Unit 4 Reading for Topics and Main Ideas
Reading for Topics
A topic is a word or phrase (a few words) which tells what something is about. For example, a friend may ask you, “What is this book about?” Your friend doesn’t want to know everything about the book. He or she just wants to know the topic.
Good comprehension begins with an understanding of the topic or subject. A topic is the general subject of the items in a list or the sentences in the paragraph. Therefore identifying the topic helps the readers understand whatever they read clearly.
A paragraph consists of related sentences focused on a certain idea about the topic of that paragraph. To identify the topic of the paragraph, you have to answer the question “What is the paragraph is mainly about?” That is every sentence in the paragraph gives details about that particular topic. Therefore, you should look for important words in the paragraph and try to figure out their relationship. That can lead you to the topic.
Always ask yourself while reading
What is the paragraph mainly about ?
Techniques to identify topics
1) look for important words and find their relationship
2) look for the most frequently referred and the reference pronouns
3) look for some examples and figure out the general word for them
For example
Sometimes the topic is the name of a group of things.
Football Swimming
Baseball
Tennis Badminton
Sports
Hockey Basketball
Which word is the topic ? ¾® Sports
Explanation : If the paragraph you are reading contains these words, you can conclude that the topic is likely to be “sports”. The words are different kinds of sports. Their relationship can be presented in the graphic below.
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Let’s practice
Underline the topic.
1. mother sister uncle father aunt family
2. China Japan Spain Countries Canada Malaysia
3. dog animals cat lion horse camel
4. red black yellow gray white color
5. doctor occupations teacher engineer reporter artist
6. emotions pleased surprised nervous furious sad
7. ice-cream apple pie desserts cake tart custard
8. shoes sandals trainers boots slippers loafers
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9. jazz rock rap country R&B music
10. necklace bracelet ring accessories earrings hairclip
What are the topics of these words
Topic : _____________________________ Topic : _____________________________ Africa drum
Australia violin
America flute
Europe guitar
Topic : _____________________________ Topic : _____________________________ lettuce apple
tomato orange
potato rambutan
cucumber guava
Topic : _____________________________ Topic : _____________________________
pants table
T-shirt chair
jeans cupboard
scarf bookcase
Exercise
You can divide each group or words into two topics. Write the two topics. Then write the words under the topics.
Example
Ladder concert opera movie stairs
TV elevator play escalator
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Topic A Ways To go up Topic B Things to watch for fun
ladder movie
elevator play
stairs opera
escalator TV
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dog ocean lake elephant
horse sea stream cow
canal camel river cat
|
Topic A ________________________________ Topic B _____________________________
________________________________ _____________________________
________________________________ _____________________________
________________________________ _____________________________
________________________________ _____________________________
dog ocean lake elephant
horse sea stream cow
canal camel river cat
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Topic A ________________________________ Topic B _____________________________
________________________________ _____________________________
________________________________ _____________________________
________________________________ _____________________________
________________________________ _____________________________
chair book newspaper desk
map letter bookcase
magazine bed table
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Topic A ________________________________ Topic B _____________________________
________________________________ _____________________________
________________________________ _____________________________
________________________________ _____________________________
________________________________ _____________________________
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What is a paragraph ?
A paragraph is a group of sentences. All the sentences in a paragraph are about one topic. In this unit you will learn how to find the topic of a paragraph. Then you will learn how to fine the main idea of a paragraph. The topic and the main idea are important. They help you to understand meaning quickly, and they help you remember what you read.
Exercise
Read each group of sentences and decide whether all the sentences and decide whether all the sentences in the group are about one topic. Is the group of sentences a paragraph ? Check Yes or No.
1. It is easy to make a good cup of tea.
The first people to grow coffee beans lived in the Middle East.
Most of the oranges for juice grow in Florida.
This is how the other parts of the world learned about rice.
Cover the pot and wait a few minutes.
