Stated Main Idea

Locating the Stated Main Idea Multiple-Choice Exercise (See related pages)

 Directions:

Read each paragraph. Mentally determine its topic. Then identiy its stated main idea sentence !y as"ing yoursel# $%hat is the one most important point the author &ants me to understand a!out the topic'$ The sentence that ans&ers that uestion is the  paragraphs stated main idea sentence.

1

Tsunamis# Tsunamis# large ocean &a*es caused !y under&ater earthua"es# can !e deadly de adly and destructi*e. +or example# in ,ecem!er /# an under&ater earthua"e triggered a massi*e tsunami throughout the Indian 0cean. The tsunami "illed more than #  people and caused !illions o dollars o damage to the coasts o numerous Southeast 1sian countries. The stated main idea sentence is tsunamis A)

B)

C)

Tsunamis# large ocean &a*es caused !y under&ater earthua"es# can !e deadly and destructi*e. The tsunami "illed more than # people and caused !illions o dollars o damage to the coasts o numerous Southeast 1sian countries.

2

E*en today# the 2.S. Supreme Court does not relect the 2.S. po pulation. It &as 3456  !eore the irst !lac" 7ustice &as appointed. It &as 3483 !eore the irst irst &oman &as appointed to the Court. It &as 3485 !eore the Court had its irst 7ustice o Italian descent. 9o person o :ispanic or 1sian descent has yet !een appointed app ointed as a mem!er o the Court. The stated main idea sentence is E*en today# the 2.S. Supreme Court does not relect the 2.S. population. A)

It &as 3456 !eore the irst !lac" 7ustice &as appointed. app ointed.

B)

C)

 9o person o :ispanic or 1sian descent has yet !een appointed as a mem!er o the Court.

3

In 1rica# music is usually perormed outdoors. There is spontaneous music ma"ing as &ell as perormances !y social and music groups at ceremonies and easts. There is no musical notation (&ritten music). 1rican music tradition# li"e ol"lore and history# is transmitted orally. Music is a social acti*ity in &hich almost e*eryone participates. Clearly# 1rican music has se*eral interesting characteristics. The stated main idea sentence is In 1rica# music is usually perormed outdoors. A)

There is no musical notation (&ritten music). B)

Clearly# 1rican music has se*eral interesting characteristics. C)

4

:igh achie*ement moti*ation aects peoples choice o occupation and 7o! success. (:igh achie*ement moti*ation reers to the psychological need or success in school# sports# occupations# or other competiti*e situations.) ;eople &ith high achie*ement moti*ation oten go into occupations that pro*ide re&ards or indi*idual achie*ement# such as sales# engineering# architecture# or la&. Moreo*er# people &ith high achie*ement moti*ation tend to go into occupations that realistically match their a!ilities. +or this reason# they ha*e little anxiety or ear o ailure. 1nd &hen success is achie*ed# they en7oy the ruit o their la!or more than the a*erage person. The stated main idea sentence is  High achievement motivation aects peoples choice o occupation and 7o! success.

A)

B)

Moreo*er# people &ith high achie*ement moti*ation tend to go into occupations that realistically match their a!ilities. +or this reason# they ha*e little anxiety or ear o ailure.

C)

5

,emocracy comes rom the
A)

The term democracy reers to a orm o go*ernment in &hich the people go*ern# either directly or through elected representati*es. the meaning o the term democracy

B)

C)

In other &ords# it is a set o rules or determining &ho &ill exercise the authority o go*ernment.

6

Some !elie*e that 1mericans ha*e !ecome merely consumers o material goods &ho no longer care a!out helping others. This image is alse# ho&e*er. 1n estimated 4 million 1mericans *olunteer# and the monetary *alue o their *olunteer time is estimated at =  !illion a year. Many o these *olunteers ser*e on committees# !a!y-sit# sing in church choirs# coach# and lead scout troops. More than 3.> million o these *olunteers pro*ide ire protection and am!ulance ser*ice &ithout pay. The stated main idea sentence is

A)

Some !elie*e that 1mericans ha*e !ecome merely consumers o material goods &ho no longer care a!out helping others. This image is alse# ho&e*er.

B)

C)

1n estimated 4 million 1mericans *olunteer# and the monetary *alue o their *olunteer time is estimated at = !illion a year.

7

Is it an ant# you &onder# or a termite' 1nts resem!le termites# !ut they are uite dierent and can !e easily distinguished. In contrast to termites# ants are usually dar" in color# are hard !odied# and ha*e constriction !et&een the thorax and a!domen. 1lso# ants and termites !elong to dierent orders. The stated main idea sentence is Is it an ant# you &onder# or a termite' A)

1nts resem!le termites# !ut they are uite dierent and can !e easily distinguished. B)

1lso# ants and termites !elong to dierent orders. C)

8

1dolescents tend to choose riends &ho are li"e them# and riends inluence each other to !ecome e*en more ali"e. +riends are usually the same race and ha*e similar status &ithin the peer group. Male adolescents tend to ha*e many riends# !ut the riendships are rarely close ones. 1mong teenage girls# riendships are e&er !ut much closer# and they pro*ide a great deal o emotional support. The stated main idea sentence is

A)

1dolescents tend to choose riends &ho are li"e them# and riends inluence each other to !ecome e*en more ali"e. +riends are usually the same race# and ha*e similar status &ithin the peer group.

B)

C)

Male adolescents tend to ha*e many riends# !ut the riendships are rarely close ones.

9

1n indi*idual &ith the eating disorder !ulimia irst eats secretly# consuming an enormous amount o ood in one sitting. The large uantity o ood is clearly !eyond simple hunger. Then# ater the eating !inge comes the purge. In this phase# the person *omits or uses laxati*es to ma"e sure the ood does not stay in the !ody and produce &eight gain. %ith !ulimia# there is al&ays a distinct $!inge and purge$ pattern. The stated main idea sentence is

A)

1n indi*idual &ith the eating disorder !ulimia irst eats secretly# consuming an enormous amount ood in one sitting. Then# ater the eating !inge comes the purge.

B)

%ith !ulimia# there is al&ays a distinct $!inge and purge$ pattern. C)

1 0

%hen you listen to a speech# can it help you to ocus on the spea"ers strengths and &ea"nesses' ?y closely o!ser*ing and listening to people &hen they gi*e speeches# you can learn a great deal that &ill ma"e you a more successul spea"er. I the spea"er is not eecti*e# try to determine &hy. I he or she is eecti*e# try to pic" out techniues you can use in your o&n speeches. I the spea"er is ineecti*e# a*oid the errors the person made. The stated main idea sentence is

A)

B)

%hen you listen to a speech# can it help you to ocus on the spea"ers strengths and &ea"nesses' ?y closely o!ser*ing and listening to people &hen they gi*e speeches# you can learn a great deal that &ill ma"e you a more successul spea"er. I the spea"er is ineecti*e# a*oid the errors the person made.

C)