Reading Comprehension: GED Test Prep

Finding the Main Idea in Nonfiction

Most nonfiction texts follow a very basic pattern of general idea → specific support. That is, the writer will state the main idea he or she wants to convey about the topic and then provide support for that idea, usually in the form of specific facts and details. This format can be diagrammed as follows:

In the following paragraph, for example, notice how the first sentence states a main idea (makes a general claim about surveillance cameras). The rest of the paragraph provides specific facts and details to show why this statement is true:

Surveillance cameras can provide two immensely important services. One, they can help us find those who commit crimes, including thieves, kidnappers, vandals, and even murderers. Two, they can serve as a powerful deterrent to crime. A thief who plans to steal a car may think twice if he knows he will be caught on video. A woman who hopes to kidnap a child may abandon her plans if she knows she will be captured on film.

This main idea → support structure works on two levels: for the text as a whole and for each individual section or paragraph within the text.

Distinguishing Main Ideas from Supporting Ideas

If you're not sure whether something is a main idea or a supporting idea, ask yourself the following question: Is the sentence making a general statement, or is it providing specific information? In the following paragraph, for example, most of the sentences except one are too specific to be the main idea of the paragraph. Only one sentence—the first—is general enough to serve as an "umbrella" or "net" for the whole paragraph.

Many people are afraid of snakes, but most snakes aren't as dangerous as people think they are. There are more than 2,500 different species of snakes around the world. Only a small percentage of those species are poisonous, and only a few species have venom strong enough to kill a human being. Furthermore, snakes bite only 1,000–2,000 people in the United States each year, and only ten of those bites (that's less than 1%) result in death. Statistically, many other animals are far more dangerous than snakes. In fact, in this country, more people die from dog bites each year than from snake bites.

Notice how the first sentence makes a general claim about snakes (that they "aren't as dangerous as people think they are"). Then the rest of the sentences in the paragraph provide details and specific facts that support the main idea.

Writers often provide clues that can help you distinguish between main ideas and their support. Here are some of the most common words and phrases used to introduce specific examples:

These signal words usually mean that a supporting fact or idea will follow. If you are having trouble finding the main idea of a paragraph, try eliminating sentences that begin with these phrases. (Notice that one of the sentences in the snake paragraph begins with one of these transitional words.)

Topic Sentences

In nonfiction texts, the main idea is supported by ideas expressed in paragraphs. Each of these paragraphs also has its own main idea. In fact, that's the definition of a paragraph: a group of sentences about the same idea. The sentence that expresses the main idea of a paragraph is called a topic sentence. The first sentence in both the surveillance camera and snake paragraphs state their main ideas. Those sentences are therefore the topic sentences for those paragraphs.

Topic sentences are often located at the beginning of paragraphs, but not always. Sometimes writers begin with specific supporting ideas and lead up to the main idea. In this case, the topic sentence would probably be at the end of the paragraph. Notice how we can rewrite the snake paragraph to put the topic sentence at the end of the passage:

There are more than 2,500 different species of snakes around the world. Only a small percentage of those species are poisonous, and only a few species have venom strong enough to kill a human being. Snakes bite only 1,000–2,000 people in the United States each year, and only ten of those bites (that's less than 1%) result in death. Statistically, many other animals are far more dangerous than snakes. In fact, in this country, more people die from dog bites each year than from snake bites. Clearly, snakes aren't as dangerous as people think they are.

Sometimes the topic sentence is not found at the beginning or end of a paragraph but rather somewhere in the middle. Other times, there isn't a clear topic sentence at all. But that doesn't mean the paragraph doesn't have a main idea. It's there, but the author has chosen not to express it in a clear topic sentence. In that case, you will have to look carefully at the paragraph for clues about the main idea.

Finding an Implied Main Idea

When the main idea is implied, there is no topic sentence, so finding the main idea requires some good detective work. If you look carefully at what is said and at the structure, word choice, style, and tone of the passage, you can figure out the main idea. (These terms will be discussed in more detail later in the chapter.)

