SECTION 3-Reading
3.1 Identifying the Topic and Main Ideas
FOCUS
Read the follwing paragraph quickly. What key words and phrases are clues to the paragraph's meaning?
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The colonial delegates assembled at Albany, New York, in the summer of 1754 to attempt a common peace with all of the Native American tribes. The most important result of the conference was the acceptance by the delegates of a plan to unite the colonies. This plan for intercolonial union was drawn by Benjamin Franklin. Thus, the roots of the United States are in the Indian-white relations of the mid-eighteenth century. Men like Franklin saw the confederacy of Native tribes as a model to build upon.
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Some key words and phrases are below. What others did you find?
colonial delegates
most important result
plan to unite the colonies
intercolonial union
Now, answer a question:
What does the paragraph mainly discuss?
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A. Colonial policies of the eighteenth century
B. The end of war with the Native American tribes
C. A plan to unite the American tribes
D. The roots of Indian-white relations
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The correct answer is the third choice C, A plan to unite the American colonies.
A key sentence is: The most important result of the conference was the acceptance by the delegates of a plan to unite the colonies.