ISAT Reading Comprehension: Main Idea 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A passage about ancient Rome discusses its legal system, engineering achievements, and cultural influence on Western civilization. The unifying main idea is:
- Ancient Rome's contributions continue to shape modern Western civilization. (Correct answer)
- Roman engineering was the most impressive in history.
- Western civilization has many ancient influences.
- The Roman legal system was flawed but impactful.
Correct answer: Ancient Rome's contributions continue to shape modern Western civilization.
The three topics — law, engineering, and culture — all support the claim that Rome's legacy persists in Western society.
Question 2: A passage's main idea is: 'Mindfulness meditation can reduce anxiety.' Which supporting detail best fits this main idea?
- A study showing anxiety scores dropped after eight weeks of daily meditation. (Correct answer)
- A biography of a famous Buddhist monk.
- Statistics on the global meditation market.
- A description of different meditation postures.
Correct answer: A study showing anxiety scores dropped after eight weeks of daily meditation.
Only this option directly provides evidence for the causal claim that meditation reduces anxiety.
Question 3: An author writes a passage arguing that libraries are essential public institutions. Three of the paragraphs discuss books, and one paragraph discusses public computer access programs. The odd paragraph is likely:
- An additional supporting detail that broadens the main idea (Correct answer)
- Evidence that the main idea is incorrect
- The main idea paragraph
- An irrelevant tangent that should be removed
Correct answer: An additional supporting detail that broadens the main idea
Computer access programs represent another library service that supports the broader claim that libraries are essential public institutions.
Question 4: A passage ends: 'In sum, the data clearly show that early childhood education programs produce measurable long-term benefits for individuals and society.' This sentence is best described as:
- A restatement of the main idea (Correct answer)
- A new argument introduced at the end
- A counterargument the author dismisses
- A statistic that needs citation
Correct answer: A restatement of the main idea
Phrases like 'in sum' signal a concluding restatement that synthesizes the passage's main argument.
Question 5: A passage presents three scientists with opposing theories about dinosaur extinction. The main idea is most likely:
- The cause of dinosaur extinction remains scientifically debated. (Correct answer)
- Asteroid impact is the only credible explanation for dinosaur extinction.
- Scientists frequently disagree about everything.
- Dinosaurs went extinct sixty-six million years ago.
Correct answer: The cause of dinosaur extinction remains scientifically debated.
Presenting multiple competing theories signals that the passage's central point is the ongoing scientific debate, not advocacy for one theory.
Question 6: Which answer choice for a main idea question should a test-taker be most cautious about selecting?
- An answer that is too narrow and only describes one paragraph's content (Correct answer)
- An answer that uses the exact vocabulary of the passage
- An answer stated in the first paragraph
- An answer that is longer than one sentence
Correct answer: An answer that is too narrow and only describes one paragraph's content
A main idea that only covers one paragraph is a supporting detail, not the central claim of the whole passage.
Question 7: A passage about the gig economy discusses income instability, lack of benefits, and worker flexibility. A test answer states: 'Workers in the gig economy experience significant trade-offs between flexibility and financial security.' Is this a good main idea?
- Yes, because it captures the tension between the advantages and disadvantages described. (Correct answer)
- No, because the passage only discusses disadvantages.
- No, because the main idea must be a question.
- Yes, but only if the passage is fewer than five paragraphs.
Correct answer: Yes, because it captures the tension between the advantages and disadvantages described.
The answer synthesizes both the negative aspects (instability, no benefits) and the positive aspect (flexibility) into a balanced main idea.
ISAT Reading Comprehension: Main Idea 4
A passage about ancient Rome discusses its legal system, engineering achievements, and cultural influence on Western civilization.
The unifying main idea is: