Main Ideas
Identify the most general idea:
a. email
b. communication
c. letter
d. cell phone
b. communication
How many supporting details are in the passage?
Some countries require warnings on cigarette packs much stronger than the warnings in the United States. Warnings adopted by Australia show pictures of cancerous lungs and bloodied brains with text that cautions, "Smoking doubles your risk of stroke." England for years has had packages that feature large, blunt messages, such as "Smoking kills." The messages span at least a third of the box in large lettering. In Canada, a pack of cigarettes comes with stark labels picturing decayed teeth.
3 Supporting Details
Does this sentence show an addition or time relationship?
After the roller coaster ride started, one girl began screaming that she wanted to get off.
A time relationship
What word shows the cause-and-effect relationship of the sentence below?
Beagles have a reputation for being good family dogs. One reason for this is that beagles tend to be happy and loving, especially with children.
Reason
Identify the synonym that helps to define 'OBSOLETE':
New inventions make old ones OBSOLETE. For instance, because of the compact disk, the phonograph record is now outdated.
OUTDATED
Identify the most general idea:
a. unexpected day off
b. nice surprise
c. paycheck bonus
d. party invitation
b. nice surprise
How many supporting details are in the passage?
**Conservationists are concerned about Mount Everest for a couple of reasons.** First of all, people are leaving old boots, axes, and other old gear at the top of the mountain. If this continues, Mount Everest will be the world’s highest junk pile. Also, the forest at the base of the mountain is rapidly being cut down. The trees are being sold to tourists and mountaineers for use as firewood.
2 Supporting Details
Identify the transition word in this sentence:
A headache that wakes a person up from sleep may not be a simple headache. Also, a headache that includes weakness, sudden loss of balance, or changes in vision may require immediate medical attention.
Also
What word shows the illustration relationship of the sentence below?
Reflexes are automatic reactions of the body to external causes. Examples of reflexes are blinking at a bright light, jerking a hand away from a flame, and a baby's sucking response.
Examples
Identify the synonym that helps to define 'DEFICIT':
According to recent studies, a shortage of sleep due to long work or study hours will not cause any permanent damage to your health. One good night of sleep, researchers say, can make up for a week of sleep DEFICIT.
Shortage
Identify the main idea:
a. Tall buildings in the United States often have twelfth and fourteenth floors—but not a thirteenth floor.
b. Houses in France are never numbered thirteen.
c. Throughout the world, the number thirteen is viewed as unlucky.
d. Many global airlines have removed seat number thirteen from airplane seating charts.
c. Throughout the world, the number thirteen is viewed as unlucky.
Sentence 2 is the main idea, major supporting detail, or minor supporting detail?
(1) If you are like most people, you feel that writing is not one of your talents and there's nothing you can do about it. (2) The truth is that some common-sense tips can help you become a better writer. (3) First of all, write often. (4) Like other crafts, writing improves with practice. (5) Also, organize your material with an outline. (6) An outline will provide you with a good guideline without limiting you, as you can change it at any time. (7) Next, write in a plain style. (8)Don't try to use overly fancy language. (9)Instead, just say what you mean simply and clearly. (10) Finally, tighten your writing. (11) Nothing improves writing more than eliminating unnecessary words.
The main idea
Does this paragraph follow a LIST or TIME pattern of organization?
What makes junk food so bad for us? For one thing, although it is high in calories, it usually lacks nutritional value and provides little or nothing in the way of vitamins, minerals, fiber, or protein. Moreover, it often contains harmful substances such as chemical additives and excess salt and sugar.
LIST Pattern
Does the following sentence have a Compare & Contrast, Cause & Effect, or Illustration pattern of organization?
Many people believe you can catch a cold by going out in cold weather with wet hair. However, this is a false idea. A cold can only come from a virus you get from someone else.
Compare & Contrast
Identify the antonym that helps to define 'DOCILE':
The children wanted us to adopt an older German shepherd from the pound, but we were told he was rather wild, so instead we chose a collie that was more DOCILE.
Wild
Identify the main idea:
a. Most teens who work do so to develop responsibility and gain independence from their parents.
b. Almost all teens who work are motivated by a desire to earn spending money.
c. For a majority of teens, work offers an opportunity to spend time with peers.
d. Teenagers choose to work during the school year for a variety of reasons.
