Mastering the Big Picture

A Guide to Main Idea, Primary Purpose, Title, and Summary Questions

Learn to see the forest, not just the trees. This is the single most important skill in Reading Comprehension.

Find the Core
Identify Purpose
Avoid Traps

What Are "Global" Questions?

Unlike "Specific" or "Inference" questions that focus on one detail, "Global" questions test your understanding of the entire passage.

The RC Question Pyramid

GLOBAL QUESTIONS

(The "Why")

Main Idea, Primary Purpose, Theme, Title, Summary

LOCAL QUESTIONS

(The "How")

Purpose of a Detail, Citation, or Example

SPECIFIC QUESTIONS

(The "What")

Inference (Must Be True), Detail, Vocab-in-Context

You cannot answer the "Global" questions at the top without understanding the "Specific" details at the bottom. But the details *only* make sense in the context of the Global idea!

The "Big Picture" Family

These are all variations of the same question: "What was the point?"

1. Main Idea

The Question: "What is this passage *about*?"
The Answer: A noun. A summary of the *content*.

2. Primary Purpose

The Question: "Why did the author *write* this?"
The Answer: A verb. A summary of the *author's goal*.

3. Purpose of Citation/Example

The Question: "Why did the author include *this specific detail*?"
The Answer: A local purpose that supports the Main Idea.

4. Theme

The Question: "What is the underlying *message*?"
The Answer: A universal concept or takeaway (common in literature/philosophy).

5. Title

The Question: "What is the best *title* for this passage?"
The Answer: A "catchy" Main Idea. Must be accurate and not too broad/narrow.

6. Summary

The Question: "Which choice *best summarizes* the passage?"
The Answer: A multi-point Main Idea. Must be neutral and comprehensive.

Core Concept: The #1 Distinction

You MUST understand the difference between Main Idea and Primary Purpose.

Main Idea (The WHAT)

The TOPIC. What the passage is *about*. It's a summary of the content.

NOUN

Example Passage: A passage details the new fossil evidence showing dinosaurs had feathers.

Main Idea: "New evidence for feathered dinosaurs."

Primary Purpose (The WHY)

The GOAL. Why the author *wrote it*. It's a summary of the author's intent.

VERB

Example Passage: A passage details the new fossil evidence showing dinosaurs had feathers.

Primary Purpose: "To *present* new evidence..." or "To *argue* for a new theory..."

Deep Dive: Primary Purpose (The Verb Test)

The first word of the answer choice is your biggest clue. Match the author's tone.

  • To Argue / Prove

    Author takes a strong stance and tries to convince you. Tone: Persuasive, confident, biased.

  • To Criticize

    Author points out flaws in a theory, person, or work. Tone: Negative, skeptical, dissenting.

  • To Describe / Present

    Author lays out facts about a topic without a strong opinion. Tone: Neutral, objective, informational.

  • To Compare

    Author discusses similarities and differences between two or more things. Tone: Analytical, balanced.

  • To Explain

    Author clarifies a complex phenomenon or process. Tone: Didactic, clear, step-by-step.

TRAP: Be wary of "To Prove." It's a very strong verb. "To Suggest" or "To Argue" is often safer and more accurate.

Deep Dive: Purpose of Citation / Example

The "Why did the author put this *here*?" question.

The 3-Step Strategy

1

Find the Citation. Read the specific sentence or example mentioned in the question.

2

Read the Context. Read the sentence *before* and the sentence *after* it. The purpose is almost always in one of these two places.

3

Find the "Local Idea." The author is using the detail to *support a smaller point* in that paragraph. Find that point.

Example: "...Many scholars have argued for Theory X. For example, Dr. Smith's 2022 study showed... This new evidence, however, fails to account for..."

The purpose of Dr. Smith's study is "to provide an example of an argument for Theory X," which the author is about to criticize.

Deep Dive: Title, Theme, & Summary

1. Best Title

Think like a newspaper editor. The title must be:

  • Accurate: It must match the Main Idea.
  • Not Too Broad: "A History of Science" (wrong).
  • Not Too Narrow: "Dr. Smith's Study" (wrong).
  • Just Right: "A New Theory of Dinosaur Feathers" (correct).

2. Theme

This is the "so what?" or the underlying, universal message. It's the Main Idea, but made abstract.

  • Main Idea: "This passage describes a woman who overcomes poverty."
  • Theme: "The resilience of the human spirit."

3. Best Summary

This is just a longer, multi-point Main Idea. The correct answer must be:

  • Comprehensive: Mentions all key points, not just one.
  • Neutral: Does not include the author's opinion (unless the passage was *about* their opinion).
  • Accurate: Does not misrepresent any facts.

