OAR OAR Reading Comprehension: Main Idea 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Read: 'The Mediterranean diet, rich in olive oil, fish, vegetables, and whole grains, is consistently linked to lower rates of heart disease and longer lifespans in research studies. Unlike fad diets, it is not restrictive and can be sustained long-term. Health organizations worldwide now recommend it as a model for healthy eating.' The main idea is:
- Olive oil is the single most important food for heart health.
- The Mediterranean diet is both health-promoting and sustainably practical, earning broad scientific endorsement. (Correct answer)
- Fad diets are more effective than the Mediterranean diet for weight loss.
- Only people in Mediterranean countries benefit from this diet.
Correct answer: The Mediterranean diet is both health-promoting and sustainably practical, earning broad scientific endorsement.
The passage highlights the diet's health benefits, sustainability, and wide endorsement — all supporting the main idea in option B.
Question 2: If the last paragraph of a passage begins with 'In conclusion' or 'Ultimately,' it most likely contains:
- A new argument that contradicts the rest of the passage.
- A list of vocabulary definitions.
- A restatement or summary of the main idea. (Correct answer)
- An unrelated anecdote.
Correct answer: A restatement or summary of the main idea.
Concluding signal words typically introduce a summary or restatement of the main idea.
Question 3: Read: 'Urban heat islands occur when cities absorb and retain more heat than surrounding rural areas due to pavement, buildings, and reduced vegetation. This raises energy costs, worsens air quality, and increases health risks for residents. Urban planners are responding with green roofs, tree planting, and reflective road surfaces.' The main idea is:
- Green roofs are the most cost-effective solution to urban heat.
- Urban heat islands are an artificial phenomenon caused by city design that demands planned mitigation. (Correct answer)
- Rural areas never experience heat-related health problems.
- Air conditioning is the best response to urban heat islands.
Correct answer: Urban heat islands are an artificial phenomenon caused by city design that demands planned mitigation.
The passage explains what causes urban heat islands, their consequences, and emerging solutions — all framing them as a solvable human-made problem.
Question 4: A reader summarizes a passage as: 'This passage is about World War II.' This summary describes the passage's:
- Main idea
- Topic (Correct answer)
- Thesis statement
- Conclusion
Correct answer: Topic
Naming the subject without making a claim describes the topic, not the main idea.
Question 5: Read: 'Many people assume that multitasking improves efficiency, but research consistently shows that the brain cannot truly focus on two cognitive tasks simultaneously. Instead, it rapidly switches between tasks, increasing errors and reducing overall speed. Single-tasking with deliberate focus produces superior results.' The main idea is:
- Multitasking is a skill that can be developed with practice.
- Despite common belief, multitasking reduces performance compared to focused single-tasking. (Correct answer)
- Research on multitasking is inconclusive and disputed by many scientists.
- Speed is always more important than accuracy when completing tasks.
Correct answer: Despite common belief, multitasking reduces performance compared to focused single-tasking.
The passage refutes the popular belief about multitasking and argues that single-tasking is more effective.
Question 6: Read: 'The Wright Brothers' first flight lasted only 12 seconds and covered 120 feet. Within decades, commercial aviation connected continents and transformed global commerce and culture. Few inventions have reshaped human civilization so profoundly in so short a time.' The main idea is:
- The Wright Brothers were the most important inventors in history.
- Aviation's rapid evolution from a 12-second flight to a global industry represents one of history's most transformative developments. (Correct answer)
- Commercial aviation is primarily important for its economic impact.
- The Wright Brothers did not expect their invention to change the world.
Correct answer: Aviation's rapid evolution from a 12-second flight to a global industry represents one of history's most transformative developments.
The passage uses the contrast between the humble first flight and aviation's massive impact to argue it was uniquely transformative.
Question 7: Which approach is BEST when the main idea of a passage is not explicitly stated?
- Assume the passage has no main idea and move on.
- Read only the first sentence of each paragraph and choose the most interesting one.
- Identify the repeated theme across all paragraphs and construct a sentence that captures it. (Correct answer)
- Pick the detail that appears most frequently as the main idea.
Correct answer: Identify the repeated theme across all paragraphs and construct a sentence that captures it.
An implied main idea requires synthesizing the common thread across all paragraphs into a unifying statement.
OAR OAR Reading Comprehension: Main Idea 5
Read: 'The Mediterranean diet, rich in olive oil, fish, vegetables, and whole grains, is consistently linked to lower rates of heart disease and longer lifespans in research studies.
Unlike fad diets, it is not restrictive and can be sustained long-term.
Health organizations worldwide now recommend it as a model for healthy eating.' The main idea is: