English Language Class

Grace N. C. Sabandar
ghechan83@gmail.com
M AT H E M AT I C S
 identifying
main idea &
topic sentence
Main idea is the subject of the paragraph.

Two kinds of main ideas:

1. A directly stated main idea.
2. An implied main idea

Topic sentence is the sentence that tells

what the paragraph is about.
Practice 1
There are some differences between basket ball and soccer. In scoring, for example,
basket ball players use their hands to throw the ball. They must use their hands. They
can also throw the ball to other players. It is necessary for them to be able to jump high
for the ball and throw it high. For this reason, good basketball players are usually very
tall. In contrast, soccer players can score by kicking the ball or by hitting it with some
other part of their body or head, but they cannot throw the ball for a score. Soccer
teams also move the ball with their feet.

Which of the following is the best main idea for the paragraph?
A. Basket ball players can throw the ball to other players.
B. Throwing the ball high is allowed in basket ball.
C. Soccer teams also move the ball with their feet.
D. Soccer is different from basket ball in several ways.
 Practice 2
In the morning and evening skies, Venus shines more brightly than any other celestial objects except the Sun and
the Moon. There are two main reasons for the brilliance of Venus: its closeness and its reflectivity. One reason
that Venus seems to shine so brightly from our perspective on Earth is its relative nearness to us. It is only
26,000,000 miles away from Earth at its closest point, so all the other planets are farther away. Because of this, it
appears to shine more brightly to us than the other planets. The second and more important reason that Venus
shines so brightly is its albedo, or its ability to reflect light. Some celestial bodies have very weak albedos; they
are very poor reflectors of light. The Moon is an example of a celestial body with a weak albedo. The Moon
reflects only about 12 percent of the light that reaches it. Venus, on the other hand, has a very strong albedo.
Venus is covered with clouds that are highly effective in reflecting the light of the Sun. Unlike the Moon, which
has an albedo of 12 percent, Venus has an extremely strong albedo of 75 percent.

Which of the following best expresses the main idea of the passage?
A. The reasons for the brightness of Venus
B. The morning and evening skies
C. The nearness of Venus to the Earth
D. The albedo of Venus
1. Identify the main idea!

2. Locate the most general sentence

(the topic sentence)

3. Study the rest of the paragraph

 Practice 3
1. Animals differ according to when they sleep.

2. Some animals sleep during daylight while others

sleep during darkness.

3. Animals’ sleeping habits differ in a number of ways.

4. Hibernation is another kind of sleep for some

animals.
 Practice 3
1. Animals differ according to when they sleep.

2. Some animals sleep during daylight while others

sleep during darkness.

3. Animals’ sleeping habits differ in a number of ways.

4. Hibernation is another kind of sleep for some

animals.
 Practice 3

Animals’ sleeping habits differ in a number of ways.

They differ according to when they sleep. Some
animals sleep during daylight while others sleep during
darkness. They also differ in the length of time they
sleep. Other animals sleep for weeks or months at a
time when they hibernate.
 ”Locating Main Ideas &
Topic Sentences”
Group work
Read the passages and choose the best
answer!

http://bit.ly/main_idea1