文章的主旨和大意

第一节　文章的主旨和大意

一、主旨和大意的区别

很多专家认为，在阅读理解中最重要的一项技能就是掌握和理解文章的主旨和大意，因为它通常是对全文内容的概括，也是对作者意图的反映。要成功地做到这一点，首先要明确几个概念：

（1）主题或题目（topic or subject）。它是一个单词或词组，能够概括作者在文中要讨论的主要内容。通常主题要具有概括性，要能够涵盖全文的内容，而非部分内容，而且同时要具有限定性。比如说，对某一篇文章来说，下面三个题目：“Politics”、“Federal Politics”、“Corruption in Federal Politics”可能都对，但可能只有最后一个最能如实地反映出文章的主要内容。因此，在判断四个选项中哪个是文章最好的主题（Which is the best topic of the passage）时，要注意选择既有概括性又很具体的题目。

例1：

Name a topic that includes all the details in the list：

Thanksgiving Day，Mother’s Day，Independence Day，Lincoln’s Birthday，Martin Luther King’s Day，Washington’s Day

Topic：＿＿＿.

上述这些节日都是美国的节日：感恩节、母亲节、独立日（国庆日）、林肯纪念日、马丁·路德·金纪念日、华盛顿纪念日。因此，这组的标题应是“American Holidays”。如果用“Holidays”作为标题，概括的面就过大，不够具体，因为这组词语仅涉及美国的节日，而未涉及其他国家的节日，所以最合适的题目只能是“American Holidays”.

例2：

Courting behavior in birds is also believed to be instinctive.In one experiment Daniel Lehr man of Rutgers University found that when a male blond ring dove was isolated from females，it soon began to bow and coo to a stuffed model of a female—a model that it had previously ignored.When the model was replaced by a rolled-up cloth，he began to court the cloth；and when this was removed the sex-crazed dove directed his attention to a corner of the cage，where it could at least focus its gaze.It seems that threshold for release of the behavior pattern became increasingly lower as time went by without the sight of a live female dove.It is almost as though some specific“energy”for performing courting behavior were building up within the male ring dove.

Question：

The best topic of this paragraph is“＿＿＿”.

A.A Male Blond Ring Dove

B.Courting Behavior

C.A Live Female Dove

D.Courting Behavior in birds

这个题目的答案应该是D。这篇文章主要是通过描述对急于求偶的雄性鸽子进行的一连串实验来证明鸟类的求偶行为是天生的、本能的（在通读全文时，一下子看到段首句Courting behavior in birds is also believed to be instinctive，我们常常看到，段首句往往是主题句。而该段的第二句话In one experiment Daniel Lehr man of Rutgers University found that when a male blond ring dove was isolated from females，it soon began to bow and coo to a stuffed model of a female....雄性鸽子仅仅是科学家用来实验鸟类求偶行为的实验罢了）。因此，可以看出选项D既概括了主题，又限定了一连串实验的目的，应为正确答案。而选项A和选项C只选择了文中细节，而非全文内容的概括，而且由于本文也并不是对雄性或雌性鸽子的介绍性文章，故应当排除。至于选项B，虽具有概括性，却范围太大，没有突出这篇文章的主题，因此也不合适。

（2）文章的大意或中心思想（main idea or controlling idea）。它是作者针对所选定主题（topic）而进行的概述。作者在文中对中心思想进行明确而肯定的阐述的句子叫做主题句（topic sentence or main idea statement）。主题句一般是一个具有概括性或总结性的陈述句。文章大意或中心思想所讨论的内容不同于这里要讲的第三个概念——细节内容（supporting details）。细节内容用来支持中心思想的例证、说理和详述等。

例1：

Early Cognitive Development

Cognitive psychologists sometimes study young children to observe the very beginnings of cognitive activity.For example，when children first begin to utter words and sentences，they overgeneralize what they know and make language more consistent than it actually is.

Topic：＿＿＿.

Main idea：＿＿＿.

Detail：＿＿＿.

很明显上面这段文字的题目是“Early Cognitive Development”（早期认知的发展）。而其中心思想则是该段的段首句，细节内容是该段第二句话所举的例子。

例2：

Compare the items within each group below and indicate whether each one is a statement of main idea（M I），a topic（T），or a specific supporting detail（D）.

Group 1

A.In 1981 Henry Cisneros of San Antonio became the first Mexican-American mayor of a large city.

B.Mexican-American political gains.

