Reading: Skimming (Reading for Gist): A2 Lesson 1: Understanding the Main Idea of Short Paragraphs on Everyday Topics

Reading: Skimming (Reading for Gist)

A2 Lesson 1: Understanding the Main Idea of Short Paragraphs on Everyday Topics

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Finding the Most Important Point

We know how to skim to find the topic (e.g., "Food"). Now, we will learn to skim for the Main Idea¹. The main idea is the most important message the writer wants to tell you in a paragraph². It's a full sentence!

A good strategy is to look for the Topic Sentence³, which is often the first sentence of the paragraph.

How to Find the Main Idea

1. Skim the paragraph quickly. Don't read every word.
2. Look for keywords. What words are repeated or seem important?
3. Read the first sentence carefully. It often tells you the main idea.
4. Ask yourself: "What is the single most important point of this paragraph?"

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Practice Example 1

Let's skim this paragraph to find the main idea.

My daily routine is very simple. I wake up at 6 AM every morning. Then, I eat breakfast with my family. I ride my bicycle to school at 7:30 AM. After school, I do my homework and play football with my friends.

What is the Main Idea?

• A. I play football with my friends.
• B. My daily routine is very simple.
• C. I eat breakfast with my family.

Answer: B is the main idea. A and C are just small details⁴ of the routine. The first sentence summarizes the entire paragraph.

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Practice Example 2

Let's try again with a different topic.

Kampot is famous for its delicious food. Many people visit to try the fresh seafood, like crab with green pepper. The province is also known around the world for its amazing pepper. You can also find many sweet fruits, like durian and mangoes, at the market.

What is the Main Idea?

• A. Kampot is famous for its delicious food.
• B. Kampot pepper is known around the world.
• C. You can find durian at the market.

Answer: A is the main idea. B and C are supporting details that explain *why* the food is famous.

Your Turn to Practice!

Practice Quiz 1

Skim the paragraph and find the main idea.

"There are many fun things to do on the river in Kampot. You can go for a swim when the weather is hot. Some people like to go kayaking or paddle-boarding. In the evening, you can take a boat trip to see the fireflies."

What is the main idea?

• A. You can go for a swim.
• B. You can see fireflies in the evening.
• C. There are many fun things to do on the river in Kampot.

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Answer: C. A and B are examples (details) of the fun things you can do.

Vocabulary Glossary

1. Main Idea (*noun*)
   ភាសាខ្មែរ: គំនិតចម្បង (Kum-nit cham-bong)
   The most important point or message of a paragraph. Also called the "gist". ↩ back to text
2. Paragraph (*noun*)
   ភាសាខ្មែរ: កថាខណ្ឌ (Ka-thaa khan)
   A group of sentences about one topic. ↩ back to text
3. Topic Sentence (*noun*)
   ភាសាខ្មែរ: ប្រយោគប្រធានបទ (Bprayo pro-thean-bot)
   The sentence that states the main idea of a paragraph. It is often the first sentence. ↩ back to text
4. Detail (*noun*)
   ភាសាខ្មែរ: ពត៌មានលំអិត (Pot-dto-mean lom-ort)
   A small piece of information, like an example, that supports or explains the main idea. ↩ back to text

Homework Task

Be a Reporter!

Find a short paragraph in English. You can use a simple news website (like VOA Learning English) or an English book.

1. Skim the paragraph.
2. Write down what you think the main idea is in one sentence.
3. Underline the details in the paragraph that support your main idea.

Show your work to your teacher.