TABE

The Reading test measures how well you understand written text: finding the central idea, identifying an author's purpose, interpreting literary and informational passages, evaluating arguments, and drawing logical conclusions. It also asks you to read information presented in tables, charts, and graphs. These are the skills adults use every day in education, the workplace, and daily life.

The main idea is the central point or most important concept a writer conveys in a passage. Identifying it is the foundation of reading comprehension, because it tells you the purpose and focus of the whole text.

Appears directly in the text, usually in a topic sentence. The

Not stated anywhere, so you infer it from the details, examples,

topic sentence often opens a paragraph, but it can also appear

and information provided. Look at what all the details have in

in the middle or at the end. Ask what single point the author

common and ask what general statement would cover every

wants you to understand; if one sentence answers that

one of them.

question, it is the stated main idea.

Mainidea,Topic,Andsupportingdetails

Term	WhatItIs	Example
Topic	Thesubjectofapassage expressedinawordorshort ,	Exercise
	phrase
Mainidea	Acompletestatementaboutthetopicthatexpresses	Regularexerciseprovidesmanyphysicaland
	theauthor'spoint	mentalhealthbenefits .
Supportingdetails	Facts examples statistics explanations or , , , ,	Exercisestrengthenstheheart reduces ,
	descriptionsthatdevelop explain orprovethemain , ,	stress andimprovessleep , .
	idea;theyanswerwho what when where why and , , , , ,
	how

In multi-paragraph passages, each paragraph usually has its own main idea, and the passage as a whole has a central thesis, or controlling idea. The paragraph main ideas support that thesis, so identify the point of each paragraph and then decide how those points connect.

Read the first and last paragraphs carefully, since authors often state the thesis in the introduction and restate it in the conclusion. Notice words, phrases, and ideas that repeat. Use the title when one is given. After reading, summarize the passage in one sentence; if your sentence covers every paragraph, you have the main idea. On the test, reject answer choices that are too narrow (one detail) or too broad (more than the passage covers).

Authors write for specific reasons. Recognizing the purpose behind a text helps you understand the content more fully and evaluate it critically. The four primary purposes are to inform, persuade, entertain, and express.

Purpose	Author'sGoalandFeatures	TypicalExamples
Inform	Educatethereaderwithfacts explanations and , ,	Textbooks newsarticles encyclopedias instructionmanuals , , , ,
	objectiveinformation Straightforward .	scientificreports
	language verifiablefacts dataandstatistics , , ,
	anobjectivetone andnoemotionalappeals ,
Persuade	Convincethereadertoacceptaviewpoint take ,	Editorials advertisements politicalspeeches opinionessays , , , ,
	anaction orchangeabelief Usesarguments , . ,	reviews
	evidence emotionalappeals credibility , , ,
	rhetoricaldevices andoftenacalltoaction ,
Entertain	Amuse engage orgivethereaderenjoyment , , .	Novels shortstories poems plays humorousessays comic , , , , ,
	Usescreativelanguage vividdescription , ,	strips
	compellingcharacters engagingplots and , ,
	literarydevices
Express	Sharetheauthor'spersonalthoughts feelings , ,	Personalessays memoirs journals diaries somepoetry , , , ,
	experiences andreflections Oftenfirstperson , . ,
	emotional andbuiltonpersonalanecdotes ,

To identify an author's purpose, consider the type of publication, the language and tone, whether the text relies on facts or opinions, whether persuasive techniques are present, and the effect the writing has on you. Ask what the author wants you to know, believe, feel, or do after reading.

Many texts serve more than one purpose. A magazine article may inform readers about a health topic while persuading them to adopt healthy habits; a novel entertains while expressing the author's views on social issues. When a question asks for the primary purpose, choose the one the whole text is built around. A text that presents both sides of an issue without taking a side is written to inform.