Topics & Main Ideas

1. Choose the topic of each group of sentences.

A. Internet Accessibility

B. The Internet isn't always user friendly.

C. Sometimes it is impossible to sign on to the Internet because the server is down.

The topic of each group of sentences is Internet Accessibility. Sentence a talks about the accessibility of the internet, sentence b mentions that the internet is not always user-friendly, and sentence c discusses the issue of not being able to sign on to the internet when the server is down. All three sentences revolve around the topic of internet accessibility and its challenges.

Explanation

The topic of each group of sentences is Internet Accessibility. Sentence a talks about the accessibility of the internet, sentence b mentions that the internet is not always user-friendly, and sentence c discusses the issue of not being able to sign on to the internet when the server is down. All three sentences revolve around the topic of internet accessibility and its challenges.

2. Choose the topic of each group of sentences.

A. Ronald Reagan was the best leader the United States has ever had.

B. Reagan made peace with Russia and boosted our trade relations.

C. Political Leadership

The topic of each group of sentences is political leadership. The sentences discuss Ronald Reagan as a leader and his accomplishments in making peace with Russia and boosting trade relations. This indicates that the focus of the sentences is on political leadership and Reagan's role as a leader in the United States.

Explanation

The topic of each group of sentences is political leadership. The sentences discuss Ronald Reagan as a leader and his accomplishments in making peace with Russia and boosting trade relations. This indicates that the focus of the sentences is on political leadership and Reagan's role as a leader in the United States.

3. Choose the topic of each group of sentences.

A. Apartment living has many more negative aspects than positive aspects.

B. Irritations in Apartment Living

The given answer is b. Irritations in Apartment Living because all three sentences in the group talk about negative aspects of living in an apartment. Sentence a states that apartment living has more negative aspects than positive aspects, sentence b mentions "irritations" in apartment living, and sentence c specifically mentions one irritation of living on a bottom floor - having to listen to noisy upstairs neighbors.

Explanation

The given answer is b. Irritations in Apartment Living because all three sentences in the group talk about negative aspects of living in an apartment. Sentence a states that apartment living has more negative aspects than positive aspects, sentence b mentions "irritations" in apartment living, and sentence c specifically mentions one irritation of living on a bottom floor - having to listen to noisy upstairs neighbors.

4. Choose the topic of each group of sentences.

A. Comedy on Nick At Nite

B. There are a lot of funny shows on Nick at Nite.

The given answer is "a. Comedy on Nick At Nite" because all the sentences in the group talk about comedy shows that are aired on Nick at Nite. Sentence b states that there are a lot of funny shows on Nick at Nite, and sentence c specifically mentions "I Love Lucy" as one of the shows that airs at 11:00 every night. Therefore, the topic of this group of sentences is comedy shows on Nick at Nite.

Explanation

The given answer is "a. Comedy on Nick At Nite" because all the sentences in the group talk about comedy shows that are aired on Nick at Nite. Sentence b states that there are a lot of funny shows on Nick at Nite, and sentence c specifically mentions "I Love Lucy" as one of the shows that airs at 11:00 every night. Therefore, the topic of this group of sentences is comedy shows on Nick at Nite.

5. The main idea of a paragraph is

At the beginning of the paragraph.

The least important idea.

Repeated in the paragraph.

The most important idea.

The correct answer is "the most important idea" because the main idea of a paragraph is typically the central message or point that the author wants to convey. It is the most significant or essential concept that the paragraph revolves around. The main idea provides a focus for the rest of the paragraph and helps the reader understand the purpose and key information being presented.

Explanation

The correct answer is "the most important idea" because the main idea of a paragraph is typically the central message or point that the author wants to convey. It is the most significant or essential concept that the paragraph revolves around. The main idea provides a focus for the rest of the paragraph and helps the reader understand the purpose and key information being presented.

6. Choose the most appropriate answer for the following questions.

The subject of an entire paragraph is the

Speaker.

Tone.

Topic.

Main idea.

The subject of an entire paragraph refers to what the paragraph is mainly about. It is the central theme or subject matter that the paragraph focuses on. In this case, the correct answer is "topic" because it best represents the overall subject of the paragraph. The other options, such as "speaker," "tone," and "main idea," may be relevant in some paragraphs, but they do not encompass the entirety of the paragraph's subject.

Explanation

The subject of an entire paragraph refers to what the paragraph is mainly about. It is the central theme or subject matter that the paragraph focuses on. In this case, the correct answer is "topic" because it best represents the overall subject of the paragraph. The other options, such as "speaker," "tone," and "main idea," may be relevant in some paragraphs, but they do not encompass the entirety of the paragraph's subject.

7. ad the paragraph and answer the questions. One of the most important results of the Civil War was the freedom gained by southern slaves. In the decade following the defeat of the Confederacy, hundreds of thousands of freed men and women migrated throughout the South searching for land, work, and relatives lost through prewar sale. Some former slaves, however, took an even bolder step, leaving the South altogether and traveling west in search of cheap farmland or north seeking industrial employment. While most faced difficult years adjusting to the world of free labor and white prejudice, none would have exchanged their life of freedom for the days of bondage. - Nash and Schultz, Retracing the Past, 4th edition, 2000, p. 4.
The main idea of this paragraph is

A) freedom slaves won was an important outcome of the Civil War.

B) life for slaves was still difficult even after the Civil War.

C) slaves had to adjust to their newfound freedom after the Civil War.

D) slaves migrated to other places in search of a better life.

