D.

Identifying the Topic of a Paragraph

One strategy to unlock the meaning of a given paragraph is first to determine its
subject matter or topic. It is the initial stage to locate the main point of a paragraph. To do
this, put aside the details in order to focus on one major idea. Ask yourself these questions:
What is the author trying to discuss throughout the paragraph? Who or what is it
about?
Here are helpful clues to determine the topic of a text.
1. Look for the heading or title of the text.
Electronic Spreadsheet
Electronic spreadsheet software creates documents containing numbers
organized into columns and rows for processing and analysis. Financial data, such as
budgets or monthly income statements, are often organized this way. An electronic
spreadsheet could also be used as grade book by a teacher. Because the spreadsheet
software formats data and performs arithmetic operations or complicated formulas, it is
a valuable timesaving tool.
Topic: Electronic Spreadsheet
2. Look for words in special print.
The most common form of arthritis (joint inflammation) is osteoarthritis. It is
likely that as we age, all of us will develop osteoarthritis to some degree. Often called
“wear and tear” arthritis, osteoarthritis occurs primarily in the weight-bearing joints of
the knee, hip, and spine.
Topic: Osteoarthritis
3. Look for repeated words or phrases.
Of all human creations, language maybe the most remarkable. Through
language we share experiences, formulate values, exchange ideas, transmit
knowledge, and sustain culture. Indeed, language is vital to thinking itself. Contrary to
the popular belief, language does not simply mirror reality, but helps create our sense
of reality by giving meaning to events.
Topic: Language (repeated four times)
4. Look for name, word, phrase mentioned at the start of the paragraph and
referred to by pronouns or other words throughout the text.
Highly creative people are self-starters: their projects and ideas are self-
generated or self-discovered. They are highly motivated by the love of what they do,
a desire to solve problems of its own sake rather than for external rewards. These
people are often painstaking workers, with strong sense of purpose and direction; and
they can juggle several ideas or projects at a time. Such individuals have the courage
to defy the crowd and the emotional stamina to persist—sometimes for years—despite
frustration, rejection, and repeated failure.
Topic: Highly creative people (referred to by words their, they, these people, such
individuals)
Exercise
Encircle the letter of your choice that represents the topic of the paragraph.
1. Some plants require more light than others as a result of the colors of their leaves.
Plants with shades of white, yellow, or pink in their leaves need more light than
plants with completely green foliage. For example, a Swedish ivy plant with
completely green leaves requires less light per day than a variegated Swedish ivy that
contains shades of white, yellow, green in its leaves.
a. how plants grow c. light
b. plants and light d. green foliage

2. Mental illness is usually diagnosed from abnormal behavior. A woman is asked of

the time of the day, and she begins to rub her arms and recite a prayer. A man is
convinced that someone is “out to arrest him” that he refuses to leave his room.
Unusual behaviors like these are taken as evidence that the mental apparatus is not
working quite well, and mental illness is the resulting diagnosis.
a. psychology c. mental health
b. evidence d. mental illness

3. Discrimination doesn’t go away: it just aims at whatever group appears to be out of

fashion at any given moment. One expert feels that age is the major factor in
employment discrimination today, although studies have shown older workers may
be more reliable than young workers and just as productive. The Age Discrimination
in Employment Act gives protection to the worker between forty and sixty-five. If
you’re in this age range, your employer must prove that you have performed
unsatisfactory before he can legally fire you. This act also prohibits age
discrimination in hiring, wages, and benefits.
a. older worker c. age discrimination
b. employment d. protection of workers

4. A rite of passage, according to psychologists, is an event that prompts movement

from
one stage of life to another. Weddings and graduations are two examples of new
beginnings that are considered significant rites of passage. For the bride and groom,
a wedding signifies a covenant of fidelity and the couple’s public declaration of love.
Making the promise for life before loved ones is the first step to their new life
together. Graduations also signify a rite of passage. Tests will not be scheduled, and
paperwork will no longer be graded on a curve. Whether it is a high school or college
graduation, students acknowledge they are beginning a new path on their journey.
a. psychologist’s view of life c. new beginnings in life
b. events in one’s life d. the importance of weddings

