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ENGLISH
GIVING THE MAIN IDEA (EXPLICIT)

A DepEd-BEAM Distance Learning Program supported by the Australian Agency for International Development
 To the Learner

Dear Learner,

How are you today?

This is your first module in English for the second grading.
Like in the previous modules, you will also learn exciting lessons
here with activities that are especially made for you.
In this module, you will learn how to identify and give the explicit
main idea of a selection.
Have fun and good luck!

Let’s Learn This

This module will help you identify the main idea of a reading
selection that is explicitly stated. The explicit main idea identifies the
topic and states the overall meaning of the paragraph.

Let’s Try This

Read each paragraph and identify its main idea.

1. Deadlines are a fact of a writer’s life. Most of his writing projects

will occur under the pressure of time. A writer must have the
ability to think fast to catch the deadline. News writers, for
instance, have to cover the happenings in the country for people
to know the soonest possible time.

a. Deadlines are a fact of a writer’s life.

b. Most of his writing projects will occur under the pressure of
time.
c. A writer must have the ability to think fast to catch the
deadline.

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2. Pamela started working at a very young age when she left her
hometown. She saved money to buy materials for beaded
necklaces and bracelets. She put up a small business on
accessories in her town. Now, she owns twenty branches of
Pamela’s Accessories in key cities of the country. She worked hard
to make her dreams come true.

a. Pamela wore beaded accessories.

b. Pamela saved money.
c. Pamela worked hard to make her dreams come true.

3. Floods can cause tremendous damage. They can ruin houses,

roads and buildings. Floods can take down trees and cause
landslides. They often leave mud, sand and debris behind. It can
take months to clean up after a devastating flood.

a. Floods leave mud, sand and debris.

b. Floods can cause tremendous damage.
c. Floods can take down trees and cause landslides.

4. Animals protect themselves by blending in with their surrounding.

The chameleon protects itself by blending the color of its skin
with its surrounding. The stripes of the tiger help it hide in the
jungle. Some fish blend in with the sand and mud in the water.
Certain birds shed brown feathers and grow white ones to hide in
the winter’s snow.

a. All animals hide from enemies.

b. Fish blends in with mud and sand in the water.
c. Animals protect themselves by blending in with their
surrounding.

5. Whales talk with others by making different sounds. They make

clicks, whistles, squeaks, thumps and even low moans. Because
sound waves travel well in water, the songs of whales can be
heard more than a hundred miles away. Whales are very sociable
animals.

a. Whales talk with others by making different sounds.

b. Whales make clicks, whistles, squeaks, thumps and even low
moans.
c. Whales are very sociable animals.

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 Finished?

Are your answers like these?

1) a 2) c 3)b 4)c 5)c

Don’t worry if you don’t get all the correct answers. There are
other activities for you to do in the succeeding pages.

Let’s Study This

Read this paragraph and take note of the details that are found in
each sentence.

The Filipino is a very respectful person. He shows

due respect to his parents, elders and to people in
authority. He never misses saying the word “po” every
time situations demand. This is a Filipino way of showing
respect which we are very proud of. He kisses the hands of
parents and grandparents as a unique way of showing
respect to elders. He calls his older brother “Kuya” or his
elder sister “Ate”.

- adapted from the Lesson Guides in Elem. English

by the Ateneo de Manila University

What is the main idea of the paragraph?

What are the supporting details?

Lets us use a diagram to illustrate the main idea and its

supporting details.

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 Main Idea: The Filipino is a very respectful person.

Supporting Details

He shows due respect He never misses to

to his parents, elders say the word “po”
and to people in every time situations
authority. demand it.

He kisses the He calls his

hands of his older brother
parents and “Kuya” or his
grandparents. older sister
“Ate”.

The main idea is the most important idea in a paragraph. It is like

a string that holds a necklace of beads together. It binds the sentences
in the paragraph so that they make sense. The details in the sentences
are related to one another and they usually refer to one particular
topic.

Furthermore, the main idea is the most important thought or

focus in the paragraph. It may be stated directly (explicit) or it may be
implied (implicit). If the main idea is stated directly (explicit), it can
neither be found at the beginning, middle or end of a paragraph.

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 Let’s Do This

Read each paragraph and write the explicit main idea on your
paper.

1. In the Philippines, Filipino doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers,

construction workers, and domestic helpers leave the country to
seek better paying jobs abroad. They sacrifice a lot, leaving
behind their loved ones so that their families can have better
lives. Truly the millions of overseas Filipinos workers are the
unsung heroes of our country.
- “Noting Details”, SOL Practice,
http://www.poquoson.org/VASOLS/details htm
(2001)
- The Phoenix World of Reading 6

2. The Philippines celebrates four national holidays. These are

Bonifacio Day, National Heroes’ Day, Rizal Day and Independence
Day. These are the holidays that Filipinos easily remember.

3. Blind Roselle Ambuyog graduated as class valedictorian. She tops

the graduating class of 1,006 students at the Ramon Magsaysay
High School in Manila. She also garners eight other awards and is
given recognition as the model student of the year. She,
therefore, delivers the valedictory speech.
- adapted from English Expressway, Evelyn B.
Angeles, et. al

4. Curiosity is a great enabler, and I believe, a natural inborn asset.

It can be enhanced and may become a constructive inner
resource. As such, it can be powerful motivator for self-
development in all areas. However, it can also be stunted and
destroyed.

