Locating The Stated Main Idea: Exercise

EXERCISE
Locating the Stated Main Idea

Directions Read each paragraph. Mentally determine its topic. Then identify its
: stated main idea sentence by asking yourself, "What is the one most
important point the author wants me to understand about the topic?"
The sentence that answers that question is the paragraph's stated main
idea sentence.
1
Tsunamis, large ocean waves caused by underwater earthquakes, can be
deadly and destructive. For example, in December 2004, an underwater
earthquake triggered a massive tsunami throughout the Indian Ocean. The
tsunami killed more than 200,000 people and caused billions of dollars of
damage to the coasts of numerous Southeast Asian countries.
The stated main idea sentence is
A)tsunamis
Tsunamis, large ocean waves caused by underwater earthquakes, can

B)be deadly and destructive.
The tsunami killed more than 200,000 people and caused billions of
C)dollars of damage to the coasts of numerous Southeast Asian countries.
2
Even today, the U.S. Supreme Court does not reflect the U.S. population.
It was 1967 before the first black justice was appointed. It was 1981 before
the first woman was appointed to the Court. It was 1986 before the Court
had its first justice of Italian descent. No person of Hispanic or Asian
descent has yet been appointed as a member of the Court.

Even today, the U.S. Supreme Court does not reflect the U.S.
A)population.
B)It was 1967 before the first black justice was appointed.
No person of Hispanic or Asian descent has yet been appointed as a

C)member of the Court.
3
In Africa, music is usually performed outdoors. There is spontaneous
music making as well as performances by social and music groups at
ceremonies and feasts. There is no musical notation (written music).
African music tradition, like folklore and history, is transmitted orally.
Music is a social activity in which almost everyone participates. Clearly,
African music has several interesting characteristics.
A)In Africa, music is usually performed outdoors.
B)There is no musical notation (written music).
C)Clearly, African music has several interesting characteristics.
4
High achievement motivation affects people's choice of occupation and job
success. (High achievement motivation refers to the psychological need for
success in school, sports, occupations, or other competitive situations.)
People with high achievement motivation often go into occupations that
provide rewards for individual achievement, such as sales, engineering,
architecture, or law. Moreover, people with high achievement motivation
tend to go into occupations that realistically match their abilities. For this
reason, they have little anxiety or fear of failure. And when success is
achieved, they enjoy the fruit of their labor more than the average person.

High achievement motivation affects people's choice of occupation and
A)job success.
Moreover, people with high achievement motivation tend to go into

B)occupations that realistically match their abilities.
C)For this reason, they have little anxiety or fear of failure.
5
Democracy comes from the Greek word demos, which means "the people,"
and kratia, meaning "to rule." The term democracy refers to a form of
government in which the people govern, either directly or through elected
representatives. In other words, it is a set of rules for determining who will
exercise the authority of government.

The term democracy refers to a form of government in which the
A)people govern, either directly or through elected representatives.
B)the meaning of the term democracy
In other words, it is a set of rules for determining who will exercise the
C)authority of government.
6
Some believe that Americans have become merely consumers of material
goods who no longer care about helping others. This image is false,
however. An estimated 90 million Americans volunteer, and the monetary
value of their volunteer time is estimated at $200 billion a year. Many of
these volunteers serve on committees, baby-sit, sing in church choirs,
coach, and lead scout troops. More than 1.5 million of these volunteers
provide fire protection and ambulance service without pay.

Some believe that Americans have become merely consumers of
A)material goods who no longer care about helping others.
B)This image is false, however.
An estimated 90 million Americans volunteer, and the monetary value

C)of their volunteer time is estimated at $200 billion a year.
7
Is it an ant, you wonder, or a termite? Ants resemble termites, but they are
quite different and can be easily distinguished. In contrast to termites, ants
are usually dark in color, are hard bodied, and have constriction between
the thorax and abdomen. Also, ants and termites belong to different orders.
A)Is it an ant, you wonder, or a termite?
Ants resemble termites, but they are quite different and can be easily
B)distinguished.
C)Also, ants and termites belong to different orders.
8
Adolescents tend to choose friends who are like them, and friends
influence each other to become even more alike. Friends are usually the
same race and have similar status within the peer group. Male adolescents
tend to have many friends, but the friendships are rarely close ones.
Among teenage girls, friendships are fewer but much closer, and they
provide a great deal of emotional support.
Adolescents tend to choose friends who are like them, and friends
A)influence each other to become even more alike.
Friends are usually the same race, and have similar status within the
B)peer group.
Male adolescents tend to have many friends, but the friendships are
C)rarely close ones.
9
An individual with the eating disorder bulimia first eats secretly,
consuming an enormous amount of food in one sitting. The large quantity
of food is clearly beyond simple hunger. Then, after the eating binge
comes the purge. In this phase, the person vomits or uses laxatives to make
sure the food does not stay in the body and produce weight gain. With
bulimia, there is always a distinct "binge and purge" pattern.

An individual with the eating disorder bulimia first eats secretly,
A)consuming an enormous amount food in one sitting.
B)Then, after the eating binge comes the purge.
C)With bulimia, there is always a distinct "binge and purge" pattern.
10
When you listen to a speech, can it help you to focus on the speaker's
strengths and weaknesses? By closely observing and listening to people
when they give speeches, you can learn a great deal that will make you a
more successful speaker. If the speaker is not effective, try to determine
why. If he or she is effective, try to pick out techniques you can use in
your own speeches. If the speaker is ineffective, avoid the errors the
person made.
When you listen to a speech, can it help you to focus on the speaker's
A)strengths and weaknesses?
By closely observing and listening to people when they give speeches,

B)you can learn a great deal that will make you a more successful
speaker.
C)If the speaker is ineffective, avoid the errors the person made.

Locating The Stated Main Idea: Exercise

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EXERCISE

Locating the Stated Main Idea

The stated main idea sentence is

Tsunamis, large ocean waves caused by underwater earthquakes, can

The stated main idea sentence is

No person of Hispanic or Asian descent has yet been appointed as a

The stated main idea sentence is

A)In Africa, music is usually performed outdoors.

B)There is no musical notation (written music).

C)Clearly, African music has several interesting characteristics.

The stated main idea sentence is

Moreover, people with high achievement motivation tend to go into

C)For this reason, they have little anxiety or fear of failure.

The stated main idea sentence is

B)the meaning of the term democracy

The stated main idea sentence is

B)This image is false, however.

An estimated 90 million Americans volunteer, and the monetary value

The stated main idea sentence is

A)Is it an ant, you wonder, or a termite?

C)Also, ants and termites belong to different orders.

The stated main idea sentence is

B)Then, after the eating binge comes the purge.

C)With bulimia, there is always a distinct "binge and purge" pattern.

By closely observing and listening to people when they give speeches,

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