The document discusses how to identify the main idea of a paragraph or passage. It explains that the main idea is the most important central idea, and it may be stated in the first or last sentence. To find the main idea, one should ask what or who the paragraph is about and what aspect or idea about that topic the author is concerned with. The document provides examples of paragraphs and questions to identify their main ideas.
2. Getting the Main Idea
The main idea is the central, or most important,
idea in a paragraph or passage. It
states the purpose and sets the direction of the
paragraph or passage.
The main idea may be stated in the
first sentence of a paragraph and then
be repeated or restated at the end of
the paragraph.
3. To find the main idea of any
paragraph or passage, ask these
questions:
1. Who or what is the paragraph
about?
2. What aspect or idea about the
‘who’ or ‘what’ is the author
concerned with?
4. Exercise 1: Choose the letter of the
correct main idea of each paragraph.
1. Mountain climbers are not afraid of the
steep, broad mountains they climb. They
are courageous men and women. They
don’t mind the danger, hunger and
thirst.
a. Courage
b. Men and Women
c. Mountain Climbers.
Answer: c. Mountain Climbers
5. 2. Every year there are some Filipino
women go abroad for many reasons. They
earn dollars. Some go abroad for a
vacation. Still go to other lands to
study.
a. Filipino women go abroad for many
reasons.
b. There a Filipino women abroad.
c. Filipino women earn dollars.
Answer: a. Filipino women go abroad for
many reasons.
6. 3. I wear eyeglasses. If I don’t, I cannot
see clearly what I am reading or writing.
There was a time when I forgot to wear
my eyeglasses. I didn’t know what to
do. I had to force my sight to see my
work better.
a.Eyeglasses are important.
b.There are many kinds of eyeglasses.
c.Children should wear eyeglasses.
Answer: a. Eyeglasses are important.
7. 4. The Filipinos live in different kinds of
houses. Some live in temporary houses which
are made of Nipa and bamboo. They are
usually found in the provinces. Other live in
concrete houses which are made of bricks or
hollow blocks. These types of houses are
mostly found in Manila and in other cities in
the country.
a. The Filipinos like to live in concrete houses.
b. All houses are of the same kind.
c. Filipinos live in different kinds of houses.
Answer: c. Filipinos live in different kinds of
houses.
8. 5. John love to go running every
morning. Running makes him feel good.
He is training to be a professional
runner. His dream is to be in Olympics
when he grows up.
a. John loves running.
b. Running makes him feel good.
c. His dream is to be in Olympics
when he grows up.
Answer: c. His dream is to be in Olympics
when he grows up.
