FINDING GENERAL SUBJECT AND CENTRAL THOUGHTS

1. The movie Apollo 13 was a blockbuster for the summer of 1995. It is an exciting
story about space exploration. In the movie, the astronauts get in trouble while
they are trying to return to Earth. People in the audience are on the edge of
their seats waiting to see what happens. What makes it even more exciting is
that it is a true story.
General Subject: ____
Central Thought: _____

2. Most teenagers and young adults do not know what they want to do for the rest
of their lives. It is a big decision. There are a number of things you can do to
narrow the choices. For example, you can take an interest test, do some
research on your own about a career, try volunteer work in the field in which
you are interested, or “job-shadow”, in which you spend a day with a person
who is working in a field that interests you. These are just a few helpful ideas
as you begin to choose a career.
General Subject: ____
Central Thought: _____

3. The United States seems to be in love with the idea of going out to eat. Because
of this, a real variety of restaurants has come about specializing in all kinds of
foods. McDonald’s is the king of a subgroup of restaurants called fast-food
restaurants. Chances are, no matter where you live, there is a McDonald’s
restaurant near you. There are even McDonald’s in the Soviet Union. Now
McDonald’s is trying something new. It is called McDonald’s Express and there
is a test site in Peabody, Massachusetts. It is part of a Mobil gas station. This
allows you to fill up with gas and fill up on food at the same time. What will
they think of next?
General Subject: ____
Central Thought: _____

4. There are three reasons why Canada is one of the best countries in the
world. First, Canada has an excellent health care system. All Canadians have
access to medical services at a reasonable price. Second, Canada has a high
standard of education. Students are taught by well-trained teachers and are
encouraged to continue studying at university. Finally, Canada’s cities are clean
and efficiently managed. Canadian cities have many parks and lots of space for
people to live. As a result, Canada is a desirable place to live.
General Subject: ____
Central Thought: _____

5. To many parents, the infant's crying may be mainly an irritation, especially if it

continues for long periods. But crying serves important functions for the child
as well as for the parents. For the child, crying helps improve lung capacity and
the respiratory system. Perhaps more important, the cry serves as a signal of
distress. When babies cry, they indicate that they are hungry or in pain, and
this is important information for parents.
General Subject: ____
Central Thought: _____
REFERENCES

1. Mr. Brown bought a new car, but his wife hasn’t seen it yet.
a. his refers to: __________
b. it refers to: __________

2. Most of us know what a family is. However, we can learn more about families
from social scientists.
a. us refers to: __________
b. we refers to: __________

3. The chair was so well made that Ms. Grant decided to buy five.
a. five refers to ____________

4. A camera takes the light rays that bounce off the subjects being photographed
and focuses them on a sheet of film for an instant. This light makes chemical
changes in the coating on the film.
a. them refers to:__________
b. this light refers to:__________

5. One aspects of American life most visitors agree on is its conformity. Because
they had to establish traditions, because they had to absorb millions of people
from diverse cultures, Americans tend to insist upon conformity in
fundamentals.
a. its refers to: __________
b. (the first) they refers to __________
c. (the second) they refers to _________

6. During the Cambrian Period, mollusks (related to snails and slugs) and sea
worms were common, and many have been preserved as fossils. Another
animal that was common then was the trilobite. They no longer exist, but most
museums have fossil collections of them.
a. many refers to: __________
b. then refers to: __________
c. them refers to: __________

7. Children love cartoons, and they can sit for hours watching them.
a. they refers to:__________
b. them refers to:__________

8. The Chang family went to see their friends, the Browns. “Where do they live?”,
asked Mr. Chang. “They live on the fourth floor,” said Mrs. Chang. They took
the elevator up to their friends’ floor.
a. The 1st “their” refers to: ________
b. The 1st “they” refers to: _________
c. The 2nd “they” refers to: ________
d. The 3rd “they” refers to: _________
e. The 2nd “their” refers to: ________
CONNECTIVES

1. _________ so many factors are involved in divorces, it’s impossible to place

the blame on one person.
2. __________ growing rice, the farmers of Cianjur began raising peanuts and
melon.
3. She has been living in the country her whole life. _____________________,
she has decided she wants a change and plans on moving to the city.
4. _________ the fierce sandstorm, the caravan moved on.
5. He had been continuously abused as a child. ______________ he grew up to
be a bitter and violence-prone adult.
6. I prefer to wear casual clothes, ___________ jeans and sweatshirt.
7. Ms. Jones can read and write Swahili _________ speak and understand it.
8. _____________________ having muscle problems, the defender was able to
play.
9. Bring an umbrella with you _____________________ it rains tomorrow.
10. They arrived in time for the meeting _____________________ having to
travel in bad weather.

TABLES
Study this pie chart and answer the questions!

1. Who is the chart about?

2. Which activity do these people spend the least time doing?
3. Which activity do these people spend the most time doing?
4. Which statement is true?
a. People spend less time working than eating, drinking, and sleeping
combined.
b. People spend more time working than eating, drinking, and sleeping
combined.
c. People spend as much time working as eating, drinking, and sleeping
combined.
d. None of the above.
5. Which occupation will grow the most from 2010 to 2020?
6. How many physical therapist aides will there be in 2020?
7. What percent of job growth will there be for carpenters from 2010 to 2020?
8. What is not true about dental hygienists?
a. In 2020, there will be 68,000 more dental hygienists than in 2010.
b. In 2010, there were 250,000 dental hygienists.
c. It requires an associate degree.
d. From 2010 to 2020, this job will grow by 37%.