For example, take a look at the following paragraph:

This summer I read The Windows of Time. Though it's over 100 pages long, I read it in one afternoon. I couldn't wait to see what happened to Evelyn, the main character. But by the time I got to the end, I wondered if I should have spent my afternoon doing something else. The ending was so awful that I completely forgot I'd enjoyed most of the book.

There's no topic sentence here, but you should still be able to find the main idea. Look carefully at what the writer says and how she says it. What is she suggesting?

1. The Windows of Time is a terrific novel.
2. The Windows of Time is disappointing.
3. The Windows of Time is full of suspense.
4. The Windows of Time is a lousy novel.

The correct answer is choice b, the novel is disappointing. How can you tell that this is the main idea? First, we can eliminate choice c, because it's too specific to be a main idea. It deals only with one specific aspect of the novel (its suspense).

Choices a, b, and d, on the other and, all express a larger idea—a general assertion about the quality of the novel. But only one of these statements can actually serve as a "net" for the whole paragraph. Notice that while the first few sentences praise the novel, the last two criticize it. (The word "but" at the beginning of the third sentence signals that the positive review is going to turn negative.) Clearly, this is a mixed review. Therefore, the best answer is b. Choice a is too positive and doesn't account for the "awful" ending. Choice d, on the other hand, is too negative and doesn't account for the suspense and interest in the main character. But choice b allows for both positive and negative—when a good thing turns bad, one often feels disappointed.

Here's another example. In this passage, word choice is more important, so read carefully.

Fortunately, none of Toby's friends had ever seen the apartment where Toby lived with his mother and sister. Sandwiched between two burnt-out buildings, his two-story apartment building was by far the ugliest one on the block. It was a real eyesore: peeling orange paint (orange!), broken windows, crooked steps, crooked everything. He could just imagine what his friends would say if they ever saw this poor excuse for a building.

Which of the following expresses the main idea of this paragraph?

1. Toby wishes he could move to a nicer building.
2. Toby wishes his dad still lived with them.
3. Toby worries about what his friends would think of where he lives.
4. Toby is sad because he doesn't have any friends.

From the description, we can safely assume that Toby doesn't like his apartment building and wishes he could move to a nicer building (choice a). But that idea isn't general enough to cover the whole paragraph, because it doesn't say anything about his friends. Choice d doesn't say anything about his building, so it's not broad enough either. Besides, the first sentence states that Toby has friends. We know that Toby lives only with his mother and little sister, so we might assume that he wishes his dad still lived with them (choice b). But there's nothing in the paragraph to support that assumption and this idea doesn't include the two main topics of the paragraph—Toby's building and Toby's friends.

What the paragraph adds up to is that Toby is embarrassed about his building, and he's glad none of his friends have seen it (choice c). This is the main idea. The paragraph opens with the word "fortunately," so we know that he thinks it's a good thing none of them have been there. Plus, look at the word choice. Notice how the building is described. It's "by far the ugliest on the block," which is saying a lot since it's stuck between two burnt-out buildings. The writer calls it an "eyesore," and repeats "orange" with an exclamation point to emphasize how ugly the color is. Everything's "crooked" in this "poor excuse for a building." He's ashamed of where he lives and worries about what his friends would think if they saw it.

Determining Theme in Literature

Theme is the overall message or idea that the writer wants to convey. Like a main idea, the theme is different from the subject in that the theme says something about the subject. For example, take John Donne's poem "Death Be Not Proud." The subject of the poem is death. But the theme of the poem says something about death. The poem's message is that death is a gift for those who believe in God.

Sonnet 72. "Death be not proud, though some have called thee"

DEATH be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for, thou art not so,
For those whom thou think'st, thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures bee,
Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery.
Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,
And poppy, or charms can make us sleep as well,
And better then thy stroke; why swell'st thou then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.

The main idea of a text is the thought that holds everything together. Likewise, the theme of a work of literature is the thought that holds together the characters and action. It's the idea that guides every choice the writer makes throughout the text.

For example, look at the poem "A Poison Tree," from William Blake's Songs of Innocence and Experience. The poem has four stanzas (groups of lines in a poem, much like a paragraph is a group of lines in an essay or story). Read the poem carefully and read it out loud, too, because poetry is meant to be heard as well as read.