Paragraph ? Yes_________________ No___________________
2. A doctor’s job is not easy.
Doctors often spend many hours with patients.
There are usually more patients waiting.
So doctors do not have much free time during the day.
They often have to work all night in the hospital, too.
Paragraph ? Yes_________________ No___________________
3. In the United States, sports stars make a lot of money.
It is not unusual for a basketball player to get $6 million a year.
Some basketball players are also paid million of dollars.
These sports stars also get extra money from sporting equipment companies.
For example, sneaker manufacturers pay sports starts to wear the sneakers they make.
Paragraph ? Yes_________________ No___________________
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4. In some countries, students can go to college for free.
It is often difficult to get a good job in a small town.
The Populations of most countries are growing quickly.
Many families bave five or six children.
In the winter, there is always a lot of snow in Maine.
Paragraph ? Yes_________________ No___________________
Identifying Topics of Paragraphs
Paragraph to be considered
Example 1
The Olympic game is an international sport competition. They started in ancient Greece. But they were stopped in the 4th century and didn’t start again until Baron de Coubertin revived them in 1896. There are held every four years in different cities of the year. There is no age limits, and no discrimination because of religion, color or political ideas. There are Winter and Summer Olympic Games. There are individual, group and team competitions.
Topic : The Olympic Game
Explanation : In this particular passage, the most frequently referred word is Olympic Games. Every single sentence gives different details on this event. Therefore, the paragraph mainly focuses on “The Olympic Games”
Example 2
Everyone has a different idea of sport. Many English people think it is good because it teaches people to work together in a team. Many Americans like it because it helps people to forget their problems. But no matter what nations think about sport, they all agree it is important. There are now organizations which are promoting sport both nationally and internationally. More year new sports are being created, and foreign sports are being imported ; such as American football in Europe, and soccer in the U.S.A.
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Topic : Sport
Explanation : The paragraph focuses mainly on “sport” in many aspects such as what people from different countries think about sport, its importance and how people get involved with it.
Example 3
The early years of a child’s life are very important. Child psychologists have noticed a series of changes which occur during a child’s first three years of life. Until four months old a child feels part of his or her mother. At five moths old he or she becomes alert and explores his environment. At ten months old a child realizes that he is not a part of his mother. Between ten and fifteen months a child begins to be confident and starts to control. His or her world. At fifteen months a major change occurs : she or he begins to think not just act. Between eighteen and thirty-six months old, she or he becomes a fully developed individual.
What is the best topic for this paragraph ?
A Child psychologists
B Early Years of a Child’s Life
C Child Development
D Child’s Environment
In the passage, the writer gave the fact about changes in the early years of a child’s life from when they were born until thirty-six months or three years old. Therefore, C is the best topic for this paragraph. A and D are too specific. They are details that refer to the general topic of “Child Development”. Whereas B is too general when compared to C.
Example 4
The price a man must pay for a wife varies from culture to culture. In some countries men have to pay money to their bride’s parents according to the amount asked. Men elsewhere trade pigs, goats, shells, metal tools, such as axes and knives, for wives. In East African societies where cattle are the primary currency, a bride can be worth anywhere from 5 to 50 cows, depending on the particular society and its resources.
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What is the best topic of this paragraph ?
A Marriage
B Bride price
C Wedding Ceremony
D The Groom
The writer tries to illustrate things that men from different culture pay in order to marry women such as pigs, goats, shells, and metal tools. Those can be called “bride price”. The answer is B, A, C and D are not correct because the paragraph does not really talk about marriage, wedding ceremony or the groom.
Example 5
Example 5
Each year, thousands of people are bitten by snakes. Here is what to do of you are a victim of snakebite. First, keep still and warm. Next, remove rings and tight clothing. Wrap a bandage above the bite. Do not apply a tourniquet, as this may cut blood circulation. Also, do not try to remove snake venom. Finally, seek medical attention as soon as possible.
