Unit 4: Reading Comprehension

The Main Idea Questions

The main idea of a passage is what it is mostly about. The answer must apply to the entire passage, not to just one detail or one small portion. Sometimes the main idea is stated clearly in the first ( topic ) or last sentence. Becareful not to choose an answer that overstates or over-emphasizes the main idea.

For Example :

Main Idea : Babe Ruth was a great baseball player.

Overstated : Babe Ruth was the greatest baseball player who ever lived.

Make sure that the answer to a main idea question accurately describes the content of the passage.