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reading by leo nyabaya

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Nyakwar Leoh Nyabaya
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39 views3 pages

English Readng

reading by leo nyabaya

Uploaded by

Nyakwar Leoh Nyabaya
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Getting the Main Idea in a passage.

The main idea is the central, or most important, idea in a paragraph or passage. It states the purpose
and sets the direction of the paragraph or passage.

• The main idea may be stated or it may be implied.

• When the main idea of a paragraph is stated, it is most often found in the first sentence of the
paragraph. However, the main idea may be found in any sentence of the paragraph.

• The main idea may be stated in the first sentence of a paragraph and then be repeated or restated at
the end of the paragraph.

• The main idea may be split. The first sentence of a paragraph may present a point of view, while the
last sentence presents a contrasting or opposite view.

• To find the main idea of any paragraph or passage, ask these questions:

1. Who or what is the paragraph about?

2. What aspect or idea about the ‘who’ or ‘what’ is the author concerned with?

Exercise

Read the following passages and choose the best option that summarizes the main idea.

Passage 1:

The benefits of regular exercise are numerous. From improving physical health to boosting mood and
mental well-being, incorporating regular exercise into your routine can lead to a healthier and happier
life.

What is the main idea of the passage?

a) Exercise is only beneficial for physical health.

b) Regular exercise has various benefits for overall well-being.

c) Exercise has no impact on mental health.

Passage 2:

The industrial revolution brought significant changes to society, including advancements in technology,
shifts in labor practices, and the rise of urbanization. These changes reshaped the economic, social, and
cultural landscape of the time.

What is the main idea of the passage?

a) The industrial revolution led to changes in technology.

b) The industrial revolution transformed various aspects of society.

c) The industrial revolution had no lasting impact.

Passage 3:
Climate change poses a significant threat to the planet's ecosystems and biodiversity. Rising global
temperatures, melting ice caps, and extreme weather events are all indicators of the urgent need for
action to mitigate the effects of climate change and protect the environment.

What is the main idea of the passage?

a) Climate change is a minor concern for the environment.

b) Climate change has no impact on biodiversity.

c) Climate change presents a serious threat to the planet's ecosystems.

Exercise 2

Read and underline the main ideas.

It is often said that lightning never strikes twice in the same place, but this isn’t true. Go ask the forest
rangers. Rangers who spend their summers as fire-fighters will tell you that every thundershower brings
several bolts of lightning to their lookout stations.

Costs were low that year and the output high. There was a good person for each job and the market
remained firm. There were no losses from fire. All in all it was the best years in the history of the
company.

There are great numbers of deer around here. This whole area is great country for hunters and
fishermen. There are bears, mountain lions, and coyotes. To the east there are streams full of trout, and
there are ducks and geese.

Advertising affects our lives every day. Brand names are common household words. We start each day
using the toothpaste, soap, and breakfast foods promoted by advertisers. Ads have made the cars we
drive signs of our success. Our choices of food, dress, and entertainment are swayed by ads. Not one
aspect of American life is untouched by advertising.

Penicillin is one of the greatest of the wonder drugs. It has saved thousands of lives already and will save
many more in the future. Unfortunately it has no effect at all on most of the ills of mankind. Penicillin is
a very good drug, but it is certainly not a cure-all.

Do you wear glasses? Make sure your glasses fit well. The earpieces should be at eye level. Don’t try to
adjust the earpieces yourself. Take your glasses for adjustments to the place you bought them. Keep
your glasses in a case when you’re not wearing them. This will prevent scratches. Keep the lenses clean.
A soft cloth is best for cleaning.
Exercise 3

Each paragraph is followed by four statements. Select the statement that best expresses the main idea.

People often refer to taxes in terms of their being much too high. In reality, they are probably even
higher than you think, because in addition to the federal income tax we are now studying, there are
many other Federal, State, and local taxes, including sales taxes, inheritance taxes, state income taxes,
personal property taxes, real estate taxes, and others. These are just some of the most obvious ones.

a. Taxes are much too high.

b. We pay more taxes than we may realize.

c. Inheritance taxes and real estate taxes are unfair.

d. Some taxes are hidden.

The fact that electronic computers are now used for data processing has led the general public to
believe that it is a mysterious, complicated science and that the computers are giant brains. Both of
these ideas are false. A computer is basically just a high-speed adding machine that performs the
functions it is told to. If the input data are varied even a little, the computer is unable to operate until it
is programmed to accept the variations. The business operations it performs are impressive only
because of the extremely high speed of manipulation, but most of these operations have been used for
decades. Unlike man, the computer performs repetitive calculations without getting tired or bored.

a. A computer is a high-speed adding machine.

b. A computer is a mysterious giant brain.

c. A computer is impressive because of its high speed.

d. A computer is superior to man in many ways.

The Louisiana Purchase proved to be one of the shrewdest business pacts in the entire history of the
United States. The purchase doubled in the area of the country and provided territory from which
fourteen new states were created either wholly or in part. It also gave us control over the mouth of the
Mississippi River and opened up the way to foreign trade.

Prior to the purchase, the waterway had been blocked by the Spanish, probably with the approval of
Napoleon. The land that was bought was rich in timber, minerals, and natural resources of many kinds.
Finally, the cost of the transaction was unbelievably low; the total of $15 million amounted to about
four cents an acre.

a. The Louisiana Purchase was a very good business deal for the U.S.

b. The land bought by the Louisiana Purchase was rich in minerals.

c. The land bought by the Louisiana Purchase was very cheap.

d. Most Americans were very pleased with the purchase.

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