The topic of this paragraph is :
A snakebites
B things to do after snakebite
C keeping still after a snakebite
D keeping still after a snakebite
Explanation The first choice, “snakebites” is too general. It is true that the paragraph is about snakebites, but it is only talking about one aspect of snakebites.
The second choice, “things to do after a snakebite” is the right answer- this is what the paragraph is about.
The third choice, “keeping still after a snakebite,” is too specific - it is only of the things you should do after being bitten.
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Example 6
The cost of printing money and then destroying old ones has become too expensive for the government. As a resuly, serious efforts are being taken to replace the dollar bill with a dollar coin. The dollar coin will last far longer than a dollar bill. It could also be used in vending machines easier than a dollar bill. And it will help cities, too. Cities spend a lot of time counting bills placed in collection boxes. A dollar coin would change that.
The topic of this paragraph is
A Using a dollar coin in a vending machine
B Reasons for a dollar coin
C A dollar coin
Explanation The first choice, “Using a dollar coin in a vending machine,” is too specific. It does not tell what the paragraph is about.
The second choice, “resons for a dollar coin,” is the right answer-this is what the paragraph is about. Most of the sentences present reasons that a dollars coin in better than a dollar bill.
The third choice, “reasons for a dollar coin,” is the right answer-this is what the paragraph is about. Most of the sentences present reasons that a dollar coin is better than a dollar bill.
The third choice, “A dollar coin,” is too general. The right topic will tell you what the paragraph is likely to say about a dollar coin.
Practice
Read the paragraph and answer the questions.
1. A national contest to find the worst boss in the nation had some remarkable candidates. One person nominated a boss who had a sign on his desk saying “people are animals.” Another named a boss who liked the choke and bite his employees. And the winner was a boss who would not let his employees go to a funeral unless they produced a death notice that was printed in the local paper.
1.1 As a topic of this paragraph, “ A national contest” is
a. too general b. just right c. too specific
1.2 As a topic of this paragraph, “A contest to find the worst boss in the nation” is
a. too general b. just right c. too specific
2. Hot tubs become popular places to relax and relieve muscle tension. However, if you use a hot tub, you should be careful. Dipping your body in hot water makes your heart beat faster. This can be a problem for people with high blood pressure. The hot water also raises your body temperature. This can cause a loss of important body fluids. And five to ten minutes in a hot tub burns off blood sugar. This can be harmful for people with diabetes.
2.1As a topic of this paragraph, “Cautions for using a hot tub” is
a. too general b. just right c. too specific
2.2As a topic of this paragraph, “What five to ten minutes is a hot tub can do” is
a. too general b. just right c. too specific
3. There are currently 5.5 billion people living in the world today. Population is expected to grow rapidly in coming years. By the year 2000, this figure is expected to grow to 6.3 billion. Twenty five years later, it is estimated that over 8 billion people will inhabit the planet. And in sixty years, population will be over 10 billion.
3.1As a topic of this paragraph, “Bad breath” is
a. too general b. just right c. too specific
3.2 As a topic of this paragraph, “Causes of bad breath” is
a. too general b. just right c. too specific
Exercise
People who don’t brush their teeth regularly ususlly have bad breath. There are other causes of bad breath. A throat infection is one source of bad breath. A sinus problem can also cause bad breath. Even too much coffee or alcohol can cause bad breath. And stomach problem resulting in acid buildup can be a contributor, as well.
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1. What is the best topic of this paragraph?
For the past fifty years, the most powerful telescope in the world was the Hale telescope atop Mt. Palomar in rural southern California. Recently, it was replaced as the most powerful telescopes to be built around the glove. By the end of the decade, it is estimated that the Hale telescope will be only the seventh most powerful telescope in the world.