C.Since 1960 Mexican-American have made impressive political gains.

Group 2

A.For poor farm families life on the plains meant a sod house or a dugout carved out of the hillside for protection from the winds.

B.One door and usually no more than a single window provided light and air.

C.Sod houses on the plains.

Group 3

A.As individuals，American tend to value the knowledge and skills transmitted by the schools，not for their own sake but because they hope to translate those skills into good jobs and money.

B.Social mobility through education.

C.As one study indicates，many students are attracted to college because of job and career

considerations.

Group 4

A.For example，human babies require about twice as many calories per unit of body weight as adults.

B.Although children need less total food than adults，their metabolic needs exceed those of adults in proportion to their body weight.

C.Metabolic needs of children.

Group 5

A.The question of a bill of rights.

B.First，Hamilton wrote in Federalist 84 that a Bill of Rights might be necessary to restrict a king，but not a government established by the people；such a government，he said，possesses only the powers given to it by the people.

C.A serious objection raised against the Constitution by those who opposed its ratification was that it contained no Bill of Rights.

参考答案：

Group 1

A.D　　B.T　　C.M I

Group 2

A.M I　B.D　　C.T

Group 3

A.D　　B.T　　C.M I

Group 4

A.D　　B.M I　C.T

Group 5

A.T　　B.D　　C.M I

二、主题句的理解

由于一篇文章的主题思想往往是通过主题句来表达的，那么，能够快速而准确地找到文章的主题句对于正确理解全文的意思就非常重要了。为了快速地找到文章或段落的主题句，从而弄明白文章或段落的主要内容，考生首先就要先掌握主题句在段落中经常可能出现的位置。主题句在段落中的位置大致可归纳为以下几种：段首主题句；段末主题句；段中主题句；无明确标志的主题句。

然后，应遵循以下介绍的行之有效的解题步骤去进行阅读理解：

（1）仔细阅读全文，通观段落大意，重点理解段落的首句及尾句。

（2）理解段首句与第二句或第三句之间的语义关系。

（3）如果从第二句起开始陈述（或释义）段首句内容的话，说明从第二句开始，陈述或解释段首句内容的话，这些句子就称为支撑句（Supporting Sentences），从而可确定段首句为主题句。

（4）如果从段首句起就开始论述细节，到段末句才进行概括或归纳的话，就说明段末句才是主题句。

（5）如果段首句是陈述句，段末句也是陈述句，而在段中出现一句概括性的句子时，就说明段中其他句子都是为这一概括性的句子服务的。显然，这个段中句就应当是主题句，是全段的中心思想。

（6）如果全段都是情节句，而未出现总结性的句子，就说明该段是一个无主题句的段落。这时读者可根据段落所论述的中心思想或焦点，即论述哪一类性质的事情或人物，来进行推断，找出其共同点或核心点，进而得出结论。这样的段落就称为主旨大意隐含段。

（7）有时段落前两句都是较概括性的句子，第三句才开始论证或释义前两句。要辨认出哪句为主题句，读者需对前两句稍加分析，不难得出该段的第二句才是主题句，因为它的概括性强，而段首句仅起引导作用，引出段落要进行陈述的主题内容，所以就不可把第一句视为主题句。

（8）有时读者还会碰到段落中的重复主题句，即段首为主题句，到段末时又出现概括性的句子，即“段首主题句＋段末主题句”共同陈述段落主题。这又是一种写作方法，而段末主题句往往是用来重复强调段首的主题句。一般来说，这种重复主题句不重复原句词句，而是用不同于段首句的表述形式和内容而变换说法来使段首句内容更加明确或确切，但根本意义则相同。

1.段首主题句

全文主题句或段首主题句通常位于全文章或段落的开头，文章或段落的其他部分则围绕该主题句展开论述，这些论述句都用于说明或解释其具体内容或细节。掌握这种知识并熟悉这种文章结构，就能使考生更快地抓住对全文的中心思想及文章叙述的内容层次与具体细节。

例1：

American and Chinese cultures are at polar opposites.An American hostess，complimented for her cooking skills，is likely to say，“Oh，I’m so glad that you liked it.I cooked it especially for you.”Not so a Chinese host or hostess（often the husband does the fancy cooking），who will instead apologize for giving you“nothing”even slightly edible and for not showing you enough honor by providing proper dishes.

Question：

The topic of this paragraph is＿＿＿.

