Main idea and summary
The main idea is the one point the whole passage supports. It is bigger than any single paragraph.
The rules
- Read the first and last paragraphs closely. The author usually states or restates the point there.
- After each paragraph, jot a few words on what it adds. The main idea connects all of them.
- Wrong answers are often true details from one paragraph, or ideas that go beyond the passage.
- Check each choice against every paragraph. The right one fits all of them.
Watch out: Choosing a detail that appears in the passage but covers only one part.
Worked example
A passage describes how three different towns reduced waste by composting. What is its main idea?
- The passage covers three towns, so the main idea must cover all of them.
- A single town's results would be too narrow.
- The general point about communities and composting fits all three.
Answer: Communities can reduce waste with composting programs.
Try it yourself
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