2. What is the best topic of this paragraph?
Making a home safe for toddlers requires careful planning. Here are ideas that experts have suggested. Appliances should have child locks so that children can’t turn on. Drawers in the bathroom and kitchen should have special latches that make it impossible for kids to open. All medicine and kitchen cleaning products should be stored in locked boxes such as fishing tackle boxes. Tables or counters with sharp Edges should be rounded or fitted with thick vinyl pads. Electrical outlets should be covered with a spring-like mechanism that snaps shut when not in use. And gates that are screwed into the wall should be installed at the bottom and top of all flights of stairs.
3. What is the best topic of this paragraph?
Reading for Main Ideas
The main idea is the statement (a topic sentence) made about the topic which is supported by details. Therefore, the main idea of a paragraph is directly related both the topic and the details in the paragraph. It shows the single idea the writer have concerning the topic.
The main idea is usually stated in the first sentence of the paragraph. However, it can be placed anywhere in a paragraph or even unstated. To understand the main idea of the paragraph, you should look for the individual sentence containing the idea that can govern the whole message the writer is presenting. In other words, every sentence in the paragraph supports that idea.
If there is no such a sentence stated explicitly, you should read the paragraph carefully and try to think of a sentence of your own that represents the whole idea of the paragraph.
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What is a Topic Sentence?
A topic sentence is a sentence that expresses the main idea of a paragraph. It is a general statement that covers all or most of the material in the paragraph. Locating the topic sentence in a paragraph is one of the most important reading skills.
To find a paragraph’s topic sentence, you should do the following :
1. Identify the topic of the paragraph by asking yourself, “Who or what is this paragraph about?”
2. Find the sentence that is a general statement telling you what you need to know about
the topic.
Where is the Topic Sentence Located ?
A topic sentence may be anywhere within a paragraph :
It can be the first sentence in the paragraph. The first sentence will be a general statement that will introduce a subject and will then be following by sentences that will support that statement in some important way.
It can be in the middle of a paragraph.
This will occur in two circumstances :
1. Sometimes, a paragraph begins with an introductory sentence that is meant to grab you
attention. It may be a very general statement that looks like a topic sentence than
changes direction. This sentence is the one that is explained in the rest of the paragraph, and it becomes the topic sentence.
2. You will also find a topic sentence in the middle of a paragraph when the paragraph
starts with a question.
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A question will never be a topic sentence. Look for the answer to the question – this will be the topic sentence of the paragraph. Of course, if the answer to a question is “Yes” or “No”, this will not be your topic sentence. The explanation that follows this one – word answer will be the topic sentence.
However, a topic sentence can appear at the end of paragraph, either as a summary or a conclusion.
A summary will bring together all of the points made in the paragraph. A conclusion is where all of the points lead up to a final, important point.
What is the Main Idea ?
The Main idea is the central point of a paragraph. Very often, the main idea appears is one sentence- a sentence called the topic sentence. The rest of the paragraph contains sentences made up of specific ideas and details that support and explain the main idea.
General VS Specific Ideas
The main idea is a paragraph is a general idea. In contrast, the supporting information in a paragraph is made up of specific ideas and details. To improve your skill as finding main ideas, you need to practice distinguishing between general and specific ideas. The general idea includes all the specific ideas.
Main Ideas of Paragraphs
The main idea of a paragraph tells you more about the topic. It tells you the writer’s idea about the topic. The main idea is important. There can be many paragraphs about the same topic, but they do not all have the same main idea.
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The best choice is C. Mexico City. It tells what the paragraph is about.
Choice A is too specific. Only one sentence is about food.
Choice B is too general. The paragraph is not about all of Mexico. It is only about Mexico City.
Example A
In this example, the topic is elephants. Here are the main idea statements about elephants. You can think of more.
1. Elephants live in Africa and Asia.
2. Elephants are killed for their ivory tusks.
3. Elephants can cause serious problems for formers.
Example B
In this example, the topic is supermarkets.
· Write the three different main-idea statements about supermarkets.
1. ________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________
Example C
In this paragraph, the topic is bicycles. What is the author’s main idea about bicycles?