5. Have you ever wondered what keeps a hot air balloon flying? The same principle that
 keeps food frozen in the open chest freezers at the grocery store allows hot air
balloons to fly. It's a very basic principle: Hot air rises and cold air falls. So while the
super-cooled air in the grocery store freezer settles down around the food, the hot air
in a hot air balloon pushes up, keeping the balloon floating above the ground. In
order to understand more about how this principle works in hot air balloons, it helps
to know more about hot air balloons themselves. A hot air balloon has three major
parts: the basket, the burner, and the envelope. The basket is where passengers ride.
The basket is usually made of wicker. This ensures that it will be comfortable and
add little extra weight. The burner is positioned above the passenger's heads and
produces a huge flame to heat the air inside the envelope. The envelope is the colorful
fabric balloon that holds the hot air. When the air inside the envelope is heated, the
balloon rises.
Adapted from https://www.englishforeveryone.org/PDFs/Level_7_Passage_3.pdf

a. parts of hot air balloon c. basic principle of hot air balloon

b. rising of hot air balloon d. cooling of hot air balloon

D. Locating the Stated Main Idea of a Passage

Identify the stated main idea by asking yourself, "What is the one most important
point the author wants me to understand about the topic?" The sentence that answers that
question is the paragraph's stated main idea sentence.
Tips for Finding the Main Idea
1. Identify the topic.
2. Locate the most general sentence (topic sentence). This sentence must be broad
enough to include all of the other ideas in the paragraph. It can be found at the
start, middle, end or both start and end.
3. Study the rest of the paragraph. The main idea ties all the other details together.
Example:
Whenever possible, good listeners prepare in advance for the speech or lecture they
plan to attend. They study the topic to be discussed and find out about the speaker and
his or her beliefs. When they arrive at the place where the speech is to be given, they
choose a seat where it is easy to see, hear, and remain alert. And when the speech is
over, they review what was said and evaluate the ideas that were expressed. Thus,
effective listeners follow specific steps in order to achieve accurate understanding.
The main idea is in the last paragraph. The writer lists all the steps that good
listeners follow before stating the main point.
Exercises
I. Encircle the letter of the stated main idea in each paragraph.

1. Tsunamis, large ocean waves caused by underwater earthquakes, can be deadly

and destructive. For example, in December 2004, an underwater earthquake
triggered a massive tsunami throughout the Indian Ocean. The tsunami killed
 more than 200,000 people and caused billions of dollars of damage to the coasts
of numerous Southeast Asian countries.

The stated main idea sentence is

A) tsunamis
B) Tsunamis, large ocean waves caused by underwater earthquakes, can be
deadly and destructive.
C) The tsunami killed more than 200,000 people and caused billions of
dollars of damage to the coasts of numerous Southeast Asian countries.
2. Even today, the U.S. Supreme Court does not reflect the U.S. population. It was
1967 before the first black justice was appointed. It was 1981 before the first
woman was appointed to the Court. It was 1986 before the Court had its first
justice of Italian descent. No person of Hispanic or Asian descent has yet been
appointed as a member of the Court.

The stated main idea sentence is

A) Even today, the U.S. Supreme Court does not reflect the U.S. population.
B) It was 1967 before the first black justice was appointed.
C) No person of Hispanic or Asian descent has yet been appointed as a
member of the Court.

3. In Africa, music is usually performed outdoors. There is spontaneous music

making as well as performances by social and music groups at ceremonies and
feasts. There is no musical notation (written music). African music tradition, like
folklore and history, is transmitted orally. Music is a social activity in which
almost everyone participates. Clearly, African music has several interesting
characteristics.

The stated main idea sentence is

A) In Africa, music is usually performed outdoors.
B) There is no musical notation (written music).
C) Clearly, African music has several interesting characteristics.

4. High achievement motivation affects people's choice of occupation and job

success. (High achievement motivation refers to the psychological need for success
in school, sports, occupations, or other competitive situations.) People with high
achievement motivation often go into occupations that provide rewards for
individual achievement, such as sales, engineering, architecture, or law. Moreover,
people with high achievement motivation tend to go into occupations that
realistically match their abilities. For this reason, they have little anxiety or fear of
failure. And when success is achieved, they enjoy the fruit of their labor more than
the average person.

The stated main idea sentence is

A) High achievement motivation affects people's choice of occupation and
job success.
 B) Moreover, people with high achievement motivation tend to go into
occupations that realistically match their abilities.
C) For this reason, they have little anxiety or fear of failure.

5. Some believe that Americans have become merely consumers of material goods
who no longer care about helping others. This image is false, however. An
estimated 90 million Americans volunteer, and the monetary value of their
volunteer time is estimated at $200 billion a year. Many of these volunteers serve
on committees, baby-sit, sing in church choirs, coach, and lead scout troops.
More than 1.5 million of these volunteers provide fire protection and ambulance
service without pay.

The stated main idea sentence is

A) Some believe that Americans have become merely consumers of
material goods who no longer care about helping others.
B) This image is false, however.
C) An estimated 90 million Americans volunteer, and the monetary value of
their volunteer time is estimated at $200 billion a year.

II. Encircle the letter of the topic and the main idea of each of these
paragraphs.
6. Democracy comes from the Greek word demos, which means "the people," and
kratia, meaning "to rule." The term democracy refers to a form of government in
which the people govern, either directly or through elected representatives. In
other words, it is a set of rules for determining who will exercise the authority of
government.
Topic:
a. Government b. Democracy c. Poeple
Main Idea:
A) The term democracy refers to a form of government in which the people govern,
either directly or through elected representatives.
B) The meaning of the term democracy
C) In other words, it is a set of rules for determining who will exercise the
authority of government.

