Which two sentences should you examine to determine the main idea quickly?

• A. The first sentence in the paragraph and the final sentence.
• B. The concluding sentence only.
• C. The topic sentence and the concluding sentence for the gist.
• D. The sentence with the most adjectives.

Answer: (D)

Understanding where the main idea is stated helps you grasp the gist quickly. In most paragraphs, the topic sentence introduces the main point, and the concluding sentence reinforces or sums it up. By focusing on these two, you capture the overall message without getting lost in details. The sentence that has the most adjectives tends to highlight description or emphasis rather than the central idea, so it isn’t a reliable cue for the main point. For example, in a paragraph about why daily walking is beneficial, the topic sentence might say that daily walking improves health, and the concluding sentence might restate key benefits like better heart health and mood. Together, these two sentences give you the core idea fast.