A Poison Tree
I was angry with my friend:
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.       wrath = anger
I was angry with my foe;                       foe = enemy
I told it not, my wrath did grow.

And I water'd it in fears,
Night & morning with my tears;
And I sunned it with smiles,                  deceitful = causing others
And with soft deceitful wiles.                to believe what is not true wiles = trickery, deceit

And it grew both by day and night,
Till it bore an apple bright.
And my foe beheld it shine,                  beheld = saw
And he knew that it was mine.

And into my garden stole
When the night had veil'd the pole;       veiled = hidden
In the morning glad I see
My foe outstretch'd beneath the tree.

To understand Blake's theme, you need to look carefully at what happened and then look at why it happened. In the first stanza, Blake sets up two situations. First, the speaker (the "voice" or "narrator" of the poem) is angry with his friend (line 1) and he tells his friend about it (line 2). As a result, the anger goes away (line 2—"my wrath did end"). But he acts differently with his enemy. He doesn't tell his foe about his anger (line 4) and, as a result, the anger grows (line 4).

In the second stanza, the speaker "water'd" his wrath in fears and "sunned" his wrath with smiles and wiles. Blake isn't being literal here; rather, he's drawing a comparison between the speaker's anger to something that grows with water and sun. It's like some kind of plant. How do you know exactly what it is? Blake tells you in two key places: in the title and in the last line. The poem is called "The Poison Tree." "Tree" is mentioned again in the last line of the poem.

The kind of comparison is called a metaphor, and it is an important clue to the meaning of the poem. Blake could have compared the speaker's anger to anything, but he chose to compare it to a tree. Trees have deep, strong roots and often flower or bear fruit. (This tree bears an apple.) They need some nurturing (sun and water) to grow.

In the third stanza, the foe sees the speaker's apple. In the fourth, he sneaks into the speaker's garden at night. Finally, at the end of the poem, the foe is killed by the poisonous apple (the apple poisoned by the speaker's wrath).

That is what happens in the poem, but what does it all add up to? What does it mean? In other words, what is the theme?

Look again at the action. Cause and effect are central to the theme of this poem. What does the speaker do? He tells his friend about his anger. What doesn't the speaker do? He doesn't tell his enemy about his anger. What happens to his anger, then? It grows and grows and it offers fruit that tempts his enemy. And what happens to his enemy? He steals the apple, but it is the fruit of anger. It is poisonous and it kills him. Thus, the idea that best summarizes the idea of the poem is this: If you don't talk about your anger, it can be deadly. This is the message or "lesson" of the poem.

In many poems, the theme is an idea, while in others, the theme is an emotion. That is, the poet wants readers to feel an emotion very strongly. Poets can accomplish this through language. "The Eagle" is a good example of a poem whose theme is emotional. The next poem, written by Stephen Crane in 1899, combines both action and language to convey theme. Read the poem out loud at least twice.

A Man Said to the Universe
A man said to the universe:
"Sir, I exist!"
"However," replied the universe,
"The fact has not created in me
A sense of obligation."

Look carefully at the language in the poem. What kinds of words has the poet chosen? Are they warm, friendly words, or are they cold, distancing words? Do they make you feel comfortable, welcome? Or uncomfortable, rejected? Are they specific or general? Do you feel like there's a personal relationship here? Or are things formal, official?

Crane's word choice helps convey his theme. The words "sir," "fact," and "obligation" are cold and formal. There's no sense of personal relationship between the man and the universe. This is heightened by the general nature of the poem. It's just "a man"—not anyone specific, not anyone you know. Not anyone the universe knows, either. It's also written in the third-person point of view. The poem would have a different effect if it began, "I said to the universe."

The tone of the poem is cold and uncaring. That combined with action and word choice conveys Crane's theme: The universe is indifferent to humans (however one might wish it were otherwise).

Identifying Specific Facts and Details

On standardized tests, you will often be asked to identify specific facts and details from what you read. This is true of the GED Language Arts, Reading Exam as well.