The Hall of Shame: Common Traps

These wrong answers are *designed* to look tempting.

1. The "Too Narrow"

This is the #1 trap. The answer choice accurately describes *one paragraph* of the passage (often the first or last), but *not* the whole thing. It's "True, but not Main."

2. The "Too Broad"

The answer choice is about a much larger topic than the passage. Ex: The passage is about a new *type* of solar panel, but the answer is about "The Future of Renewable Energy."

3. The "Wrong Verb"

A Primary Purpose trap. The passage *describes* a theory, but the answer says "To *criticize* a theory." This misrepresents the author's neutral tone.

4. The "Real-World" (Out of Scope)

The answer brings in outside knowledge that is true, but not *in the passage*. It's a "Global" question, but the answer isn't based on the text "globally."

Practice Set

Apply the techniques. Find the "Big Picture."

Passage 1: "The current historical consensus is that the American Revolution was fought over political ideals like 'no taxation without representation.' However, a new school of historians (e.g., Smith) argues this is a simplification. Smith's research focuses on the economic records of colonial merchants, showing that their *primary* motivation was not political ideals, but a desire to break free from British trade monopolies. Smith argues that the language of 'liberty' was used to rally the public, while the core goal was economic freedom."

1. What is the primary purpose of this passage?

Explanation:
(A) Too Broad/Wrong: The passage never says it was a "mistake."
(B) Correct: The passage "presents" (Verb) a "new school... that challenges the consensus" (Content). This perfectly matches the author's neutral, informational tone.
(C) Too Narrow: This is just *one detail* (Smith's evidence), not the purpose of the *whole* passage.
(D) Wrong Verb: The passage *presents* Smith's work, it doesn't *criticize* it.

Passage 2: (Same passage as above) "The current historical consensus is that the American Revolution was fought over political ideals... (e.g., Smith) argues this is a simplification. Smith's research focuses on the economic records of colonial merchants... while the core goal was economic freedom."

2. The author includes the detail "Smith's research focuses on the economic records" in order to...

Explanation: This is a "Purpose of Detail" question.
Local Idea: The sentence *before* this detail introduces "Smith's argument." This detail, therefore, must be the *evidence* for that argument.
(A) Too Broad: The passage isn't about "all historical research."
(B) Too Extreme: Smith argues ideals weren't the *primary* motivation, not that they weren't *important*.
(C) Wrong: This detail supports the *new* view, not the *traditional* one.
(D) Correct: The detail (economic records) is the *evidence* for the "new argument."

Final Interactive Quiz

Test your mastery of the Big Picture.

Passage 1: "Most people believe the chameleon changes color for camouflage. This is a myth. While it *can* change color, the primary drivers are communication and temperature regulation. A bright color display might signal dominance to a rival, while a darker shade can help absorb more heat from the sun. Camouflage is, at best, a secondary benefit."

1. (4 options) What is the main idea of the passage?

Passage 2: (Same as above) "Most people believe the chameleon changes color for camouflage. This is a myth... the primary drivers are communication and temperature regulation..."

2. (5 options) The author's primary purpose is to...

Passage 3: "The rise of remote work has not been the corporate disaster many predicted. A 2023 study by Stanford University found that productivity for many roles (e.g., coding, data entry) increased by as much as 13%. However, this trend was not universal. Roles requiring high levels of spontaneous collaboration, such as creative design, saw a slight decrease in innovation. This suggests a hybrid model may be the optimal, if complex, solution."

3. (4 options) Which of the following is the most appropriate title for this passage?

Passage 4: (Same as above) "...A 2023 study by Stanford University found that productivity... increased by as much as 13%. However, this trend was not universal..."

4. (5 options) The author mentions the "2023 study by Stanford University" in order to...

Summary & Next Steps

Key Takeaways

  • Main Idea (What) vs. Primary Purpose (Why) is the key distinction.
  • Purpose questions are answered by the Verb (e.g., to argue, to describe).
  • "Purpose of Citation" is a *local* question. Look at the sentence *before* it.
  • The #1 trap is "Too Narrow" (True, but not Main).

Practice Plan

  • Active Reading: After *every* paragraph you read (for any exam), pause and ask: "What was the main point of *that* paragraph?"
  • Passage Mapping: On a piece of paper, write a 1-sentence summary for *each* paragraph. Then, combine them to find the overall Main Idea.
  • Analyze Traps: When you get one wrong, don't just see the right answer. *Name the trap* you fell for. ("Ah, that was a 'Too Narrow' trap.")