Main Ideas
What is a main idea?
This is the most important point in a text or speech.
What tense is this: I read in the library.
Present simple.
What is a word family?
This is the root word. For instance, bake is a root word, but baker and bakes are variations of the word with slightly different uses.
What is an example?
These give you more details about an idea. They can be literal or hypothetical.
What's a key word?
These are words that help you look for specific, relevant information.
How can you find the main idea?
Figure out what you think the speaker wants you to understand. You can also look for repeated themes and other ideas.
Which tense is this: I baked a lot of cookies for the party.
Past simple.
What is cause an effect?
Cause is the reason why something happens, and effect is what ends up happening for the reason.
What are interjections?
Short words, phrases, or sounds that people use when they speak.
What does there's and it's mean when not contracted?
There is and it is.
Where is the main idea typically located in a speech or paper?
It could be in the first paragraph (a thesis), and it could be summarized in the conclusion.
What does present continuous describe?
Actions taking places at the moment of speaking.
Which of the following are part of the same word family: sleep, sleeper, sleeping, slept, resting, jumping, sleepier, slumber, awake.
Sleep, sleeper, sleeping, slept, sleepier.
Which is asking for an example and which is giving an example?
a. I think fossil fuels need to stop being used. For example, they are polluting the air.
b. I think I understand why x does not always equal why, but can you giving me an example?
a is giving an example, while b is asking for an example.
What is supporting details?
These are evidence that help support the main idea.
What is the main idea of these sentences: I think eating vegetables is necessary for a healthy diet. Vegetables have plenty of nutrients, and are also good energy sources. Eating candy or other treats is fine in moderation, but make sure that you eat enough healthy foods as well.
a. Vegetables are an important food type you should eat in order to function well.
b. Vegetables and fruits are both healthy, but vegetables are a little better because they don't have sugar and are easier for your stomach to digest.
c. Vegetables are not very tasty, but it is good to eat them anyway.
Answer is a!
What tense is this: I am enjoying the dinner very much!
Present continuous.
What is the cause, and what is the effect:
a. The deer ran out in the middle of the highway.
b. The deer was hit and broke his leg.
a is cause, and b is effect.
When should you give examples?
You do this when you want to clarify your point, make sure your listeners understand, and to make your speech more detailed.
Please find at least three key words in the following paragraph:
I really enjoy swimming at the beach. The weather is perfect. And the waves are peaceful.
Swimming, beach, weather (perfect), waves (peaceful).
Which of the following are true, and which are false:
1. Main ideas are needed in almost every speech and text, although sometimes they are not needed.
2. Main ideas are likely what you will remember about a text or speech in the future, and you will not remember all the little details as much.
3. Main ideas are often restated in different ways to make sure readers and listeners remember them.
1 is false, but 2 and 3 are true.
What is the form of present continuous? Give an example of both an affirmative and a negative.
Affirmative: be + verb + -ing
He is running around the house.
Negative: be + not + verb + -ing
She is not doing her homework.
What is the cause, and what is the effect (pick only 2, 1 each):
a. The man caught dozens of fish and other sea creatures.
b. The man lost his fishing rod.
c. The man got sick.
d. The man served his family dinner.
a is the cause, d is the effect.
When should you ask for examples? Also, what would happen if you did not give an example?
Ask for examples when you don't understand a concept. If there were no examples, that would mean that it would be harder to explain things.
What part of an essay is supporting information usually located?
Usually in the body paragraphs, especially after the topic sentences.