7. Is it an ant, you wonder, or a termite? Ants resemble termites, but they are quite
different and can be easily distinguished. In contrast to termites, ants are usually
dark in color, are hard bodied, and have constriction between the thorax and
abdomen. Also, ants and termites belong to different orders.
Topic:
a. Insects b. Termites c. Ants and Termites
Main Idea:
 A) Is it an ant, you wonder, or a termite?
B) Ants resemble termites, but they are quite different and can be easily
distinguished.
C) Also, ants and termites belong to different orders.
8. Adolescents tend to choose friends who are like them, and friends influence each
other to become even more alike. Friends are usually the same race and have
similar status within the peer group. Male adolescents tend to have many friends,
but the friendships are rarely close ones. Among teenage girls, friendships are
fewer but much closer, and they provide a great deal of emotional support.
Topic:
a. Adolescents b. Friends/Friendships c. Emotional support
Main Idea:
A) Adolescents tend to choose friends who are like them, and friends influence
each other to become even more alike.
B) Friends are usually the same race, and have similar status within the peer
group.
C) Male adolescents tend to have many friends, but the friendships are rarely
close ones.

9. An individual with the eating disorder bulimia first eats secretly, consuming an
enormous amount of food in one sitting. The large quantity of food is clearly
beyond simple hunger. Then, after the eating binge comes the purge. In this
phase, the person vomits or uses laxatives to make sure the food does not stay in
the body and produce weight gain. With bulimia, there is always a distinct "binge
and purge" pattern.
Topic:
a. Food b. Binge and Purge c. Bulimia
Main Idea:
A) An individual with the eating disorder bulimia first eats secretly, consuming an
enormous amount food in one sitting.
B) Then, after the eating binge comes the purge.
C) With bulimia, there is always a distinct "binge and purge" pattern.

10. When you listen to a speech, can it help you to focus on the speaker's
strengths and weaknesses? By closely observing and listening to people when they
give speeches, you can learn a great deal that will make you a more successful
speaker. If the speaker is not effective, try to determine why. If he or she is
 effective, try to pick out techniques you can use in your own speeches. If the
speaker is ineffective, avoid the errors the person made.
Topic:
a. Speaker’s strength and weaknesses
b. Speech
c. Effective and ineffective speaker
Main Idea:
A) When you listen to a speech, can it help you to focus on the speaker's
strengths and weaknesses?
B) By closely observing and listening to people when they give speeches, you can
learn a great deal that will make you a more successful speaker.
C) If the speaker is ineffective, avoid the errors the person made.

F. Determining the Implied Main Idea in a Paragraph

To imply means to suggest. To test whether you got the main idea, ask this question:
Does all or most of the material in the paragraph support this idea?
An implied main idea is a main idea that is not stated directly but is strongly
suggested by the supporting details. It can be through other words in the paragraph.
Here are the hints leading you to discover the implied main idea:
1. The implied main idea must be general enough to cover all the details, but it
cannot be so broad that it becomes an overgeneralization or a sweeping statement
that suggests details not given.
2. Implied main idea must be neither too broad nor too narrow.
3. To find the implied main idea, you should create a summary from the supporting
details into one sentence.
Steps in Determining the Implied Main Idea
1. Find the topic. Ask: Who/What does the passage discuss?
2. What are the major supporting details?
3. What is the author’s main point about the topic? (This means to infer, or figure
out on your own, the author’s unstated main idea.)
When - Does the information contain reference to time?
Where- Does the text name a place?
Why - Do you find a reason or an explanation for something that happened?
How - Does this information indicate a method or a theory?
Example:
1. Fear drains color from our faces, makes our teeth chatter, our hearts pound, our
breath quicken, and our knees knock. Fear churns our stomachs, raises goose
 bumps, and causes jitters. Fear also raises feeling of anxiety and distrust, and may
even cause us to change our behaviors. Obsessive fear can become phobia that keeps
us from enjoying life.
First: Who/What? FEAR
Second: Supporting Details (What fear can give us)
Third: Infer or Conclude Second:
a. Phobias keep us from enjoying life.
b. Fear affects us in several ways.
c. Fear is the result of distrust and anxiety.
d. Fear affects many people.

Exercise:
Directions: Read each paragraph. Then encircle the answer choice that expresses its
implied main idea.
1. 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.
A) Democratic leaders are more effective than autocratic leaders.
B) There are three leadership styles.
C) Autocratic leaders are strict, laissez-faire leaders are hands-off leaders, and
democratic leaders encourage group participation in decision-making.
D) Employees prefer to work with democratic leaders.

