Main purpose and central (main) idea

• English
• Secondary Education

Reading and Writing 

Main purpose and central (main) idea 

Main purpose 

what is the main purpose of a passage?

main purpose 

A statement or passage's main purpose focusses on the author's aim in writing the text and is phrased in terms of what the author is trying to accomplish and why. 

How can you find the main purpose of a text?

1. Looking at the title of a passage .
2. Looking for verbs like "persuade", "convince" or "explain.
3. Looking at "that" or "in order to clause.
4. Looking at the author's previous written work.

It is possible for everyone to shoplift, not just people who live in poverty or have psychological issues.

1. True
2. False

According to the text, what's difficult about Sarah's situation?

1. Lisa steals because of private circumstances and Sarah wants to be a good friend.
2. Sarah finds it hard to talk to her friends about Lisa's problems.
3. Sarah finds it hard to correct Lisa for shoplifting because she is her friend.
4. It is not mentioned in the text.

Look at the blank space in paragraph 1, which word first best?

1. fanatical
2. innocent
3. occasional
4. typical

“Lots of teens find out the hard way” (paragraph 2)
What does ‘the hard way’ refer to according to paragraph 2?

1. being hurt by the police
2. being treated like criminals
3. knowing to have harmed other people
4. personal relationships having been ruined

What is the main purpose of paragraph 3?

1. to advise people on how to approach a friend that shoplifts
2. to help people to think about the consequences of their behaviour
3. to show how easy it is to fall into the habits of one’s friends

Look at the blank space in paragraph 4 and choose the word that fits best.

1. courage
2. flexibility
3. humour
4. preparation

What is the point made in paragraph 5?
When you accompany a friend while shoplifting

1. you might face charges as well.
2. you might get betrayed by your friend.
3. you might lose a friend over it.
4. you might start to feel guilty.

1.A story about a family trying to stick together and survive through the Great Depression in the Midwest in the 1930s

1.A story about a family trying to stick together and survive through the Great Depression in the Midwest in the 1930s

1.A story about a family trying to stick together and survive through the Great Depression in the Midwest in the 1930s

Main central Idea

What do you think the central (main) idea of a passage is?

What is the main purpose of this passage?

What is the central main idea of this passage?