SAT Mc Graw Hill 2011

Concept Review 2:

Analyzing the Purpose and Central Idea

174 MCGRAW-HILL’S SAT

1. Name the three kinds of prose, and describe the purpose of each.


2. For each type of prose, name four “key words” in the introduction that indicate that particular type of prose:

a. Narrative

b. Argument

c. Analysis

3. What is the function of the “central idea” of a piece of prose?


4. The central idea of a narrative is the


5. The central idea of an argument is the


6. The central idea of an analysis is the


7. How do you know whether you’ve found the central idea of a passage?


8. After reading the passage on the next page, write what type of prose it is and its central idea.