Main Idea
What is this paragraph mainly about:
How do you say "Holy cow" in French? The fastest thing in France may just be the fastest ground transportation in the world. The TGV (Train � Grande Vitesse: French for very high speed) is France's national high speed rail service. On April 3rd, 2007, a TGV test train set a record for the fastest wheeled train, reaching 357.2 miles per hour. In mid 2011, TGV trains operated at the highest speed in passenger train service in the world, regularly reaching 200 miles per hour. But what you may find most shocking is that TGV trains run on electric power not petrol. Now if you'll excuse me; I have a record to catch.
TGV: A Record Setting Train
Traveling from state to state, especially if you're in a car, you may notice that the price of gasoline varies widely. Many factors combine to determine the price that a gas station charges. Gasoline is refined from crude oil, so if the price of crude oil increases, then gasoline prices also rise. The price of gas also depends upon the tax that the individual state charges. The higher the taxes that are imposed on gasoline, the higher the total cost of gas becomes. In addition, during the summer, more people want to drive, so the demand for gas is higher. Higher demand pushes prices higher. In winter, when fewer people drive, lower demand sends prices lower.
What is the organizational pattern?
How do we define author’s purpose?
An author's purpose is the reason an author decides to write about a specific topic.
"Nico!" Erin shouted at the top of her lungs as she bounded through the meadow, "Come back, Nico!" She was nearly out of breath but she kept running through the tall grass. "Nico, come on, boy! It's time to go home!" Erin continued shouting, her voice hoarse from shouting similar expressions all day. Then she stumbled over the leash that she was carrying, "Whoa� Come on Nico!" Erin shouted, regaining her balance.
Who is Nico? How do you know?
What is this paragraph mainly about:
Invisibility, flight, the power to split into multiple bodies� these superhuman abilities have long been associated with ninjas, but ninjas didn't really do all of that stuff. They were just regular people with exceptional abilities. So why do people think that ninjas had super powers? Well, one reason is that ninjas were very secretive and left behind few historical records of their activities. Since we do not know much about what they actually did, we are left to speculate. Another reason why people often think that ninjas had superhuman abilities is because of how ninjas are depicted in folklore (particularly during the Edo period in Japan). In such legends and works of art, ninjas were mysticized and romanticized. These romantic notions of ninjas as superhero are perpetuated in media today, but maybe that's just because these days people expect ninjas to have supernatural abilities. Ki-yah!
The two main types of clouds that form low in the atmosphere, that is, below 6,500 feet, are cumulus and stratus. Stratus clouds develop horizontally, whereas cumulus clouds are formed vertically. Stratus clouds are flat, uniformly gray in appearance, and tend to fill the sky with layers of gloom. White, fluffy cumulus clouds, on the other hand, often float in a bright blue sky and have been called "fair weather clouds." Unlike stratus clouds, cumulus clouds are individual structures. They're flat on the bottom and more puffy toward the top. Given the right conditions in the atmosphere, cumulus clouds may also turn dark with rain, signaling the coming of a thunderstorm.
What is the organizational pattern?
A newspaper is written to …
"Argh!" Amber exclaimed as she pulled off her sweater and threw it into a multicolored pile of clothes. She walked into her closet and swept her hand recklessly through the rows of hanging garments, her face reflecting her dissatisfaction. She scoffed and grabbed a silver dress. She held it up to the mirror against her body for a moment, sighed, and then stepped into the dress. She gazed into the mirror, and then huffed and threw her fists down with disappointment. She heard her mother's voice through the door, "Amber, Scott's here. Are you almost ready?" Amber groaned, "OK, just tell him I'll be down in two minutes!" She slid the silver dress back off and threw it into an ever-growing multicolored pile of clothes.
What problem is Amber having? How do you know this?
