adults.

• Sentence 2

• Sentence 1

• Sentence 3

In which sentence does the main idea appear?

(1) By the end of the first series of Sherlock Holmes stories, the author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, had become tired of writing detective stories. (2) So, at the end of his second book of Holme's stories, he decided to have the detective die. (3) Hundreds of letters poured in begging him to bring Holmes back. (4) Finally, after nine years, he wrote a new story where Holmes reappears and tells Dr Watson he did not die. (5) Sometimes it is the reader, not the author, who determines how long fictional heroes will live.

• Sentence 1

• Sentence 5

• Sentence 3

• Sentence 2

• Sentence 4

In which sentence does the main idea appear?

(1) An author doing research for a book asked thousands of Americans what made them happy. (2) The most frequently cited response was simply spending time with family. (3) Almost no one gave the answer of owning flashy jewelry showy cars, or other fancy things. (4) The author concluded that most of the things that put a smile on our face are simple and free or inexpensive.

• Sentence 2

• Sentence 1

• Sentence 4

• Sentence 3

Which sentence states the general point

• Elected officials could spend more time on their jobs and less on raising money.

• There should be a limit on how much can be spent for political campaigns.

• Candidates with less money, would have a fairer chance of competing.

• Elected officials would be less likely to be influenced by rich contributors to their campaign.

In which sentence does the main idea appear?

(1) Let's face it: in the 21st century, cell phones are everywhere. (2) More than 200 million Americans, including about half of those aged thirteen to sixteen, carry a cell phone. (3) In the United States, cell phones now far outnumber wired phones.

• Sentence 2

• Sentence 1

• Sentence 3

In which sentence does the main idea appear?

(1) Tailgating - following too closely behind another vehicle - is a common cause of accidents. (2) Yet tailgating accidents could be avoided if driver's followed some clear-cut guidelines. (3) Two-car accidents often become chain-reaction pileups when a number of drivers are all tailgating in a line.

• Sentence 2

• Sentence 1

• Sentence 3