Which strategy helps identify the main idea in a paragraph?

• A. Skim for the topic sentence and examine how other sentences support it.
• B. Read only the first and last sentences.
• C. Focus on unfamiliar vocabulary.
• D. Ignore the paragraph's purpose.

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is how to identify the main idea of a paragraph by finding the guiding statement and seeing how the rest of the sentences support it. The best strategy is to skim for the topic sentence and examine how the other sentences back it up. The topic sentence usually states the main idea or the paragraph’s focus, and the sentences that follow provide details, examples, reasons, or evidence that explain or illustrate that idea. When you check the connections between those supporting details and the initial statement, you confirm the central point the paragraph is making.

Why this works: focusing on the topic sentence gives you a clear claim to evaluate, and tracing the details to that claim helps you separate the main idea from tangents. In contrast, reading only the first and last sentences can miss the main point if the author develops it in the middle or implies it throughout, and zeroing in on unfamiliar vocabulary doesn’t reveal what the paragraph is actually saying. Ignoring the paragraph’s purpose leaves you guessing what the author intends to convey, rather than understanding the central idea. If a paragraph doesn’t state the main idea outright, you can still spot it by noting the recurring point the sentences support.