2. 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.
A) 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.
B) Teenagers do not know anything about money matters.
C) A recent survey revealed some shocking results about how little understanding teens
have about money matters.
D) 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.
3. 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.
A) There are many types of literature.
B) Novels, short stories, drama, fairy tales and fables are types of fiction.
C) Fiction is a type of narrative writing that comes from the imagination of the
author rather than from history or fact.
D) Novels and short stories are types of fiction.

4. How far is it to the Sun? It's so far that it's hard to comprehend. In actual distance, it's
approximately 93 million miles. The distance changes slightly as the Earth travels around
the Sun. Suppose it were possible to take a jetliner there. Traveling at a little over 550 mph,
it would take nearly 20 years to get there. Even if you could travel at 25,000 mph, it would
take five months to reach the Sun.
A) How far is it to the sun?
B) It's so far to the Sun that it's hard to comprehend.
C) In actual distance, it's approximately 93 million miles to the Sun.
D) It takes a long time to get to the Sun, no matter how you travel.

5. When register for a math class, try to select a teacher who can explain concepts clearly.
Also, find a math teacher who is willing to answer students’ questions in class. Not all are
willing to do so. Try to choose math teacher who is willing to help students after class,
preferably one who keeps his or her office hours and one who does not frown at the sight of
a student at the office door. When choosing a math instructor, try to find one who gives fair
tests and who provides useful handouts that complement class notes.
A) There are several important things to consider when you choose a math
teacher.
B) A math teacher will always help.
C) Handouts can replace a math teacher.
D) Math teachers may not be fair sometimes.

G. Identifying the Supporting Details in a Paragraph

The supporting details are the things that describe the main idea. They make the
Main idea stronger. Supporting details provide information that tells us more about the
author’s main idea.
Use a three-step process to identify supporting details.
Step 1: Identify the topic. To identify the topic of a reading, ask yourself, "What is this
about?" The answer provides the topic of the reading. It does not need to be a complete
sentence, and it is usually no longer than two or three words.
Step 2: Identify what the author is saying about the topic. To identify what the author
is saying about the topic, ask yourself, "What does the author want me to know about the
topic?" Again, this does not need to be a sentence and is generally five to seven words long.
Step 3: Identify details that support or explain the main idea. To find the main idea,
first take your answer from Step 1, add it to your answer from Step 2, and then find a
phrase or sentence in the first part of the reading that most closely matches your answers.
This will be the main idea of the reading. To identify major supporting details that support
that main idea, ask yourself, "What else in the reading helps me to understand the author’s
main idea?" To identify minor supporting details, ask of each major detail, "What else in the
paragraph helps me to understand this major supporting detail?" Be aware that not all major
details require further explanation, so they will not all have minor details supporting them.
-BY GIVING EXAMPLES, BY GIVING EXPLANATIONS, BY COMPARISON AND CONTRAST,
BY GIVING CAUSE AND EFFECT, BY GIVING DESCRIPTIONS
Examples:
Each main point is followed by three statements that provide relevant, on-target support,
and one that do not. In the spaces, write the letters of the relevant statements of support.
1. Main point: I’m a perfect example of someone who has “math anxiety.”
a. I feel dread every time I sit down to take our Friday math quiz.
b. I tremble when I am called to recite by my math teacher.
c. During my last math test, I “froze” and didn’t even try to answer most of the
questions.
d. I also have a great deal of anxiety when I sit down to write a paper.
Letter d does not support the main point.
2. Drinking coffee can be bad for people.
a. Coffee in the evening can interfere with sleep at night.
b. Some people don’t like the taste of decaffeinated coffees.
c. Coffee can develop nervousness to some people.
d. Too much coffee can cause the hands to shake.

Exercises
A. Pick out the letter that does not support the topic sentence.
1. My sister and I planned a surprise anniversary party for our parents at home.
a. welcomed guests
b. selected date and time
c. made out guest list
d. decorated the house and brought in food
e. reviewed our lessons for exam
2. I finally got the job I wanted!
a. started fixing my school materials
b. filled out many applications
c. decided on the job I wanted to look for
d. was unhappy on old job
e. was called in for a few interviews
3. This time I organize things before I moved.
a. unpacked my things
 b. slept long when everything was done
c. traveled to many places when I was small
d. carried out bigger pieces of furniture first
e. finished last-minute packing
4. Becoming an architect takes a long time.
a. serve an apprenticeship with an architectural firm
b. buy a new electronic gadget
c. decide to get the needed education
d. pass the required pre-architecture courses
e. earn a degree in architecture
5. This is what happens in election day.
a. The polls close at 7p.m.
b. The winner is declared.
c. Citizens go to voting precincts.
d. The buses are banned from the city.
e. The polls open at 7a.m.