5. Dancing is a form of exercise that is good for the heart, the

mind, and the spirit. Dancing makes a person healthy. The way
the body responds to the beat of the music, the holding of hands
with the partner is a collaboration of art. There is a good mutual
relationship between oneself and the people around you. You
become a better person.

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 Let’s Do More

Using the graphic organizer, illustrate the main idea and

supporting details of this paragraph.

The Filipino is very thoughtful, loving,

understanding helpful, fair, friendly and
charitable. He shares even the little that he
has with the needy and the poor. When
calamities like typhoons, floods, epidemics
and earthquakes occur, you can be sure that
the Filipino is always there with a helping hand
and a ready smile to cheer up those who
suffer. He is humane and concerned to his
fellowmen.

- adapted from Learning

Guides in English
by the Ateneo de Manila
Universirty

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 Are you done? Look at the answer key to check your answers.

How was it? Was your answer right?

If not, don’t worry for there are more activities in this module.

Let’s Remember This

A paragraph is a group of sentences that talk about one

important key idea. These sentences which are connected to
one another in some ways give small ideas that support the
key sentence.

The key sentence expresses the main idea of the

paragraph. It usually states, in one sentence, what the
paragraph is about. The sentence that contains the main idea
may be found at the beginning, middle or end of a
paragraph.

Let’s Test Ourselves

The following paragraphs are excerpts from the “Sangguniang

Kabataan Primer, “Expanding Our Horizons (Manila: De la Salle
University Press, Inc., 2001)

Read each paragraph and write the explicit main idea on your
paper.

1. There is a tendency in the Filipino to be superficial and even

somewhat flighty. In the face of serious problems, both personal
and social, there is a lack of analysis or reflection. We joke about
the most serious matters and this attitude prevents looking

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 deeply into the problem. There is no felt need to validate our
hypotheses or explanation of things.
2. Our innate religiosity enables us to comprehend and genuinely
accept reality in the context of God’s will and plan. Thus, tragedy
and bad fortune are accepted and a certain degree of optimism
characterizes even the poorest lives. Indeed, Filipinos have a
deep faith in God.
3. The desire to raise one’s standard of living and to possess the
essentials of a decent life for one’s family, combined with the
right opportunities and incentives, makes the Filipino work very
hard. Filipinos have the capacity for hard work given proper
conditions. This trait is manifested most noticeably in willingness
to take risks with jobs abroad and, while there, to work at two or
three jobs. The result is productivity and entrepreneurship for
some and survival despite poverty for others.
4. Filipinos regard others with dignity and respect and deal with
them as fellow human beings. Pakikipagkapwa-tao is manifested
in a basic sense of justice and fairness and in concern for others.
It is demonstrated in the Filipino’s ability to emphasize with
others, in helpfulness and generosity in times of need, in the
practice of bayanihan or mutual assistance, and in the famous
Filipino hospitality.
5. We have a pleasant disposition, a sense of humor and a
prosperity for happiness that contribute not only to the Filipino
charm but also to the indomitability of the Filipino spirit. We
have a cheerful and fun-loving approach to life and its ups and
downs. Laughing at ourselves and the mess we are in an
important coping mechanism. Often playful, sometimes
disrespectful, we laugh at those we love at those we hate and we
make jokes about our fortune, be it good or bad.

Finished?
Check your answers against the answer key.
What’s your score?
Congratulations!
If you got 4-5 right answers, you get a
If you got 3 and below, do the activity in Let’s Enrich Ourselves!

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 Let’s Enrich
Ourselves

Read each group of sentences. Write the main idea on your paper.

1. The ostrich is the largest bird in existence.

Ostriches may weigh from 200 to 300 pounds (90-135 kg).
Some ostriches are nearly 8 feet (2.4 meters) tall.

2. Although they cannot fly, ostriches can run quickly.

Their long legs and sturdy feet help them run.
Ostriches can run as fast as 40 miles (64 km) per hour.

3. An ostrich can usually outrun its enemies with ease.

The ostrich’s strong legs help to protect it from enemies.
When an ostrich can run no farther, it will kick an enemy with its
powerful legs.

4. Carribean flamingos have coral-red feathers.

In South America, flamingos are pinkish-white; in North America,
they are bright red with black-eyed wings.
A flamingo’s color ranges from bright red to pale pink.

5. Flamingos strain mud to get their food.

In their bills, flamingos scoop up mud from the bottoms of lakes.
They strain out small plants and animals and eat them.

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 Answer Key

Let’s Do This

1. Truly the millions of overseas Filipino workers are the unsung

heroes of our country.
2. The Philippines celebrates four national holidays.
3. Blind Roselle Ambubuyog graduated as class valedictorian.
4. Curiosity is a great enabler, and I believe, a natural inborn asset.
5. Dancing is a form of exercise that is good.

Let’s Do More

thoughtfu loving
l understanding

charitabl The Filipino is humane

e and concerned to his
felowmen.

friendly
helpful

Let’s Test Ourselves

1. There is a tendency in the Filipino to be superficial and even

somewhat flighty.
2. Filipinos have a deep faith in God.
3. Filipinos have the capacity for hard work given proper conditions.
4. Filipinos regard others with dignity and respect and deal with
them as fellow human beings.
5. We have a cheerful and fun-loving approach to life and its ups and
downs.

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Let’s Enrich Ourselves

1. The ostrich is the largest bird in existence.

2. Although they cannot fly, ostriches can run quickly.
3. The ostrich’s strong legs help to protect it from its enemies.
4. A flamingo’s color ranges from bright red to pale pink.
5. Flamingos strain mud get to their food.

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