Question

Identify the main idea/point in the passage-
Anjali didn’t want to go to office. She was thinking of making an excuse to her manager but she wasn’t able to find any because she had already made four in the last month to skip office. So, she decided that she would just switch her cell phone off and sleep.
A) Anjali decided to switch off her cell phone.
B) Anjali was thinking of an excuse.
C) Anjali didn’t want to go to office.
D) Anjali had made four excuses last month.

Answer 1

Hint: The main idea is the central thought of the passage that the writer wants to convey it to the reader. Main idea or point usually found in the beginning of the sentence or the paragraph. The first sentence of the passage explains about the subject.

Complete answer:
Option A) Anjali decided to switch off her cell phone – is an incorrect answer because the main idea is not to switch off her phone. As she did earlier also (stated in the passage). So, this option is an incorrect answer as this option does not convey the main point of the passage.

Option B) Anjali was thinking of an excuse – is an incorrect answer because making an excuse cannot be the central idea of the passage. Why is she making an excuse that could be the central or main point of the passage? So, this option is an incorrect answer.

Option C) Anjali didn’t want to go to office – is the correct answer because Anjali is making an excuse as she didn’t want to go to office. As stated in the passage that how she had already made an excuse last month to take an off. And now, she is again planning to take an off. So, the main idea of the passage is that she is not interested in going to office. Therefore, this is the correct answer.

Option D) Anjali had made four excuses last month – is an incorrect answer because as stated in the passage it is already stated that she made an excuse last month and she is short of excuses or she does not find any valid reason to take an off. Thus, this is not the main idea of the passage and therefore, this is an incorrect answer.

The main idea/point in the passage is-
Anjali didn’t want to go to office.

Hence, the correct answer is Option C.

Note: In order to find the main idea of the main idea, figure out the topic first i.e. what they are addressing. Then look for the sentence that states the main point. So, there is a simple formula that will help to identify the main idea-
Topic + main point about the topic = MAIN IDEA.