What is this paragraph mainly about:
When one hears the term “reality” applied to a television show, one might expect that the events occurred naturally or, at the least, were not scripted, but this is not always the case. Many reality shows occur in unreal environments, like rented mansions occupied by film crews. These living environments do not reflect what most people understand to be “reality.” Worse, there have been accusations that events not captured on film were later restaged by producers. Worse still, some involved in the production of “reality” television claim that the participants were urged to act out story lines premeditated by producers. With such accusations floating around, it’s no wonder many people take reality TV to be about as real as the sitcom.
Reality TV shows are not very realistic because they are filmed in unrealistic places, may contain restaged events, and may be scripted.
Practicing makes you more capable.
Bicycles have evolved over many years. In 1818, a heavy two-wheeled device called a "velocipede" was patented in Paris. The rider controlled the direction with a steering wheel and moved it forward by pushing his feet on the ground. It caught on briefly, and many people worked to refine its design. In 1863, pedals were added. A few years later, a new, lighter bike was developed that used a very large front wheel and a small rear wheel. Called the "Ariel," it became popular but was quite accident-prone. Over the next decade, "safety" bicycles were produced, incorporating welcome improvements such as air-filled rubber tires, brakes, and gears. By 1899, about a million bicycles were in use.
What is the organizational pattern?
A pamphlet urging people not to eat animals or use products made from animals or animal suffering because the author thinks that is cruel and unnecessary
Persuade
Mr. Johnson looked up at the sky. It was clear as far as the eye could see, except for the cruel sun. The insatiable sun drained the land of all moisture. He cursed the sun. Mr. Johnson ran his fingers through one of the rows of dirt and grabbed a handful. It was bone dry, almost powdery. He let the dirt sift through his fingers and it turned to dust in the wind. Mr. Johnson put his hands on his hips and surveyed the field. It was well seeded, that he knew. He seeded it himself, yet nothing sprang from the dirt. "Well, there's only one thing left to do," he said to himself. Mr. Johnson headed to church.
What does Mr. Johnson do for a living? How do you know this?
He is a farmer,Mr. Johnson grabs dirt from the field, and the dirt is very dry. This indicates that it has not rained in a while. Additionally, Mr. Johnson's crops are not growing, which indicates that they are not getting enough water or light. In this case it seems like they aren't getting enough water.
What is the paragraph mainly about?
There are many types of lethal venom in the animal kingdom, but perhaps no stranger carrier than the platypus. The platypus is one of few venomous mammals. Males carry a venom cocktail in their ankle spurs that paralyzes victims with excruciating pain. Stranger still, the platypus is the only mammal that uses electroreception. What this means is that the platypus uses its bill to sense the electricity produced by the muscular movements of its prey. The platypus neither sees, hears, nor smells its prey while hunting but, rather, pursues it through electroreception. Perhaps most odd, the platypus is the only mammal that lays eggs rather than giving birth to live young. The platypus is an odd creature indeed.
The platypus is a strange mammal because it has venom, uses its beak to sense prey, and lays eggs.
Six to eight hours of sleep a night makes you well rested the next day
Dr. Miller doesn't want the tigers to vanish. These majestic beasts are disappearing at an alarming rate. Dr. Miller thinks that we should write to our congress people. If we let them know that we demand the preservation of this species, maybe we can make a difference. Dr. Miller also thinks that we should donate to Save the Tigers. Our donations will help to support and empower those who are fighting the hardest to preserve the tigers. We owe it to our grandchildren to do something.
I first went to Mary's Hairy Salon a few months ago. Oh my gosh, was I impressed! Unlike other hairdressers, who pretend to hear you explain what you want and then just start cutting away, Mary really listened. I showed her a picture of the style I wanted, and that is exactly what I got. She took the time to get acquainted with my hair, and she was very knowledgeable. And one of the best parts? It was affordable. For someone whose hair needs maintenance every six weeks or so, that makes all the difference. I highly recommend Mary!