The idea behind this kind of question isn't for you to memorize everything in the passage. Rather, these questions test (1) how carefully you read, (2) your ability to know where to look for specific information within a passage, and (3) your ability to distinguish between main idea and support. Some questions may ask you to identify how an author supports his or her argument or what sort of examples are used to illustrate an idea. Others will ask you to identify or restate a specific fact or detail from the text. For example, take another look at the snakes paragraph:

Many people are afraid of snakes, but most snakes aren't as dangerous as people think they are. There are more than 2,500 different species of snakes around the world. Only a small percentage of those species are poisonous, and only a few species have venom strong enough to kill a human being. Furthermore, snakes bite only 1,000–2,000 people in the United States each year, and only ten of those bites (that's less than 1%) result in death. Statistically, many other animals are far more dangerous than snakes. In fact, in this country, more people die from dog bites each year than from snake bites.

How many species of snakes are there worldwide?

1. between 1,000–2,000
2. less than 100
3. less than 2,500
4. more than 2,500

There are several numbers in this passage, and if you didn't read carefully, you could easily choose the wrong answer. The correct answer is d, more than 2,500. This fact is stated in the second sentence.

The best way to find this information is to use the key words from the question as your guide. In this example, the key words are how many and species. These two items tell you to look for a sentence in the passage that has both a number and the word species. Then you can find the sentence that provides the correct information. You don't have to reread the entire passage—in fact, you can't, because you will run out of time for other questions. Instead, skim through the paragraphs looking for your key words.

In addition, you can use the structure of the passage to help you find the correct information. If you read carefully, you probably noticed that the paragraph talks about species first, then venom, then bites. Thus, you can use your understanding of the structure to guide you to the place to find the correct answer.

Distinguishing between Fact and Opinion

On the GED Language Arts, Reading Exam, you may not be asked directly to identify whether a statement is a fact or an opinion. But distinguishing between fact and opinion is an important reading comprehension skill, one you will use when reading both fiction and nonfiction texts, especially commentary.

Facts are:

• things known for certain to have happened
• things known for certain to be true
• things known for certain to exist

Opinions, on the other hand, are:

• things believed to have happened
• things believed to be true
• things believed to exist

The key difference between fact and opinion lies in the difference between believing and knowing. Opinions may be based on facts, but they are still what people think and believe, not what they know. Opinions are debatable; two different people could have two different opinions about the matter. Facts, however, are not debatable. Two different people would have a hard time debating a fact. They might not agree on how to interpret the facts, but they would have to agree on the facts themselves.

Consider this example: "Poems are more fun to read than stories." This statement is debatable. You could argue that stories are more fun to read than poems, or that they are both equally enjoyable, or even that they are both dreadfully boring. All of these statements are opinions. But "poems are written in verse" is not debatable; it's impossible to disagree with this statement. It's something known to be true. Thus, it's a fact.

Asking Questions

A good test for whether something is fact or opinion, then, is to ask yourself two questions:

• Can this statement be debated?
• Is this something known to be true?

If you can answer "yes" to the first question, it's probably an opinion. If you can answer "yes" to the second question, it's probably a fact. For example, look at the following sentence:

Tim O'Brien is a contemporary American novelist and short story writer.

Does this topic sentence express a fact or an opinion? Well, is it debatable? Can someone disagree? No. It's a matter of fact, something that can be proven by a quick trip to the library or search on the Internet. On the other hand, look at the following claim:

Tim O'Brien is one of the best contemporary American novelists and short story writers.

Now, is this statement something known to be true, or is it debatable? Clearly, different people can have different opinions on this issue. It's an opinion.

Looking for Clues

Writers often provide clues when they are expressing a fact or an opinion. In fact, for example, is a clear signal that the writer is going to present a fact. Opinions are often stated using words such as should or ought, as in the following examples:

• We should apologize for being rude.
• He ought to return those library books right away.

Words that show judgment or evaluation, such as good, bad, interesting, and important, usually signal an opinion, too. Here are some examples:

• She is a great teacher.
• This was the most significant development in the history of science.

People can, and often do, have opinions on just about anything. But some opinions are more reasonable than others. A reasonable opinion is one that is supported by relevant facts. In fact, that's what most nonfiction writing is all about. Writers make a claim about their subject, and that claim is often an opinion. Then they offer facts to support that opinion.

