Finding the Heart of the Passage

Every reading passage has a main idea—the central point the author wants you to understand. It's like the anchor that holds everything together! Knowing how to spot the main idea will help you answer questions quickly and accurately.

How to Identify the Main Idea

• Look at the first and last sentences: These often contain clues.
• Notice repeated ideas: If something keeps popping up, it's probably important.
• Ask yourself: "What is this passage mostly about?"

Why It Matters

Understanding the main idea helps you stay focused and avoid being tricked by details that aren't central to the story or article.

Practice Tip

After reading a paragraph, try summarizing it in one sentence. If you can do that, you've likely found the main idea!