Main Idea — What's the Point?

"Which choice best states the main idea of the text?"

Strategy:

1. Read the passage once. Ask: what is the author's single main point?

2. State it in your own words BEFORE looking at answer choices

3. Match your summary to the closest answer

Traps:

Too narrow: An answer that's true but only covers one detail

Too broad: An answer so general it could apply to anything

Distorted: Uses words from the passage but changes the meaning

The right answer: Covers the entire passage, matches the author's tone, and doesn't add information that isn't there.

Reference:

Wikipedia: Reading Comprehension

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reading_comprehension