A reliable sequence
Read the headings quickly to notice their differences. Then read one paragraph, identify its topic and decide what the writer says about that topic. Create a short private summary before returning to the list.
Compare two or three plausible headings. Check whether each one covers the paragraph as a whole. Examples, names and statistics usually support the main idea; they are not automatically the main idea themselves.
- Topic: What is the paragraph about?
- Purpose: Is it explaining, contrasting, criticising or describing a change?
- Scope: Does the heading fit the complete paragraph?
- Evidence: Which sentences confirm the choice?
Practise without the keyword trap
After choosing an answer, locate the exact idea that connects the heading to the paragraph. If the connection depends on a single repeated noun, test the alternative again.
During review, write why each wrong heading fails. This turns one exercise into reusable strategy and helps distinguish a vocabulary problem from a main-idea problem.
Use the guide