Main Idea Practice

What is the main idea of the passage? 

While serving in World War I, surgeon William Baer noticed something curious: soldiers whose wounds were infested with maggots (the wormlike immature larval form of flies) recovered faster than those whose wounds were maggot-free. Although Baer was not the first military doctor to take note of this phenomenon, he was the first to apply his observations to the problem of nonhealing wounds. In the 1920s, he began treating hospital patients' serious wounds with maggots. The maggots consumed dead tissue, effectively cleaning the wounds and helping the patients heal. While maggot therapy fell out of favor after bacteria-killing antibiotic medications were introduced, it has made a comeback in modern medicine. Many clinicians have found that the treatment can be effective for certain types of severe wounds that do not respond to antibiotics.

How does the detail in bold help to develop the main idea?

While serving in World War I, surgeon William Baer noticed something curious: soldiers whose wounds were infested with maggots (the wormlike immature larval form of flies) recovered faster than those whose wounds were maggot-free. Although Baer was not the first military doctor to take note of this phenomenon, he was the first to apply his observations to the problem of nonhealing wounds. In the 1920s, he began treating hospital patients' serious wounds with maggots. The maggots consumed dead tissue, effectively cleaning the wounds and helping the patients heal. While maggot therapy fell out of favor after bacteria-killing antibiotic medications were introduced, it has made a comeback in modern medicine. Many clinicians have found that the treatment can be effective for certain types of severe wounds that do not respond to antibiotics.

Identify the main idea of the passage. 

Crystal Caves of Mexico While excavating a tunnel under Mexico's Naica Mountain, silver miners were stunned to discover a cavern full of luminous, elongated underground crystals. Composed of the mineral gypsum, some of the crystals extended as far as thirty-six feet into the air. What accounted for these amazing mineral structures? Millions of years ago, volcanic eruptions released a large amount of mineral-rich water into the cave, now known as the Cave of Crystals. One of those minerals was anhydrite, which slowly changes into gypsum when exposed to water. Originally, the cave was too hot for this change to take place. Eventually, however, the temperature cooled to about 136°F, and gypsum crystals began to form. This process continued as the temperature and other conditions in the cave remained constant for thousands of years.

How does the detail in bold help to develop the main idea?

Crystal Caves of Mexico While excavating a tunnel under Mexico's Naica Mountain, silver miners were stunned to discover a cavern full of luminous, elongated underground crystals. Composed of the mineral gypsum, some of the crystals extended as far as thirty-six feet into the air. What accounted for these amazing mineral structures? Millions of years ago, volcanic eruptions released a large amount of mineral-rich water into the cave, now known as the Cave of Crystals. One of those minerals was anhydrite, which slowly changes into gypsum when exposed to water. Originally, the cave was too hot for this change to take place. Eventually, however, the temperature cooled to about 136°F, and gypsum crystals began to form. This process continued as the temperature and other conditions in the cave remained constant for thousands of years.

Identify the main idea of the passage. 

Paragraph from "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen:

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters."

Identify the main idea of the passage. 

Paragraph from "Moby Dick" by Herman Melville:

"Call me Ishmael. Some years ago—never mind how long precisely—I had a mind to go to sea. And whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people’s hats off—then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can."

Identify the main idea. 

Paragraph from "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald:

"In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since. 'Whenever you feel like criticizing any one,' he said, 'just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had.' I’m not sure if he meant that, or if he just thought it would make me feel better; but in any event, I’m going to try to remember it."

Identify the main idea.

The Amazon Rainforest, often referred to as the "lungs of the planet," plays a crucial role in regulating the Earth's climate. It absorbs vast amounts of carbon dioxide and produces oxygen, contributing to the balance of gases in the atmosphere. This unique ecosystem is home to an incredible diversity of species, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth. However, the rainforest is under threat from deforestation, agriculture, and climate change, which could have devastating impacts not only on local wildlife but also on global weather patterns.

Identify the main idea of the passage. 

One of the most important years in the history of democracy was 1215, when King John of England signed a document called the Magna Carta. Among other things, the Magna Carta made it illegal to buy or bribe one's way out of legal trouble-previously a common practice. More important, the Magna Carta made it clear that the king of England could not change laws or impose taxes without the people's consent. Because of the Magna Carta, the barons of England, along with civic and church leaders, began having regular meetings with the king to discuss matters such as proposed new taxes. The barons were meant to represent the interests of the people who lived on their land. This practice-revolutionary at the time-laid the groundwork for the modern political system known as representative democracy. Representative democracy allows elected officials to speak for the interests of their constituents, the citizens they represent.

The main, or central, idea of the passage is The Magna Carta set the stage for democratic governments by affirming the rights of citizens to participate in government. How does the detail in bold develop the main idea?

