Identify Main Ideas

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.

The topic of this paragraph is

• fear.

• passing fears.

• two-to-four year olds fear of animals.

• common fears

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.

The stated main idea of this paragraph is

• 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.

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.

The topic of this paragraph is

• congratulations

• being offered a job.

• asking yourself how much you are worth.

• negotiating the best possible salary.

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.

The stated main idea of this paragraph is

• 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?"

• 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.

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.

The topic of this paragraph is

• waiting for your company to send you to school.

• the company's training program.

• being a lifelong learner.

• new software technology.

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.

The stated main idea of this paragraph is

• Don't wait for your company to send you to school.

• 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.

 Topic: leadership styles

Autocratic leaders are hands-on leaders who keep strict control over group members and their activities. They ask few questions, make the decisions, give orders, and are likely to use coercion to make others carry out their assignments. Laissez-faire leaders are hands-off leaders who leave most of the decisions to the group and tend not to get involved. Democratic leaders encourage group participation in decision-making and problem solving. Their style falls between the other two extreme.

What is the implied main idea?

• Democratic leaders are more effective than autocratic leaders.

• There are three leadership styles.

• Autocratic leaders are strict, laissez-faire leaders are hands-off leaders, and democratic leaders encourage group participation in decision-making.

• Employees prefer to work with democratic leaders.

 Topic: Americans waiting to marry

Are Americans today waiting longer to get married? According to 2003 Census Bureau figures, the answer is yes. The Associated Press reports that one-third of men are still single when they reach age 34 and that nearly one-quarter of women are still single at that age. Compared with data for 1970, these figures are four times higher. In 1970, the percent of never-married men aged 30-34 was 9 percent; the rate has risen to 33 percent. The percent of never-married women increased from 6 percent to 23 percent. The typical marriage age for men in 2003 was 27.1 years, up from 25.3 in 1970. The typical age for women rose from 20.8 to 23.2.

What is the implied main idea?

• Are Americans today waiting longer to get married?

• Men marry at a later age than women do.

• Americans today are waiting longer to get married.

• More men than women are still single at age 34.

Topic: results of a survey about teens and money

A recent survey revealed some shocking results. One in five teens does not know that if you take out a loan, you must pay interest in addition to repaying the loan. One teen in four has the mistaken notion that financial aid will take care of all their college expenses. And one teen in three thinks that Social Security payments will provide all the money they need when they retire.

What is the implied main idea?

• A recent survey revealed some shocking results: one in five teens does not know that if you take out a loan, you must pay interest in addition to repaying the loan.

• Teenagers do not know anything about money matters.

• A recent survey revealed some shocking results about how little understanding teens have about money matters.

• One teen in four has the mistaken notion that financial aid will take care of all their college expenses. And one teen in three thinks that Social Security payments will provide all the money they need when they retire.

Topic: fiction

Novels and short stories are types of fiction. Drama is another example. Fairy tales and fables are also fiction. It is a type of narrative writing that comes from the imagination of the author rather than from history or fact.

What is the implied main idea?

• There are many types of literature.

• Novels, short stories, drama, fairy tales and fables are types of fiction.

• Fiction is a type of narrative writing that comes from the imagination of the author rather than from history or fact.

• Novels and short stories are types of fiction.