The most important idea that tells what a paragraph or larger section is about is called the:

• A. Mood
• B. Central idea
• C. Summary
• D. Tone

Answer: (B)

The main idea being tested is identifying the central idea of a paragraph. The central idea is the one main point the author wants you to understand, the idea that everything in the paragraph works to develop. It isn’t about mood—the feeling the writing creates—or tone—the author’s attitude toward the subject. It also isn’t a summary, which would simply restate the main points in a shorter form. Instead, the central idea is the single overarching point that ties all the details and evidence together. To find it, look for what the details are building toward, often anchored by the topic and a sentence that clearly presents that overarching point. In this question, the line that tells what the paragraph is mainly about is exactly that central idea.