Bicycles are popular today in many countries. Many people use bicycles for exercise, but exercise is only one of the reasons why bicycles are popular. Another reason is money. Bicycles are not expensive to buy. They do not need gas to make them go. They are easy and cheap to fix. In cities, many people like bicycles better than cars. With a bicycle, they never have to with in traffic. They also do not have to find to a place to park. Finally, bicycles do not cause any pollution!
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Complete the best main idea statement and circle the letter in front of it
A. ___________________ do not cause pollution.
B. ___________________ are better than cars.
C. Bicycles are popular today for many reasons.
The best choice is C. “Bicycles are popular today for many reasons.” This is the writer’s main idea about bicycles. All the information in the paragraph is about this idea.
Choice A is not correct because it is too specific. It is only one part of the paragraph.
Choice B is not correct because the paragraph does not say bicycles are better than cars. It says that some people like bicycles better than cars.
Let’s practice
Example 1
Tension and anxiety are obstacles to effective learning. The ability to relax is just as important to success as the ability to read. Anxiety can cause students to forget chapters that they might have read, to go blank at quiz time, or to fail to meet deadlines and to complete assignments on schedule. Anyone can learn to rid himself or herself of tension by resting the body, breathing deeply, and relaxing for three to four minutes before a test.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
Example 2
Bicycles are popular in many countries. Many people use bicycles for exercise, but exercise is only one reasons why bicycles are popular. Another reason is money. Bicycles are not expensive to buy. They do not need gas to make them go. They are easy and cheap to fix. In cities, many people like bicycles better than cars. With a bicycle, they never have to wait in traffic. They also do not have to find a place to park. Finally, bicycles do not cause and pollution!
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What is the main idea of the paragraph?
A. Bicycles do not cause pollution.
B. Bicycles are better than cars.
C. Bicycles are popular today for many reasons.
The best choice is C, “Bicycles are popular today for many reasons.” This is the writer’s main idea about bicycles. All the information in the paragraph is about this idea.
Choice A is not correct because it is too specific. It is only one part of the paragraph.
Choice B is not correct because the paragraph does not say bicycles are better than cars. It says that some people like bicycles better than cars.
Example 3
Clothes can tell a lot about a person. Some people like very colorful clothes. They want to look at them. They want to be the center of things. Other people like to wear nice clothes, but their clothes are not colorful or fancy. They do not like people to look at them. There are also some people who wear the same thing all the time. They do not care if anyone looks at them or not. They do not care what anyone thinks about them.
What is the main idea of the paragraph ?
A Clothes are colorful.
B Clothes can tell a lot about a person.
C Clothes always look nice on some people
The correct answer is B, “Clothes can tell a lot about a person.” The topic is “clothes” and the writer idea about it is that clothes can tell us about a person who wear them.
Choice A and C are not a main idea but just one part of the details to show that the people who wears colorful clothes want to get other people’s attentions.
Example 4
Scientists may know a lot about the outside of the earth, but they still are not sure about the inside. For example, they understand how mountains are made and what a volcano is, but they
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do not know when a volcano will send hot rock in the air. Scientist also are not sure about how the earth was made. They learn many different ideas about this. They are still many difficult questions for scientists who study the earth.
What is the best main idea about the paragraph?
A Scientists have different ideas about how the earth was made.
B Scientists now know a lot about the earth.
C Scientists still have many questions about the earth.
The main idea of a paragraph is what all the sentences are about. Read the paragraph and ask, “What is the point” That will help you zero in on the main idea.
Juan loves to play games. His favorite game is chess because it requires a great deal of thought. Juan also likes to play less demanding board games that are based mostly on luck. H prefers Monopoly because it requires luck and skill. If He’s alone, Juan likes to play action video games as long as they aren’t to violent.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
1. Juan dislikes violence.
2. Juan likes to think.
3. Juan enjoys Monopoly.
4. Juan enjoys playing games.
Maria is watching too much television. A toddler shouldn’t be spending hours staring blankly at a screen. Worse yet, some of her wild behavior has been inspired by those awful cartoons she watches. We need to spend more time reading books with her and pull the plug in the TV!
