000 YEARS BEGINNING AS EARLY AS 5,000 B.C., THIS F I N D I N G S U...

3,000 years beginning as early as 5,000

B

.

C

., this

F i n d i n g S u p p o r t i n g I d e a s

civilization flourished. Its cultural contributionsinclude basic concepts of arithmetic and geome-After you have highlighted the main idea of a passage, thetry, a calendar, jewelry, pottery, statues, the pyra-next step is to find the details or facts that an author hasmids at Giza, underground burial chambers,provided to support his or her main position. While aand the mummification process. The Egyptianmain idea is a general statement,a supporting idea is spe-script, called hieroglyphics, is a form of writingcific information.For example, read the next paragraphbased on pictures. The Rosetta Stone,a granitefrom a U.S. Census Bureau report:slab inscribed in 196

B

.

C

. with three identicaltexts—two in hieroglyphic languages and one inThe growth of human population has been, isancient Greek—aided scholars in decipheringnow, and in the future will be almost entirelyhieroglyphics.determined in the world’s less developed coun-tries (LDCs). Ninety-nine percent of global nat-Note that a statement might be too general to bestural increase—the difference between numbersdescribe the main idea of a passage. For example, look atof births and numbers of deaths—now occursthe following choices. Which best describes the mainin the developing regions of Africa, Asia, andidea of the selection?Latin America.a. Early civilizations often developed near aThe topic of this paragraph is world population. Thewater source.main idea of the passage is what the writer is saying aboutb.Before deciphering the Rosetta Stone, scholarsworld population. In this case, the first sentencecould not read Egyptian hieroglyphics.expresses the main idea:The growth of human populationc. Ancient Egypt was a sophisticated civilizationhas been, is now, and in the future will be almost entirelythat made many contributions to humandetermined in the world’s less developed countries (LDCs).culture.The next sentence offers specific information that

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T I P S A N D S T R AT E G I E S F O R T H E G E D S O C I A L S T U D I E S E X A M

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supports the main idea. It offers a specific fact in theEnvironmental groups opposed NAFTA becauseform of a statistic (ninety-nine percent of global naturalthey felt that pollution regulations would beincrease) and gives details about which areas of the worldmore difficult to enforce.the passage is talking about (developing regions of Africa,Asia, and Latin America).Think about how you would rephrase this informa-These words and phrases are often used to introducetion in your own words. Now answer the practicea detail or idea that supports an author’s position:question.for example for instanceAccording to the information in the paragraph, whichof the following is true?one reason is in one casein particular specificallya. Supporters of NAFTA were not challenged.b.Opponents of NAFTA wanted to keep dutiesand other tariffs on U.S. goods shipped toTo practice locating supporting ideas while you read,skim the text and look for the following:Mexico.c. Labor groups were afraid that U.S. jobs wouldbe lost.

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examples that bolster the main idead.Canada and the United States never approved

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contrasting arguments that clarify the author’sNAFTA.pointe. Labor groups believe it is cheaper to produce

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arguments for the author’s positiongoods in the United States.

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details that answer what, when, where, why,or howChoice cis correct. It restates the following sentencefrom the passage: “Labor groups believed that NAFTA

R e s t a t i n g I n f o r m a t i o n

would make it easier for U.S. businesses to move theirplants to Mexico to take advantage of cheap labor.”Choices aand dare incorrect statements. Choice bmayThe GED Social Studies Test will ask you to answer ques-tions based on details supplied in a passage. However, thebe true, but it is not mentioned in the paragraph.answer choices will not present the details in the samewords—they may restate the information in different

M a k i n g I n f e r e n c e s

terms. To strengthen your critical thinking skills, whenyou are reading, pause and think about what the mate-While restating information tests your ability to knowrial is stating. Then try putting it in your own words.This will help you better understand reading materialwhat a text says, making inferences about a passageand increase your ability to recognize the same materialdemonstrates your ability to know what a text means.even if it is written in new terms. For example, read theSometimes, an author may not explicitly state his or hermain idea or offer a conclusion. You must infer thefollowing passage:author’s meaning. Being able to make inferencesis animportant critical thinking skill. To figure out anThe North American Free Trade Agreement(NAFTA)is an agreement between Canada,unstated idea or conclusion, look at what the author hasstated. Ask yourself these questions:Mexico, and the United States to remove tariffsand trade barriers from goods made and sold inthe continent. Before the pact was approved in

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What can I conclude based on the information