Vocabulary
Automobiles depreciate sharply in a short time. In contrast, real estate typically increases in value.
Depreciate means...
What is to lose value?
A century ago, medical practice left much to be desired. In the late 1800s, surgeons still operated with bare hands, wearing the same clothes they had worn on the street. Their shoes carried in the surgery room the debris of the streets and hospital corridors. Spectators were often permitted to observe operations, gathering around the patient within touching distance of the incision. Surgeons used surgical dressing made from pressed sawdust, a waste product from the floors of sawmills. Surgical instruments were not disinfected. The mortality rate following operations in many hospitals was as high as 90%.
Which sentence contains the main idea of the paragraph?
What is the first sentence?
Suggested by the supporting details and not clearly stated in a sentence.
What is an implied main idea?
For one thing, alcohol consumption begins in high school or earlier.
What is the transition?
What is for one thing?
Words that indicate that an author will provide one or more examples to develop or clarify a given idea (for example, including, for instance).
What are illustration words?
Because she enjoyed her work, the new job offer left Elena in a quandary. She couldn't decide what to do.
Quandary means...
What is a state of uncertainty?
Looking for general vs. specific ideas, using the topic to lead you, and using key words, are all ways to lead you to it.
What is main idea?
One form of jumping to conclusions is putting words into a speaker's mouth. Because we are so sure of what others mean or are going to say, we simply don't listen to what they actually say. Sometimes we don't even hear them out. Instead of listening, we leap to a meaning that they may not have intended to communicate. Another form of jumping to conclusions is rejecting others' ideas too early as boring or misguided. We decide that others have nothing valuable or useful to say. We simply tune out and hear nothing because we decide early on that we can spend our mental effort in a better way.
What is the implied main idea of the paragraph?
What is there is more than one way to jump to conclusions?
Words that signal added ideas.
What are addition words?
Words that signal similarities (alike, both, same).
What are comparison words?
Words surrounding unfamiliar words that help a reader figure out the meaning of the unfamiliar words.
What are context clues?
A. The creakings of a house settling may sound like a monster coming out of a grave.
B. Gusts of wind rattling a bedroom window can sound like invaders about to break in.
C. Nighttime noises can be frightening to children.
D. Noises at night.
Choose the letter of the sentence that contains the main idea.
What is C?
The first farm animals were sheep and goats, the most suitable species for driving in small flocks while people might still be traveling. For milennia wild animals had been slaughtered on the spot, but then some bright person realized that sheep and goats could be captured and driven home, thereby saving the effort of dragging their carcasses. Evidently, once the animals were alive at home, it became clear that they could be kept alive for longer periods to serve as dietary insurance policies. It was only a matter of time before stocks of sheep and goats were kept alive to reproduce so that there might be a continuous supply without hunting.
What is the implied main idea of the paragraph?
What is over time, humans came to own livestock?
A way to show the relationships between ideas in sentences.
What are transitions?
Words that signal that an author is pointing out differences between subjects (but, yet, rather than, despite).
What are contrast words?
Ideas about decorum change greatly over time. In our society, for instance, until relatively recently, polite people did not appear bareheaded on the street, and a man always tipped his hat to a woman.
Decorum means...
What is how to behave properly?
Police officers complain that many of the criminals they arrest end up very soon on the streets to commit crimes again. Judges argue that because of the technicalities of the law, they are forced to free many defendants, some of whom may be guilty as charged. Many citizens charge that the police, the judges, or the government officials are not doing their jobs well. Clearly, the way the huge problem of crime is being handled angers and frustrates many segments of our society.
Which sentence contains the main idea?
What is the fourth sentence?
One myth about exercise is that if a woman lifts weights, she will develop muscles as large as a man’s. Without extra male hormones, however, a woman cannot increase her muscle bulk as much as a man’s. Another misconception about exercise is that it increases the appetite. Actually, regular exercise stabilizes the blood-sugar level, which prevents hunger pains. Some people also think that a few minutes of exercise a day or one session is enough, but at least three solid workouts a week are needed for muscular and cardiovascular health.
What is the implied main idea of the paragraph?
What is there are many myths about exercise?
A way to show the relationships between supporting details.
What are patterns of organization?
Words that signal that the author is explaining the reason why something happened or the result of something happening (therefore, as a result of, because of).
What are cause and effect words?
You keep wandering off into thoughts that are not germane to the topic. You must learn to stick to the point.
Germane means...
What is relevant to the subject?
The American author Mark Twain is famous for the humor in his writing. His novels, stories, and essays have brought laughter to millions. However, Twain's own life in the sixteen years leading up to his death in 1910 was marked more by sorrow than humor, as he faced several personal tragedies. He had invested a significant amount of money in the development of a mechanical typesetting machine. In 1894 the project failed, and his investment was lost. In addition, a publishing company that he had begun ten years earlier went bankrupt. So at the age of 59, this once-rich man went on a two-year worldwide lecture tour in order to earn money. While he was on tour, his daughter Susy died of meningitis. Only one of his three daughters outlived him. His wife also died before him even though she was ten years younger than him.
Which sentence contains the main idea?
What is the third sentence?
There is no doubt that businesses can improve their productivity. If every person and machine did things right the first time, the same number of people could handle much larger volumes of work. High costs of inspection could be channeled into productive activities, and managers could take all the time they spend checking and devote it to productive tasks. Wasted materials would become a thing of the past. In fact, it's been estimated that attention to quality can reduce the total cost of operations anywhere from 10 to 50 percent. As Philip Crosby said: "Quality is free. What costs money are the unquality things--all the actions that involve not doing jobs right the first time."
Choose the letter of the sentence that best represents the implied main idea of this paragraph.
A. Philip Crosby is an expert in quality business.
B. It is wasteful to spend so much money on plant inspections.
C. Businesses can improve their sales in several ways.
D. If quality is improved, productivity improves.
What is D?
What is the pattern of organization for the following selection?
When a president needs to appoint someone to the Supreme Court, the first step is to find a list of good candidates. Next, the president shortens the list, considering the political impact of each candidate's appointment and his or her fitness to serve. Then each candidate on the short list is thoroughly investigated by the FBI. Weighing numerous political and ideological factors, as well as the chances for Senate confirmation, the president formally nominates a candidate.
What is time order?
What is the organizational pattern of the following paragraph:
Today's divorce rate is nearly 300 percent higher than it was forty years ago. Why the increase? One reason is that today there is greater social acceptance of divorce. This increased tolerance has resulted from a relaxation of negative attitudes toward divorce among religious denominations. Although divorce is still seen as unfortunate, it is no longer treated as a sin by most religious leaders. An increase in family income has also led to the rise in divorce rates. As couples acquire more wealth, they are more likely to be able to afford the cost of divorce proceedings. Finally, as society provides greater opportunities for women, more and more wives are becoming less dependent on their husbands-both economically and emotionally. Consequently, they are more likely to leave if their marriage seems hopeless.
What is cause and effect?