One of the most important years in the history of democracy was 1215, when King John of England signed a document called the Magna Carta. Among other things, the Magna Carta made it illegal to buy or bribe one's way out of legal trouble-previously a common practice. More important, the Magna Carta made it clear that the king of England could not change laws or impose taxes without the people's consent. Because of the Magna Carta, the barons of England, along with civic and church leaders, began having regular meetings with the king to discuss matters such as proposed new taxes. The barons were meant to represent the interests of the people who lived on their land. This practice-revolutionary at the time-laid the groundwork for the modern political system known as representative democracy. Representative democracy allows elected officials to speak for the interests of their constituents, the citizens they represent.

Identify the main idea. 

Do some individuals have the amazing ability to take perfectly accurate, permanent mental "snapshots," which can be stored in the brain for future retrieval? Fictional figures aside, no. But while this popular notion of "photographic memory" is unfounded, research has demonstrated the existence of a fascinating phenomenon called eidetic memory, in which memory actually does have a camera-like quality. People with eidetic memory are able to look at an object or picture and then look away or close their eyes and continue to "see" the object or picture in their minds. These images last only a few minutes at most before dissipating, and they are typically not entirely accurate. Still, the degree of detail that "eidetikers" can recall during those first few minutes is astonishing. Interestingly, the phenomenon occurs almost entirely in children, with an estimated two to ten percent of children affected; virtually all eidetikers lose their unusual ability before reaching adulthood.

The main, or central, idea of the passage is Individuals with eidetic memory are temporarily able to retain detailed images in their minds. How does the detail in bold develop the main idea?

Do some individuals have the amazing ability to take perfectly accurate, permanent mental "snapshots," which can be stored in the brain for future retrieval? Fictional figures aside, no. But while this popular notion of "photographic memory" is unfounded, research has demonstrated the existence of a fascinating phenomenon called eidetic memory, in which memory actually does have a camera-like quality. People with eidetic memory are able to look at an object or picture and then look away or close their eyes and continue to "see" the object or picture in their minds. These images last only a few minutes at most before dissipating, and they are typically not entirely accurate. Still, the degree of detail that "eidetikers" can recall during those first few minutes is astonishing. Interestingly, the phenomenon occurs almost entirely in children, with an estimated two to ten percent of children affected; virtually all eidetikers lose their unusual ability before reaching adulthood.

Identify the main idea of the passage. 

The human brain can be thought of as having two different modes. Daniel Kahneman, an influential psychologist, labels one the "fast" mode of thinking and the other the "slow" mode. In the fast mode, according to Kahneman, we make decisions using our intuitions and emotions. The sight of a spider may activate the fast mode and lead a person to scream. The same person's slow mode might decide (after a moment) that the spider is not actually a threat. In the slow mode, we make decisions using reason and logic. The slow mode is helpful in complex situations where the right choice is not always clear. However, because the slow mode uses more mental resources than the fast mode, our brains can't rely on it all the time. The instincts that drive the fast mode of thinking save us a great deal of time and energy.

The main, or central, idea of the passage is The "fast" mode of thinking is helpful for reacting quickly, while the "slow" mode is helpful for analyzing complex situations. How does the detail in bold develop the main idea?

The human brain can be thought of as having two different modes. Daniel Kahneman, an influential psychologist, labels one the "fast" mode of thinking and the other the "slow" mode. In the fast mode, according to Kahneman, we make decisions using our intuitions and emotions. The sight of a spider may activate the fast mode and lead a person to scream. The same person's slow mode might decide (after a moment) that the spider is not actually a threat. In the slow mode, we make decisions using reason and logic. The slow mode is helpful in complex situations where the right choice is not always clear. However, because the slow mode uses more mental resources than the fast mode, our brains can't rely on it all the time. The instincts that drive the fast mode of thinking save us a great deal of time and energy.

Determine the main idea. 

The War of the Worlds Hoax "Martian cylinders are falling all over the country!" proclaimed a voice on the radio. It was Halloween night, 1938, and Orson Welles was in the midst of a performance of the H. G. Wells story The War of the Worlds. Most listeners were aware that it was fiction; after all, an explanatory announcement had been given at the program's beginning. However, listeners who tuned in late missed the program's introduction. In addition, Welles was a magnificent performer, interspersing his "report" with sound effects and eyewitness "interviews." Consequently, some audience members believed they were hearing a real news account. They listened in increasing terror as Welles described the "invading army from the planet Mars." Fearing for their lives, some took refuge in their basements or fled their homes. When Welles concluded the show with the admission that it had been a Halloween prank, reactions ranged from amusement to fury.