How to tackle Main Idea questions in RC

Question

Hi,

I am having trouble in main idea questions in RC. Kindly suggest how to improve on it.

Thanks

GmatKnightTutor · Answer

Consider working with a study buddy with strong RC skills to show you how they approach those questions. There is a difference between how I teach students to approach MAIN IDEA and INFERENCE questions, for example. If you know someone with strong Verbal skills they could probably teach you their method/way within a day.

bb · Answer

Here’s a tip, main idea questions always have an answer choice that is too narrow, and an answer choice that is too broad. There will also be two irrelevant or too narrow answer choices. Check each if the answer choice is too broad or too narrow. Learn how to distinguish these.

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selberenova · Answer

Identifying the main idea in a reading comprehension (RC) passage can be challenging, but there are a few strategies you can try to improve your performance on these questions. Here are some suggestions:

Pay attention to the first and last paragraphs of the passage. The main idea is often stated or implied in the first paragraph and restated or summarized in the last paragraph.

Look for key words and phrases that appear throughout the passage. These words and phrases may indicate what the passage is about or what the main idea is.

Identify the main subject of the passage and consider what the author is saying about that subject. The main idea is usually related to the main subject of the passage.

Consider the purpose of the passage. Is the author trying to inform, persuade, or entertain the reader? Understanding the purpose of the passage can give you clues about the main idea.

Practice, practice, practice! The more you read and practice identifying the main idea in RC passages, the better you will become at it. Try working through as many RC passages and main idea questions as you can to improve your skills.

GMATWhizTeam · Answer

Hi  desertEagle

Here's a video that you may find helpful:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVzULKkUIAU

ReedArnoldMPREP · Answer

Here is a drill you can try. (This is to be done for practice--not how you would do RC on the test):

Read the passage out of order. Don't start at the beginning. Read the third paragraph, then the first, then the fourth, then the second. (Or whichever order you happen to read...) As you do, try to determine what the rest of the passage might say. How might the passage arrive to the sentence you just read? What would make sense to come before? What probably comes after? Keep playing this game, trying to guess what the 'blanks' are in the passage that you've yet to read, until you've actually read the entire passage.

Then write a one sentence summary for what the passage is about.

I actually think this is pretty close to what you should actually *do* when doing RC for real--it's just that you now play the game with the sentences in the order they were actually written. But the *mindset* is virtually identical.

Another drill (again, not how you do the test). Find a Main Idea question about a passage *before* you read it. For each answer choice, try to imagine what the passage would need to 'be' in order for that answer choice to be correct. Actually write out what that passage might look like or discuss. Then read the passage. Which of your descriptions most fits what the passage actually says?

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How to tackle Main Idea questions in RC

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