D. Teenagers choose to work during the school year for a variety of reasons.
Is Sentence 7 a main idea, a major supporting detail, or a minor supporting detail?
(1) If you are like most people, you feel that writing is not one of your talents and there's nothing you can do about it. (2) The truth is that some common-sense tips can help you become a better writer. (3) First of all, write often. (4) Like other crafts, writing improves with practice. (5) Also, organize your material with an outline. (6) An outline will provide you with a good guideline without limiting you, as you can change it at any time. (7) Next, write in a plain style. (8) Don't try to use overly fancy language. (9) Instead, just say what you mean simply and clearly. (10) Finally, tighten your writing. (11) Nothing improves writing more than eliminating unnecessary words.
Does this paragraph follow a LIST or TIME pattern of organization?
The story begins with a young man walking to his car after a party. When two other guests ask him for a ride home, he agrees. As they get in the car, he notices they both have a cruel smile and a strange, cold laugh. He then starts to wonder if he made a mistake. He soon finds out the answer is yes.
TIME Pattern
Does the following sentence have a Compare & Contrast, Cause & Effect, or Illustration pattern of organization?
“Alternative energy”—energy that does not use oil or other fossil fuels—can come from several sources. For instance, wind power, the power of the tides, and solar power are all alternative sources.
Illustration Pattern
Scientists find that when people feel “love at first sight,” the pleasure center of the brain releases a chemical that STIMULATES the body, causing rapid heartbeat, giddiness, and deep breathing.
What is the definition of STIMULATES
a. makes more active
b. quiets down
c. bypasses
d. imitates
a. makes more active
Which sentence is the main idea?
(1)In 1801, a candidate for Congress challenged to a duel an Army officer who called him “a bowl of skimmed milk.” (2)At that duel, the two men killed each other. (3)Newspaper editors were challenged so often that many put on their pistols when they dressed in the morning. (4)In Vicksburg, Mississippi, three newspaper editors died in duels in the 1840s. (5)These examples indicate that as recently as the 1800s, dueling with weapons was a common way to defend one’s honor.
Sentence 5 - These examples indicate that as recently as the 1800s, dueling with weapons was a common way to defend one’s honor.
Is sentence 3 a main idea, a major supporting detail, or a minor supporting detail?
(1)Research suggests ways in which parents can encourage creativity in children. (2)One way is to provide a stimulating environment. (3)As much as possible, the environment should be designed to match a child’s special interests and talents. (4)Second, teach by focusing on a child’s strengths. (5)Avoid criticizing his or her weaknesses. (6)Another important method is to encourage nonconforming behavior. (7)You can do this by helping your children avoid or resist peer pressure. (8)Fourth, set an example by pursuing interesting work or intellectual or artistic hobbies. (9)Finally, do not use rigid control over children. (10)Children who are constantly directed seem to lose the confidence needed for the creative spirit.
Minor Supporting Detail
What is the pattern of organization? TIME or LIST?
(1)There is a false idea that lemmings, small mouselike creatures that live in northern regions, often commit suicide. (2)The truth is, however, that lemmings end their lives by accident. (3)Normally they live quietly in underground nests feeding on roots and moss. (4)But every few years, the lemming population grows so large that the food supply becomes too small to feed them all. (5)Then all the lemmings leave their nests and go in search of food. (6)As they travel, the lemmings eat everything in their path. (7)After traveling for weeks, they reach the shore—but they don't stop there. (8)Still searching for food, the tiny rodents plunge into the ocean and begin swimming. (9)In a short time, the little creatures become exhausted and drown.
TIME pattern
Does the following sentence have a Compare & Contrast, Cause & Effect, or Illustration pattern of organization?
(1)Many people say rapid population growth is the reason why nearly one billion people go hungry every day. (2)However, political factors are also among the causes of the hunger. (3)First, many countries with hungry citizens actually export crops to other countries. (4)Exporting the crops offers greater profits than selling them at home. (5)Secondly, surpluses that could feed many people are often destroyed in order to keep the price of products high. (6)For example, some crops are allowed to rot, and extra milk is fed to pigs or even dumped.
Cause & Effect Pattern
In the 1950s, the nation’s FLOURISHING economy provided middle-class people with the money they needed to buy new homes outside of overcrowded urban areas. Thus the movement from the cities to the suburbs grew.
Define FLOURISHING in your own words
developing rapidly and successfully; thriving
(anything similar to this can get the point)