Notesale: Turn your study into money

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MAIN IDEAS
• The main idea is the central, or most important, idea in a paragraph or passage
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• The main idea may be stated or it may be implied
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However, the main idea may be found in any sentence
of the paragraph
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• The main idea may be split
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• To find the main idea of any paragraph or passage, ask these questions:
1
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What aspect or idea about the ‘who’ or ‘what’ is the author concerned with?

Main Idea Practice Paragraphs 1-6

Read and think about the following sample paragraphs, in which the main idea
sentences are underlined
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Go ask the forest rangers
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(Notice that the first sentence tells what the paragraph is about; the sentences that follow support the
idea stated in the first sentence
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August
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There was a good person for each job
and the market remained firm
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All in all it was the best years
in the history of the company
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)
Paragraph Three
There are great numbers of deer around here
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There are bears, mountain lions, and coyotes
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(The author begins and ends with examples
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)
Paragraph Four
Advertising affects our lives everyday
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We
start each day using the toothpaste, soap, and breakfast foods promoted by advertisers
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Our choices of food, dress, and
entertainment are swayed by ads
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(The main idea is stated at the beginning of the paragraph and then restated at the end
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It has saved thousands of lives
already and will save many more in the future
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Penicillin is a very good drug, but it is certainly not a cure-all
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This paragraph begins with positive comments on penicillin
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)
Paragraph Six
Do you wear glasses? Make sure your glasses fit well
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Don’t try to adjust the earpieces yourself
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Keep your glasses in a case when you’re not wearing them
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Keep the lenses clean
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(The main idea is implied
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In
this paragraph the implied main idea is that taking care of your glasses involves many steps
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August
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Select the statement that
best expresses the main idea
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1
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In reality, they are
probably even higher than you think, because in addition to the federal income tax we are
now studying, there are many other Federal, State, and local taxes, including sales taxes,
inheritance taxes, state income taxes, personal property taxes, real estate taxes, and others
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a
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b
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c
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d
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2
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Both of these ideas are false
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If the input data are varied even a little,
the computer is unable to operate until it is programmed to accept the variations
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Unlike man, the
computer performs repetitive calculations without getting tired or bored
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A computer is a high-speed adding machine
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A computer is a mysterious giant brain
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A computer is impressive because of its high speed
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A computer is superior to man in many ways
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The Louisiana Purchase proved to be one of the shrewdest business pacts in the entire
history of the United States
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It also gave
us control over the mouth of the Mississippi River and opened up the way to foreign trade
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The land that was bought was rich in timber, minerals, and natural
resources of many kinds
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a
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S
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The land bought by the Louisiana Purchase was rich in minerals
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The land bought by the Louisiana Purchase was very cheap
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Most Americans were very pleased with the purchase
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August
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There is a common belief that while the dog is man’s best friend, the coyote is his worst
enemy
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Yet it is
sometimes wise to encourage coyotes
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He is especially beneficial in keeping down the rodent population
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a
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b
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Modern ranchers would no sooner shoot coyotes than they would shoot dogs
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The coyote usually prefers rabbits and other rodents to sheep and poultry
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In earlier days those who had overseas business which they believed should be
discussed personally, took ship and set out across the briny deep
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Today ships and passengers continue to sail the seven seas, and
airplanes soar overhead
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a
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b
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c
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d
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6
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You may
find, for example, that horse racing is legal in your state, but that you cannot legally play
poker for money on your front porch; bookies may be prosecuted by state law, but they
are supposed to purchase a federal license nonetheless; one church condemns gambling,
while another raises money by sponsoring Bingo games
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a
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b
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Gambling laws are inconsistent from community to community
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Churches do not have uniform ideas about gambling
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August

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