Read the following passages thoroughly. Then, answer the questions!

PASSAGE 1
The entire body of a tarantula, especially its legs, is thickly clothed with hair .
Some of it is short and woolly, some long and stiff. Touching this body hair produces
one of two distinct reactions. When the spider is hungry, it responds with an immediate
and swift attack. At the touch of a cricket's antennae the tarantula seizes the insect so
swiftly that a motion picture taken at the rate of 64 frames per second shows only the
result and not the process of capture. But when the spider is not hungry, the stimulation
of its hairs merely causes it to shake the touched limb. An insect can walk under its
hairy belly unharmed.
Alexander Petrunkevitch, "The Spider and the Wasp,"
Scientific American

Questions:
1. Which of the sentences best expresses the main idea of the passage?
2. With respect to passage entitled "The Spider and the Wasp,", which sentence is classified into
major idea (MA) and minor idea (MI)?

Answer:

1. The first sentence. “The entire body of a tarantula, especially its legs, is thickly clothed
with hair.”
2. Major idea (MA):
a) “Touching this body hair produces one of two distinct reactions.”
Minor idea (MI):
a) “When the spider is hungry it responds with an immediate and swift attack.”
b) “But when the spider is not hungry, the stimulation of its hairs merely causes it to
shake the touched limb.”
c) “the tarantula seizes the insect so swiftly”
 PASSAGE 2

One myth about exercise is that if a woman lifts weights, she will develop
muscles as large as a man’s. Without extra male hormones, however, a woman cannot
increase her muscle bulk as much as a man’s. Another misconception about exercise is
that it increases the appetite. Actually, regular exercise stabilizes the blood-sugar level,
which prevents hunger pains. Some people also think that a few minutes of exercise a
day or one session is enough, but at least three solid workouts a week are needed for
muscular and cardiovascular health.

Questions:
1. Do you think the main idea of the passage is stated? Or is it implied?
2. What is the main idea of the passage?
3. With respect to passage, which sentence is classified into major idea (MA) and minor idea
(MI)?

Answers:

1. Implied main idea

2. There are many myths about exercise.
3. Major idea (MA):
a) “One myth about exercise is that if a woman lifts weights, she will develop
muscles as large as a man’s.”
b) “Another misconception about exercise is that it increases the appetite”
c) “Some people also think that a few minutes of exercise a day or one session is
enough….”
Minor idea (MI):
a) “Without extra male hormones, however, a woman cannot increase her muscle
bulk as much as a man’s.”
b) “...but at least three solid workouts a week are needed for muscular and
cardiovascular health.”