Good writers offer support for their opinions because they know that opinions are debatable. They know readers will want to see why they think what they do. Most of their evidence will come in the form of facts. Of course, this doesn't mean that readers will agree with the writer's opinion. But an opinion supported by facts is much stronger than an opinion that stands alone or that is supported only by other opinions.

Making Inferences

Inferences are conclusions that are drawn based upon evidence. For example, if you look up at the sky and see heavy black rain clouds, you might logically infer that it is going to rain. Reading comprehension tests like the GED Language Arts, Reading Exam will often ask you to draw conclusions based upon what you read in the passage.

The key to drawing the right conclusions (making the right inferences) is to look for clues in the context. Some of the best clues come from the writer's word choice.

Word Choice

Often the best clues to meaning come from the specific words a writer chooses to describe people, places, and things. The writer's word choice (also called diction) can reveal a great deal about how he or she (or a character) feels about the subject.

To see how word choice reveals the writer's attitude, read the two sentences below:

A:   Myra stared at Bill as he talked to his ex-wife, Irene.

B:   Myra glared at Bill as he talked to his ex-wife, Irene.

It's not hard to see the difference between these sentences. In sentence A, the writer says that Myra stared at Bill while he talked to his ex-wife. Sentence B, on the other hand, uses the word glared. Both sentences say that Myra was looking steadily at Bill. But there is a difference. One sentence is much stronger than the other because one word is much stronger than the other. To stare is to look directly and fixedly at someone or something. To glare is to stare fixedly and angrily. Thus, the writer of sentence B is able to tell us not only what is happening (that Myra is staring at Bill) but also what she is feeling (anger) by using effective word choice.

Denotation and Connotation

Even words that seem to mean the same thing have subtly different meanings and sometimes not-so-subtle effects. For example, look at the words slim and thin. If you say your aunt is thin, that means one thing. If you say she is slim, that means something a little bit different. That's because slim has a different connotation than thin. Connotation is a word's suggested or implied meaning; it's what the word makes you think or feel. Slim and thin have almost the same denotation—their dictionary definition—but slim suggests more grace and class than thin. Slim is a very positive word. It suggests that your aunt is healthy and fit. Thin, however, does not. Thin suggests that your aunt may be a little bit too skinny for her health. Thin and slim, then, have different connotations. So the word you choose to describe your aunt can tell others a lot.

Searching for Clues

Word choice, actions, and other clues can help you make inferences about other things, too, such as the relationship between characters. For example, if the stage directions for a play note that two characters fidget and keep their distance while talking to each other, you can infer that they are uncomfortable with each other and the conversation.

The key to drawing correct inferences is paying attention to details and making sure there is evidence to back up your assertions. Sometimes we draw conclusions based on what we want to believe, not on the evidence in the text. Look at words and actions, at what is said (or not said) and how it is said, and draw your conclusions from there.

Identifying Cause and Effect Relationships

A cause is a person or thing that makes something happen. An effect is the change created by an action or cause. Cause tells you why something happened; effect tells you what happened as a result of that action.

Many questions on the GED Language Arts, Reading Exam will ask you to identify cause and effect relationships. In nonfiction passages, you may be asked to identify causes and effects of historical events or personal actions. When the causes and/or effects are explicit in the passage, then this type of question is really a matter of finding specific facts and details. However, cause and effect are often implied, especially in literary texts, and you will have to draw your own conclusions about cause and effect. In literary texts, for example, you will often be asked to determine why characters do what they do and feel what they feel.

Inferring Cause

Writers suggest cause in many ways. Sometimes, the clues are mostly action clues—what people say and do. For example, if a character had gone out looking for work and comes home looking dejected, you can infer that the dejection is caused by not having any luck finding a job.

Clues can also come in the form of details, word choice, and style. For example, look at the following passage:

Dennis was scared—really scared. His knees were weak. He looked down, twenty feet, to the water below. He looked up again, quickly. He tried to think of something else. He tried to reassure himself. "It's only twenty feet!" he said aloud. But that only made it sound worse. Twenty feet! He felt dizzy and hot.

