Where are the cues for the central idea often found in a text?

• A. Introduction, topic sentences, and conclusion.
• B. Footnotes only.
• C. Random paragraphs.
• D. Title alone.

Answer: (A)

How a text signals its central idea is usually through the introduction, topic sentences, and conclusion. The introduction often states the main point or thesis, giving you the destination of the text. Each paragraph’s topic sentence links back to that main idea, showing how the details develop and support it. The conclusion restates or reinforces the central idea, tying everything together. So these parts provide clear cues about the main message across the piece. Footnotes are extra details, not the main message signal; randomly chosen paragraphs don’t coordinate to reveal the central idea; the title alone can hint at the topic but doesn’t show how the idea develops throughout the text.