What term describes the main point that the details in a paragraph support?

What term describes the main point that the details in a paragraph support?

• A. Main Idea
• B. Central Idea
• C. Citation
• D. Context Clues

Answer: (A)

The main idea is the central point a paragraph is making, and the details in the paragraph are evidence that supports that point. To spot it, identify what the paragraph is saying about its topic—often this is stated in a topic sentence, or it becomes clear from the overall message the details point to. The rest of the sentences provide examples, reasons, or descriptions that back up that main point. Central idea is a closely related term you’ll hear for the main point of a larger passage, but for a single paragraph the phrase main idea fits the idea precisely: the paragraph’s core claim that the details reinforce. Citations are references to sources, not the paragraph’s point. Context clues are hints within the surrounding text used to infer the meaning of unfamiliar words.

The main idea is the central point a paragraph is making, and the details in the paragraph are evidence that supports that point. To spot it, identify what the paragraph is saying about its topic—often this is stated in a topic sentence, or it becomes clear from the overall message the details point to. The rest of the sentences provide examples, reasons, or descriptions that back up that main point.

Central idea is a closely related term you’ll hear for the main point of a larger passage, but for a single paragraph the phrase main idea fits the idea precisely: the paragraph’s core claim that the details reinforce. Citations are references to sources, not the paragraph’s point. Context clues are hints within the surrounding text used to infer the meaning of unfamiliar words.