readingComprehension Skillsfoundation

Finding the Main Idea

Learn to identify the central message or 'gist' of a text, distinguishing it from supporting details.

Key Ideas

The main idea is the primary point the author is trying to communicate.
It is often found in the first or last sentence of a paragraph (topic sentence).
Supporting details provide evidence, examples, or explanations for the main idea.
The 'gist' is a quick summary of what the text is about in a few words.

Worked Examples

Example 1

"Many people believe that sharks are mindless killing machines, but this is far from the truth. Sharks are intelligent and curious creatures that play a vital role in the ocean's ecosystem. While attacks on humans do occur, they are extremely rare. Most sharks prefer to eat fish and marine mammals."

What is the main idea of this paragraph?

A.Sharks eat fish and marine mammals.

B.Shark attacks on humans are rare.

C.Sharks are misunderstood and important animals, not just killers.

D.The ocean ecosystem depends on many different animals.

Explanation

Option A is a supporting detail about their diet.

Option B is a supporting detail about safety.

Option D is too general and doesn't mention sharks specifically.

Option C captures the author's main argument: correcting the misconception that sharks are just 'killing machines'.

Ready to Practice?

Test your understanding of Finding the Main Idea with targeted questions from our bank.

Common Mistakes

×Choosing a specific detail instead of the broad main idea.
×Choosing an option that is true but not mentioned in the text.
×Confusing the topic (e.g., 'Sharks') with the main idea (what is being said about sharks).

Exam Tip

"Ask yourself: 'What is the one thing the author wants me to remember from this passage?'"