How can you identify the paragraph's main idea quickly?

• A. Look at the topic sentence and the concluding sentence for the gist.
• B. Read the last paragraph first.
• C. Memorize all the specific details.
• D. Read every sentence in the paragraph.

Answer: (A)

Identifying a paragraph's main idea quickly hinges on where the author places the central point. The topic sentence typically states the main idea or the point the paragraph will support, often appearing near the start. The concluding sentence usually restates or reinforces that idea, acting as a quick confirmation of the gist. So by glancing at the first and last sentences, you can grasp the overarching message without getting lost in details. The other options don’t fit as well: reading the last paragraph first isn’t a reliable way to uncover the paragraph’s main idea, memorizing all details wastes time and misses the big picture, and reading every sentence is thorough but not the fastest route to the gist.