The paragraph discusses the impact of the Civil War on southern slaves, specifically highlighting the freedom they gained as a significant result. It mentions how hundreds of thousands of freed slaves migrated throughout the South in search of land, work, and lost relatives. It also acknowledges that while they faced challenges in adjusting to their newfound freedom and dealing with white prejudice, they would never want to go back to being enslaved. Therefore, the main idea of the paragraph is that the freedom gained by southern slaves was an important outcome of the Civil War.

Explanation

The paragraph discusses the impact of the Civil War on southern slaves, specifically highlighting the freedom they gained as a significant result. It mentions how hundreds of thousands of freed slaves migrated throughout the South in search of land, work, and lost relatives. It also acknowledges that while they faced challenges in adjusting to their newfound freedom and dealing with white prejudice, they would never want to go back to being enslaved. Therefore, the main idea of the paragraph is that the freedom gained by southern slaves was an important outcome of the Civil War.

8. Choose the main idea for each group of sentences.
a) You do not have to run errands when it rains really hard. b) Rainy Days c) Rainy days are great for sleeping late and watching television in bed.

A)

B)

C)

The main idea for the group of sentences is that rainy days are great for sleeping late and watching television in bed. This is supported by the fact that on rainy days, you do not have to run errands when it rains really hard. The main focus is on the benefits of rainy days, such as being able to relax and enjoy indoor activities.

Explanation

The main idea for the group of sentences is that rainy days are great for sleeping late and watching television in bed. This is supported by the fact that on rainy days, you do not have to run errands when it rains really hard. The main focus is on the benefits of rainy days, such as being able to relax and enjoy indoor activities.

9. Choose the main idea for each group of sentences.
a) Drinking Orange Juice b) Everyone needs vitamin C on a daily basis. c) Drinking orange juice is a good way to get vitamin C.

A)

B)

C)

The main idea for each group of sentences is that everyone needs vitamin C on a daily basis. The first sentence mentions drinking orange juice, which is a good way to get vitamin C, and the second sentence directly states that everyone needs vitamin C. Therefore, the main idea of the group is the importance of vitamin C for everyone.

Explanation

The main idea for each group of sentences is that everyone needs vitamin C on a daily basis. The first sentence mentions drinking orange juice, which is a good way to get vitamin C, and the second sentence directly states that everyone needs vitamin C. Therefore, the main idea of the group is the importance of vitamin C for everyone.

10. Read the paragraph and answer the questions. One of the most important results of the Civil War was the freedom gained by southern slaves. In the decade following the defeat of the Confederacy, hundreds of thousands of freed men and women migrated throughout the South searching for land, work, and relatives lost through prewar sale. Some former slaves, however, took an even bolder step, leaving the South altogether and traveling west in search of cheap farmland or north seeking industrial employment. While most faced difficult years adjusting to the world of free labor and white prejudice, none would have exchanged their life of freedom for the days of bondage. - Nash and Schultz, Retracing the Past, 4th edition, 2000, p. 4.

The topic of the parageaph is

Slave migration through the South.

Life in post-Civil War.

Slavery.

Freedom for slaves.

The correct answer is slavery. The paragraph discusses the freedom gained by southern slaves as a result of the Civil War and their subsequent migration throughout the South in search of various opportunities. However, the main focus of the paragraph is on the experiences of former slaves and their adjustment to a life of freedom after years of bondage. The paragraph does not primarily discuss slave migration or life in post-Civil War, but rather highlights the significance of freedom for slaves.

Explanation

The correct answer is slavery. The paragraph discusses the freedom gained by southern slaves as a result of the Civil War and their subsequent migration throughout the South in search of various opportunities. However, the main focus of the paragraph is on the experiences of former slaves and their adjustment to a life of freedom after years of bondage. The paragraph does not primarily discuss slave migration or life in post-Civil War, but rather highlights the significance of freedom for slaves.

11. Preview the following selection. Then read it and answer the question that follows. Dealings with neighbors and relatives and involvement in church activities marked the outer limits of the social range of most Puritan women. Care of the children was a full-time occupation when broods of 12 or 14 were more common than those of 1 or 2. Fewer children died in New England than in the Chesapeake or in Europe, though few families escaped a miscarriage or a child's death along the way. Childbearing and motherhood, therefore, commonly extended over two decades of a woman's life. Meanwhile, she also functioned as the chief operating officer of the household. Cooking, baking, sewing, and supervising servants, as well as mastering such arcane knowledge as the chemistry needed to make cheese from milk, bacon from pork, and beer from malt, all fell to her. These jobs were physically demanding, though not so debilitating as to prevent large numbers of New England wives from seeing one or more husbands off to the hereafter. - Garraty and Carnes, The American Nation, A History of the United States, 10th edition
Which of the following best illustrates the implied main idea of this passage?

A) Puritan women were the leaders in the church activities.

B) Puritan women gave birth to many children.

C) Puritan women's duties ranged from church to childbearing to domestic chores.

The passage discusses the various responsibilities and roles of Puritan women, including their involvement in church activities, caring for their children, and managing household tasks. However, the passage specifically highlights the fact that Puritan women had large families, with broods of 12 or 14 children being common. It mentions that fewer children died in New England compared to other regions, but miscarriages and child deaths were still prevalent. Therefore, the implied main idea of the passage is that Puritan women gave birth to many children.

Explanation

The passage discusses the various responsibilities and roles of Puritan women, including their involvement in church activities, caring for their children, and managing household tasks. However, the passage specifically highlights the fact that Puritan women had large families, with broods of 12 or 14 children being common. It mentions that fewer children died in New England compared to other regions, but miscarriages and child deaths were still prevalent. Therefore, the implied main idea of the passage is that Puritan women gave birth to many children.