DO YOU KNOW...?
1. Approximately four items on the TOEFL will test your ability to identify the topic and main ideas in the passages you read. Questions of this type are often first after each reading passage.
Success in college and university depends on being able to read effectively. Students in North America are required to do a lot of reading in their courses. Identifying main ideas is an essential academic skill. You will be expected to read material and discuss the ideas in class. You will also be required to summarize ideas when you write term paper.
2. The topic of a passage is the answer to the question, "What is this passage about?" The topic is the main subject of the passage. It is the passage's most general idea and can usually be stated in a few words or phrases.
TOEFL questions about the topic of a passage look like this:
What does the passage mainly discuss?
What is the topic/subject of the passage?
Which of the following is the main topic of the passage?
The Passage primarily discusses ______.
The Passage deals mainly with ______.
The passage mainly discusses ______ in terms of ______.
With what topic is paragraph ___ mainly concerned?
3. The main idea of a passage answers to the question, “What is important about the topic?” The main idea is the general message. It may be stated directly in a topic sentence, often appearing near the beginning or end of the passage. Sometimes it is not stated directly but implied through key words and phrases.
The main idea is sometimes called the controlling idea because it guides both the writer and the reader through discussion of the topic. It is the one idea that is present throughout the entire passage.
Identifying the main idea of a passage is one of the most useful reading skills you can develop. It is a skill you can apply to any kind of reading.
TOEFL questions about the main idea of a passage look like this:
What is the main idea of the passage?
What is the main purpose of the passage?
What is the main point the author makes in the passage?