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What is the main idea of this paragraph?
1. Watching a lot of television isn’t good for Maria
2. Books are good.
3. All cartoons are bad.
4. Some cartoons are bad for Maria.
Samantha I can’t eat or sleep when you are gone. I need to hear your scratchy voice and see you lovely toothless smile. I miss that special ways that you eat soup with your fingers. Please come home soon!
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
1. Samantha, you have bad manners.
2. Samantha, you should see a dentist.
3. Samantha, I miss you.
4. Samantha, I have lost my appetite.
3. Bill is one of those people who just don’t have to worry about gaining too much
weight. He is the best tennis player I’ve ever met. Bill can eat any amount of food he likes without putting on an ounce. He can go for weeks without exercising with no apparent effect. It just doesn’t seem fair !
4. Scientists are learning a great deal about the aging process. This knowledge will
allow doctors to help their patients live longer and better lives. They will be able to defeat diseases associated with aging and perhaps even delay the onset of old age. Many doctors would agree that some medicines are much too expensive.
How to create an implied main idea
When you see that no sentence is general enough to include all of the others – that each sentence is too specific to cover all the others – the paragraph’s main idea is implied. Your task is to figure out the author’s main idea.
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You can do so by asking two question :
1. What is the topic, or subject, of the paragraph? In other words, who or what is the
entire paragraph about ?
2. What is the main point made about the topic ?
To find the answer to the first question, you must see what subject is constantly being referred to.
This is the topic of the paragraph. [See the Main Ideas : Topics tutorial for more on this subject.]
Once you have found the topic, ask yourself, “What is the author’s main point about the topic?”
In other words, “What is the author saying about the topic?” Your answer should not be too general nor too specific. Try to make it broad enough to include all the supporting derails in the paragraph, and make sure you state it in a complete sentence. This is the implied main idea of the paragraph.
Exercise
For hundred of years the Japanese people have worn the kimono. The kimono is a long loose robe of cotton or silk tied around the waist with a sash. Though the kimono is still worn in the evening and on special occasions, it is expensive and not very useful. So city people usually wear clothes something like those you wear. School-girls wear navy blue skirts and white blouses, while school-boys must dress in navy suits. The shoes the Japanese wear with Western style clothes are very similar to what we wear. With the kimono, whatever, wooden sandals on two-inch blocks are often worn.
What is the best main idea of this paragraph ?
A. The Japanese people wear both the new and the old style of dress.
B. The Japanese people have worn the kimono for hundreds of years.
C. Wooden sandals are worn with the Kimono on special occasions.
D. Japanese school boys and girls like to wear uniforms to school.
The biggest living thing in America is a tree. So is the oldest living thing. Both are found in California. The oldest living tree is a bristlecone pine tree. Nicknamed “Methuselah,” it is 4,700
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years old. “General Sherman” is the largest tree. It is a giant sequoia, standing 385 feet in height. It weighs over 1,400 tons, more than the combined weight of 360 elephants.
The implied main idea of this paragraph is :
A. In America, things that are old and large have nicknames.
B. The biggest and oldest living things in the world are in America.
C. Trees are both the biggest and oldest living things in America.
D. General Sherman probably named the largest tree in America.
Local pizza parlors are found in most neighborhoods throughout the country. Because costs are low and their products are popular, most are money-making operations. Estimates are that local pizza parlors and small chains take in will over a billion dollars each year. Nationwide, three chains take in even more money. Little Caesar’s takes in over 2.2 billion dollars in sales. Domino’s takes in $2.4 billion, accounting for 28% of all pizza sales in the country.
The implied main idea of this paragraph is :
A. No pizza chain will ever make as much money as Pizza Hut.
B. If you want to get wealthy, you should own a pizza parlor.
C. Everyone in the United States loves pizza.
D. Pizza is big business in the United States.
