BSEP Reading for Main Idea 3

Question 1

A passage covers the history of jazz, its African American origins, and its influence on modern music. The best title for this passage would be:

Accepted Answer

The Origins and Impact of Jazz Music

Answer

Famous Jazz Musicians

Answer

How to Play Jazz Instruments

Answer

African American Culture in the 20th Century

Question 2

When reading a long article, how can headings and subheadings help a reader identify the main idea?

Accepted Answer

They signal the main topics and help organize the key points

Answer

They provide the author's personal opinion

Answer

They list all the supporting details in the article

Answer

They show which paragraphs can be skipped

Question 3

A paragraph reads: 'Maria practiced piano every day for a year. She took lessons twice a week. She performed in three recitals.' What is the implied main idea?

Accepted Answer

Maria was very dedicated to learning piano

Answer

Piano is a difficult instrument to learn

Answer

Recitals are an important part of musical training

Answer

Taking lessons is the best way to learn music

Question 4

A passage begins: 'Volunteering benefits communities in many ways.' The rest of the paragraph gives examples of those benefits. This opening sentence is called the:

Accepted Answer

Topic sentence

Answer

Concluding sentence

Answer

Supporting detail

Answer

Transition sentence

Question 5

A student reads a passage and thinks the main idea is 'Dogs make good pets.' However, the passage also discusses cats, birds, and fish. What should the student do?

Accepted Answer

Broaden the main idea to cover all pets discussed

Answer

Keep the main idea since dogs are mentioned

Answer

Ignore the other animals and focus only on dogs

Answer

Assume the passage has no clear main idea

Question 6

Which strategy BEST helps a reader identify the main idea of an unfamiliar passage?

Accepted Answer

Read the entire passage, then ask 'What is this mostly about?'

Answer

Read only the first word of each sentence

Answer

Look up every unknown vocabulary word before reading

Answer

Count how many times each word appears

Question 7

A paragraph describes three scientists who independently discovered the same mathematical theorem. The main idea is most likely:

Accepted Answer

Scientists sometimes make the same discovery at different times

Answer

Mathematics is a very old subject

Answer

The theorem is extremely difficult to understand

Answer

Scientists prefer to work alone rather than in teams