This writer could have simply said, "Dennis was scared. He was afraid of heights." Instead, she suggests the cause of Dennis's fear by showing you how Dennis feels. This way, you are able to see for yourself what Dennis is going through. And through these details, you can conclude that he is afraid of heights. The repetition of "twenty feet" is another clue, and so is the sentence structure. Notice that the sentences are short and choppy. In fact, they sound a little panicky. This helps to reflect how Dennis feels.

The following is an excerpt from a short story. Read the passage carefully to see if you can determine why the characters do what they do.

Why Are Stan and Anne Fighting?

Anne tensed when she heard the front door open. She waited in the kitchen near the dirty dishes in the sink. She knew Stan would look there first. Taking a deep breath, she thought about what she would say to him. She waited.

A moment later, Stan stepped into the kitchen. She watched him gaze around the room, watched his eyes focus on the sink, watched his face harden when he saw the dishes piled high. Pointing angrily at the dishes, he said coldly, "What are those filthy things still doing in the sink? How many times have I told you I want this house clean when I come home?!"

"Oh, every day. You tell me every single day. In fact, you tell me every day exactly what I should do and how I should do it. Do you think you own me?"

"I do own this house, that's for sure. And I want my house clean!" Stan shouted.

"Then hire a maid," Anne said bitterly.

"What?"

"You heard me. Hire a maid. If you can find someone who can stand to work for you. You're never satisfied. And have you ever once said 'thank you'?"

Stan looked at Anne for a moment. His eyes were cold and hard. Then he turned and walked out of the room.

This passage raises several questions about cause and effect. Why does Stan get mad? Why didn't Anne do the dishes? Why is Anne mad at Stan? The actions and words of the characters and the word choice tell us what is going on under the surface.

Stan's face "hardens" with anger when he sees the dishes in the sink. You can tell he expects the kitchen to be clean when he comes home. When he walks in, he looks around the kitchen as if he's inspecting it. Then he sees the dishes and his face hardens. He asks why the dishes are still in the sink. Further, he tells Anne he expects a clean house when he comes home.

You can tell Anne wants to start a fight from the first paragraph. She purposely waits in the kitchen near the dirty dishes. She knows Stan is going to be mad about the dishes when he sees them. As she waits, she thinks about what she is going to say to him.

Anne's response to Stan tells you why she's mad. She's tired of him telling her what to do "every single day." She feels like he owns her. She's also frustrated because he's "never satisfied." And she's mad because he has never "once said 'thank you.'"

Inferring Effects

Just as writers can imply cause, they can also suggest effects. In the passage you just read, Anne clearly had a specific goal. She purposely decided not to do the dishes because she wanted to start a fight. Why? What do you think Anne was hoping to get from the fight? What effect do you think she was looking for?

1. that Stan would do the dishes himself for once
2. that Stan would hire a maid so she could relax
3. that Stan would stop being so bossy and start appreciating her housework

How can you tell that choice c is the best answer? You have to look carefully at the passage. Anne says, "You tell me every day exactly what I should do and how I should do it. Do you think that you own me?" This shows that Stan is very bossy—and that Anne doesn't like it. She also says, "If you can find someone who can stand to work for you. You're never satisfied. And have you ever once said 'thank you'?" This suggests that Stan's very hard to please, and that he doesn't appreciate the things Anne does. Anne has clearly had enough of this.

The passage doesn't directly say so, but from these clues, you can conclude that Anne was hoping for a change in Stan. That's why she didn't do the dishes. That's why she picked a fight. She wanted him to know how she felt and why she felt that way. She wanted him to change.

But will she get the effect she hoped for? Take another look at the passage, paying close attention to the end. What do you think? Will Anne get her wish? Will Stan change his ways? Why do you think so?

Most likely, Anne won't get her wish. How can you tell? The end of the passage offers a strong clue. Look at Stan's reaction. He doesn't even respond to Anne; he simply shuts down the conversation. He chooses to walk away instead of trying to work things out.

Maybe Stan walks away because he wants to give Anne a chance to calm down. Maybe he was going to come back later to talk it out. But this isn't likely. How do you know? Again, the ending offers an important clue. At the end of the story, Stan's eyes are "cold and hard." This suggests that he is pretty set in his ways. You shouldn't expect him to change.