CELSA Reading For Main Ideas 2

Question 1

A paragraph discusses how urban gardens reduce food insecurity, provide fresh produce, and strengthen community bonds. What is the main idea?

Accepted Answer

Urban gardens benefit communities in multiple ways

Answer

The paragraph covers several benefits of urban gardens — food access and community — so the unifying main idea is that urban gardens benefit communities in multiple ways.

Question 2

Which sentence from a passage would MOST LIKELY serve as the main idea?

Accepted Answer

Soil erosion near riverbanks has worsened due to increased flooding, deforestation, and poor land management.

Answer

The sentence naming multiple causes of a broader problem serves as the main idea, while the others are specific supporting details.

Question 3

After reading a business memo, a reader summarizes it as: 'Sales declined because of rising costs and weak demand.' This summary reflects the passage's:

Accepted Answer

Main idea

Answer

A summary that captures the central point of a text represents the main idea, not just one detail or the title.

Question 4

A passage opens with: 'Despite its benefits, remote work creates significant challenges for managers.' The rest of the passage discusses coordination, oversight, and team cohesion issues. The opening sentence is BEST described as:

Accepted Answer

The main idea statement

Answer

The opening sentence introduces the central claim — that remote work challenges managers — which the rest of the passage supports.

Question 5

A reader encounters a passage with no clear topic sentence. How should the reader identify the main idea?

Accepted Answer

Identify what most details have in common

Answer

When no explicit topic sentence exists, the main idea is inferred by finding the common thread running through the supporting details.

(CELSA) Combined English Language Skills Assessment Practice Test

(CELSA) Combined English Language Skills Assessment Practice Test

CELSA Reading For Main Ideas 2