A.American and Chinese cooking difference

B.American and Chinese cultural difference

C.American hostess

D.Chinese host

这段文章就属于典型的主题句在段首的文章。本段第一句就说明了整段的主要内容，即美国和中国的文化有着天壤之别。后面只是分别举了在请人到家里做客时美国主人和中国主人对待客人的赞扬可能作出的两种截然不同的回应，从而说明了两国在文化上的巨大差异。因此这道题的答案应是B。

例2：

Everyone seems much friendlier to each other than usual at Christmas time.You can lean out of a car window when you’re stopped at the traffic lights and say“Merry Christmas”，and people will smile and respond.You probably wouldn’t think of doing that at any other time of the year.Perhaps it’s because most people are on holiday or because everyone knows that they are sharing a similar experience.Giving presents can be very satisfying，too，if you plan far enough in advance and really think of the right present for the right person.

Question：

Which of the following sentences states the main idea of this paragraph？

A.People would smile to each other at Christmas time.

B.People usually prepare the presents before Christmas.

C.People often greet to each other while waiting for the traffic lights on Christmas.

D.People treat each other better than usual at Christmas time.

这一段主要描述了在圣诞节期间人们之间所表现出来的友好亲密的态度。这一主题思想在本段的段首句中就得到了体现。后面的文字是对这种友好亲密态度的具体的细节描写。因此，不难看出这道题的答案应该是D，而A、B、C三项只是细节描写。

2．段末主题句

这类主题句通常是用来归纳和总结前面所阐述的观点或情节的。这种归纳法在撰写文章时很常见。

例1：

Christmas is supposed to be a time to express our love and good will towards others.It is supposed to be a time when we perform acts of kindness for people less fortunate than ourselves.But do we think of other people when we sit down to our Christmas dinner？Of course not—we’re too busy eating those delicious foods associated with Christmas.We are too busy wondering whether the presents we gave were as nice or better than the ones we received.We forget to think of the sick and the homeless.The whole idea of Christmas now is completely unchristian—I’m sure that Christ would be distressed if he could see what sort of celebrations are being carried out in his name.

Question：

The best summary of this paragraph is＿＿＿.

A.Christmas is a time for people to show love to each other

B.The whole idea of Christmas now is completely unchristian

C.On Christmas people can enjoy delicious food

D.At Christmas time people are concerned about the presents they received

这段文章是表达作者对现代人过圣诞节时对圣诞精神的体味。他先说明了圣诞节的意义应该是人们借此欢乐时刻互致爱意或善意向不幸的人传达爱心，然后一步步指出了现代人在圣诞节期间只是忙于品尝美味佳肴，只关心收送的礼品，而对需要帮助的人置若罔闻，因此现在的圣诞节已不再具有原来的基督精神了。作者用本段最后一句话概括总结了本段的主要内容，因此这道题的答案是B。

例2：

English is spoken by pilots and airport control operators on all the airways of the world.Over 70 percent of the world’s mail is written in English.More than 60 percent of the radio programs are in English.Clearly，English is an international language.

Question：

Which of the following is the best title for this paragraph？

A.English—Spoken on All Airways

B.English—A Language for Mail

C.English—A Language for Broadcasting

D.English—An International Language

这是一段非常简练的文字。前三句分别从三个不同领域描述了英语使用的普遍性，即飞行员及地面控制人员使用英语；世界上70%的邮件是用英语书写的；全球60%以上的广播节目是用英语播出的。通过以上三点具体事实，作者最后向读者总结出一个结论，即英语是一门国际性的语言。因此，最后一句为本段的主题句，说明了本段的中心思想。正确答案应该是D。

3.段中主题句

主题句既不在段首，也不在段末，而位于段中时，它常出现的位置是该段的第二句话。为了使一篇文章结构更紧凑，意思更连贯，很多时候一些段落的段首句只起着承上启下的过渡作用，而该段的第二句才是段落的主题句。当然这种情况不是绝对的，有时候段中主题句的位置需视具体情况而定。

例1：

The Cherokee Indians，who considered themselves the“real people”，established their village along the streams and rivers of what are now the Carolines，Georgia，Virginia，and Kentucky.The building methods used by the Cherokee people reveal a unique civilization.The walls of their houses were constructed with large，sturdy posts planted at three- foot intervals.Small posts were held in place by twigs and long grasses interwoven to provide strength and protection.To insulate against the wind and cold，the woven walls were plastered with a mixture of grass and clay.This process also improved the appearance of the house and kept the posts from rooting.Many historians feel that these building techniques place the Cherokee at the forefront of early American Indians.