Virgil slammed his fist against the locker. The hallway was packed one minute ago, but now most of the students had filed into their classes. The bell would ring shortly. Virgil looked around urgently but saw no friendly faces. He faced the locker again and started spinning the lock, first right, then left, then right. He took a deep breath and pulled the lock. It held tight. Virgil let out an expletive at the exact moment that the bell rang. Virgil grabbed the handle of the locker and yanked it repeatedly in a fit of frustration. Then he threw his arms against the locker and burrowed his head into his arms. Finally, he pushed himself off of the locker and went to look for a custodian.
Why is Virgil upset? How do you know this?
What is the following paragraph mainly about:
Electric trolley cars or trams were once the chief mode of public transportation in the United States. Though they required tracks and electric cables to run, these trolley cars were clean and comfortable. In 1922, auto manufacturer General Motors created a special unit to replace electric trolleys with cars, trucks, and buses. Over the next decade, this group successfully lobbied for laws and regulations that made operating trams more difficult and less profitable. In 1936 General Motors created several front companies for the purpose of purchasing and dismantling the trolley car system. They received substantial investments from Firestone Tire, Standard Oil of California, Phillips Petroleum, and other parties invested in the automotive industry. Some people suspect that these parties wanted to replace trolley cars with buses to make public transportation less desirable, which would then increase automobile sales. The decline of the tram system in North America could be attributed to many things—labor strikes, the Great Depression, regulations that were unfavorable to operators—but perhaps the primary cause was having a group of powerful men from rival sectors of the auto industry working together to ensure its destruction. Fill it up, please.
Death of the Electric Tram
Many people are confused about why our economy went to shambles in 2008. The crisis was actually the result of a combination of many complex factors. First, easy credit conditions allowed people who were high-risk or unworthy of credit to borrow, and even people who had no income were eligible for large loans. Second, banks would bundle these toxic loans and sell them as packages on the financial market. Third, large insurance firms backed these packages, misrepresenting these high-risk loans as safe investments. Fourth, because of the ease of acquiring credit and the rapid growth in the housing market, people were buying two or three houses, intending to sell them for more than they paid. All of these factors created bubbles of speculation. These bubbles burst, sending the whole market into a downward spiral, causing employers to lose capital and lay off employees. Consumer spending then plummeted and most businesses suffered. The economy is like a big boat, and once it gets moving quickly in the wrong direction, it's hard to turn it around.
In 1968, Shirley Chisholm became the first African American woman elected to the U.S. Congress. Not long after that achievement, she made history again. Chisholm, a Democrat, ran for president in 1972, becoming the first woman and the first African American to run for the nomination of a major political party. After losing the nomination to George McGovern, Chisholm went on to serve five more terms in the House of Representatives. She left Congress in 1983 and went on to teach politics at Mount Holyoke College from 1983 to 1987. Shirley Chisholm died in 2005 at the age of eighty.
enna was shocked when she opened the door to her apartment. There were long rips in the couch, as though someone ran knives down the front of it. A lamp was shattered on the floor. The picture frames were hanging crookedly, some of them had fallen off the wall completely and the door to her cat's travel cage was open. Not only that, but the door to the bird cage was swinging back and forth and there were feathers on the floor. She swore that she had locked her cat in the travel cage before she left for work. At first Jenna thought it might have been burglars. Oh no, she thought. Someone broke into my apartment, trashed the place, and stole my cat! Then she heard the cat meowing in her bedroom. She ran to the bedroom and saw the cat patting one of Jenna's favorite shoes with its claw. "That's it!" Jenna yelled. "I'm done with this." Then she threw the cat back into its travel cage and tried to shut the door, but the lock wouldn't catch. Jenna huffed and then grabbed some duct tape.
What happened in Jenna's apartment? How do you know this?
Jenna's cat tore it to shreds, he rips in the couch seem as though they were made by cat claws, and the cat is free in the apartment instead of in its cage. Also, the cat is clawing one of Jenna's shoes, indicating that it has clawed other things in the apartment too.