The mini-category is comparison questions, which you will see only on the
paired passages.
Main Idea Questions
There is almost always a question that asks about the central idea of the passage.
• The author is primarily concerned with . . .
• Which of the following titles best summarizes the passage?
• The primary purpose of the passage is to . . .
• Over the course of the passage, the main focus shifts from . . .
If you’re not sure what the passage’s main idea is, look at the first paragraph,
especially the first and last sentences, where you are most likely to find the
“topic sentence” or thesis statement, then look at the concluding paragraph, as
well as the first sentence in each of the other paragraphs. The clues should be
there. If you are still confused, try this: Look away from the page. Look out the
window, or, if you are taking the test in an underground bunker, look at the
concrete wall. Ask yourself: “Self, what was that about?” You’ll be surprised
how good your brain is at summarizing the main idea when it is freed from
searching through each word.
But not all of the main idea questions are about the passage as a whole. So
watch out for questions like “The main purpose of the third paragraph is . . .”
These questions about a particular paragraph are often asking: What is the main
piece of evidence brought forward in that paragraph or what is the analysis
offered by it?
Pro Tip: “Main idea” questions are not about “deeper meaning.” Some
people overthink these questions. They’ve just read about the Celery Rebellions
in medieval Europe and they conclude that the passage is really about “the long
struggle between ignorance and justice” (a deep theme never mentioned). The
main idea is often more literal. It is a straightforward statement that is supported
by the article: “The Celery Rebellions were a failed attempt to win human rights
for people who like celery.”
Other main idea questions might ask you to summarize a passage or
paragraph. The idea here is exactly the same as any other main idea question:
Pick the answer that includes the thesis and primary argument of the passage but
does not include any extraneous information.
Pro Tip: If one of the summaries includes more language from the original
passage than the other options do, it probably is not the right answer. When the
question writers craft a summary, they make sure it is mostly in different words