Questions：

1.Which of the following is the best title for this paragraph？

A.The Cherokees’Life

B.Early American Indians

C.Unique Building Technique of the Cherokees

D.Cultural Traditions of Early American Indians

2.Which sentence best states the main idea of this paragraph？

A.The Cherokee Indians believed that they were superior people.

B.The Cherokee Indians built houses along the river.

C.The Cherokee Indians used grass and clay to build houses.

D.The Cherokee Indians’architectural skill reflects a special civilization.

本段描述了切诺基印第安人早期建造家园时使用的独特建筑艺术。第一句介绍了切诺基人建造家园的位置选择，第二句指出了本段的中心思想，即他们建造房屋的艺术是他们独特文明的反映。第三句到第七句详细地介绍了他们的建筑艺术。这些均属细节内容，都是为了说明当时切诺基人的建筑艺术已经达到的那种文明程度。最后一句是主题的重复，称赞切诺基部落是早期美洲印第安人文明的象征。因此，第一个问题的答案应为C项，第二题的答案应为D项。

例2：

In back of social change lie many forces.Climate，natural resources，agriculture and manufactures serve to set in operation influences that tend to change a person’s life.It is the part of good administration to adjust these forces in such fashion that changes are balanced and national experience is not left at his mercy of varying conditions.But the economic life of a person is so complicated that complete adjustment is beyond human power.Poverty in itself is seldom the cause of revolution.It is the sense of inequality in the distribution of wealth that breeds discontent.When wealth increases and at the same time tends to become monopolized in some group or class，this discontent is always keen.And，above all，when the rich are indifferent to the inequality which economic change increases，and when the burdens of the economic life from those least able to bear them，the consciousness of the inequality grows into enmity.

Question：

Which statement best expresses the central idea of this paragraph？

A.Social change is caused by many factors such as climate and agriculture.

B.Poverty is usually the cause of revolution.

C.The sense of inequality in distribution causes discontent.

D.The burdens of economic life leads to enmity between the rich and the poor.

本文探讨了导致社会发生变化的诸多因素及政府主管部门调控这些因素和力量的制衡作用，分析了引起人们对社会不满的主要原因。作者认为导致社会发生变化的因素虽然很多，但政府应当起到制衡各种力量的职能，作为传播媒介、宣传媒介、以起到促进人民团结的作用。作者继而指出，贫困并非导致革命的原因，财产分配不公才是引起社会不满的根本原因，而富人对于这种分配不公麻木不仁更加剧了人们的不满和动荡。本段属于将主题句放在段落中间成为该段中心的例子。因此这道题的答案应是C。

4.无明显主题句

前面已举例分析了主题句出现在段落中间的不同位置的情况，但是我们还必须认识到还有些段落没有明显的主题句，但这不等于说该段落就没有主题思想。应该说，每一段文字都有其想要表达的主题内容，只不过在这种段落里，主题思想隐藏于字里行间而已。一般来说，对于没有明显主题句的段落，考生应根据上下文，细心琢磨推敲，分析段落的主要细节，从中归纳出其论述的主题思想，切忌用辨认主题句的方法来分析这种无明显主题句的段落，因为这种段落的特征就是没有对主题进行概括或总结的句子。

例1：

I paid$606 for a new color TV from John Doe’s Bargain Barn.For the first time，I watched all of my favorite programs in color.My every favorite star，Rock Henry，looked even more handsome than in black and white.After two days，the set went on the blink.It’s been three months now，and I’ve taken it back three times.Doe’s won’t fix the set and the factory doesn’t pay any attention to my letters.Doe says he doesn’t like the way I act and not to come back.I’ve complained to everybody I can think of—and still no result！I want my money back.

