The Question of Popularity

After Reading: Main Idea and Summary

Test-Style Questions
On a test, you might be asked to determine the main idea of a section, eliminate a statement that is not a main idea, or evaluate a summary.

Lets practice.

Testing-Style Question
Paragraphs 3 and 4 are mainly about A how popular kids change their behavior based on who they are with B why it is hard to retain popularity C the opinions from others about popular kids at school D the characteristics of and stresses on popular kids

Answer Discussion
First, be sure and circle key words in the question!
Paragraphs 3 and 4 are mainly about A how popular kids change their behavior based on who they are with This is only in paragraph 3. B why it is hard to retain popularity This is only in paragraph 4. C the opinions from others about popular kids at school Again, only in paragraph 4. D the characteristics of and stresses on popular kids Yes. Characteristics are found in both, and stresses are found in 4. This answer includes BOTH paragraphs.

Testing-Style Question
Which of the following is the best summary of the article? A Popular kids have to work hard to remain popular. Often they act differently when they are around their popular friends, acting snobby to less popular kids. It is better to have a few close friends than to be popular. B Most kids want to fit in at school. Popular kids seem cool, but they are often snobby and have to work hard to stay popular. The middle group and the free-thinkers generally have close friends or are part of larger groups with similar interests. In the end, good friends are the people you connect with who accept you for you. C It is better to have a few close friends who value you for yourself. In school, the average kid as a few close friends and a larger group of friends with similar interests. The free-thinkers may not be popular, but they have one or two close friends who think like they do and enjoy the same things. It is these good, close friendships that last over time.

Answer Discussion.
Which of the following is the best summary of the article?
A Popular kids have to work hard to remain popular. Often they act differently when they are around their popular friends, acting snobby to less popular kids. It is better to have a few close friends than to be popular. This answer only talks about the first part of the article and the very end. B Most kids want to fit in at school. Popular kids seem cool, but they are often snobby and have to work hard to stay popular. The middle group and the free-thinkers generally have close friends or are part of larger groups with similar interests. In the end, good friends are the people you connect with who accept you for you. Yes. This answer summarizes the assertion, all three groups, and the conclusion. C It is better to have a few close friends who value you for yourself. In school, the average kid as a few close friends and a larger group of friends with similar interests. The free-thinkers may not be popular, but they have one or two close friends who think like they do and enjoy the same things. It is these good, close friendships that last over time. This answer leaves out the popular group. This is one of the main sections, so this answer cannot be the best summary.