Question：

What is the best title for this paragraph？

A.A New Color TV

B.A Famous Star on TV

C.A TV Buyer’s Complaints

D.Buyer’s Unhappiness

这是一篇作者投诉刚买的新彩电质量差、售后服务差的文章。文中没有一句概括全文大意的话，但是通过分析各个细节可以找到隐含的主题思想，即作者买了新彩电两天后就发现彩电的质量问题。之后他多次将彩电送回售后服务店里修理，也未能修好。他写信到生产这种电视的厂家，而厂家也对此置之不理。由此不难看出，这段的主题思想应为“This TV buyer is complaining about what has happened to the TV since he bought it.”因此，这个问题的答案应是C。A、B两项均为文中涉及的细节内容，不能概括全文，而D项虽能概括全文，但涵盖范围过大，没能点出本文的中心要素——电视。

例2：

Experiments are being carried out at the University of Arizona on ways of storing solar energy on a large scale.To satisfy a large part of the energy in a country like America，huge power stations covering 5000 square miles would have to be built and one wonders whether this would be acceptable to environmentalist.While experiments in generating energy from the sea and the wind are interesting，neither can be considered an obvious solution to a future energy crisis；the first because a lot of energy is needed to generate energy from the sea，and the second because the amount of energy generated from the wind would only satisfy a small percentage of a nation’s needs.Another source of energy which could be more widely used is that generated from hot water or steam from under the earth.This form of energy is already being used in some countries.

Question：

The controlling idea of the paragraph is＿＿＿.

A.experiments in generating energy from the sea

B.experiments on generating energy from the wind

C.experiments on new ways of solutions to a future energy crisis

D.experiments in ways of storing solar energy in a large scale

浏览上述整段文字，考生可以确定该段论述的主要对象是能源危机及其解决方案，作者就此展开叙述。先论及太阳能利用，再讨论利用潮汐及风能发电。最后讨论地热资源的利用问题。作者平铺直叙，层层展开描述。展现于考生面前的是一篇内容翔实的资料。而考生则需要综观全段，逐步概括出本段的中心思想，即“Experiments on new ways of solutions to a future energy crisis”，研究未来能源危机解决途径的各种实验。因此，C为正确答案。

例3：

As many as one thousand years ago in the southwest，the Hopi and Zuni tribes of North America were building with adobe—sun-brick plastered with mud.Their homes looked remarkably like modern apartment house.Some were four stories high and contained quarters for perhaps a thousand people，along with store rooms for grain and other goods.These buildings were usually put up against cliffs，both to make construction easier and for defense against enemies.They were really villages in themselves，as later Spanish explorers must have realized since they called them“pueblos”，which is Spanish for town.

The people of the pueblos raised what are called“the three sisters”—corn，beans and squash.They made excellent pottery and wove marvelous baskets，some so fine that they could hold water.The southwest has always been a dry country，with water scarce.The Hopi and Zuni brought water from streams to their fields and gardens through irrigation ditches.Water was so important that it played a major role in their religion.They developed elaborate ceremonies and religious rituals to bring rain.

The way of life of less settled groups was simple and more strongly influenced by nature.Small tribes such as the Shoshone and Ute wandered the dry and mountainous lands between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.They gathered seeds and hunted small animals such as rabbits and snakes.In the Far North the ancestors of today’s Inuit hunted seals，walruses，and the great whales.They lived right on the frozen seas in shelters called igloos built of blocks of packed snow.When summer came，they fished for salmon and hunted the lordly caribou.

The Cheyenne，Pawnee，and Sioux tribes，known as tile Plains Indians，lived on the grasslands between the Rocky Mountains and the Mississippi River.They hunted the bison，commonly called the buffalo.Its meat was the chief food of these tribes，arid its hide was used to make their clothing and the covering of their tents and tepees.

Question：

Which of the following is the best title for the passage？

A.Building with Adobe B.One Thousand Years of Hunting

C.The Hopi and Zuni Tribes D.Early North American Societies

本文并未给出主题句，但作者的意图在前后段落的叙述中体现得非常明显。全文共分四个自然段，每段的中心内容如下：第一段：北美“Hopi”（霍皮）和“Zuni”（朱尼）等印第安部族的住房特点。第二段：这两个部族的生活状况。第三段：较小的“Shoshone”（肖肖尼）和“Ute”（犹他）等印第安部族的生活居住情况。第四段：平原印第安部族（Plains Indians）的生活居住情况。

由于第三段和第四段中都分别提到了落基山脉（the Rocky Mountains）和密西西比河（the Mississippi River）等北美洲地名，故所提到的部族无疑生活在北美洲。文章一开始便确定了时间，即所描述的事发生在1000多年前（as many as one thousand years ago）。在四个备选答案中，只有D“Early North American Societies”，（早期的北美洲社会）与原文相同，其中“societies”和“tribes”意思相同。

作者在第一段虽着重描写霍皮和朱尼部落的住房“adobe”（用土坯和干草盖成的棚屋），但这只是他们衣食住行的一部分，况且第二、三、四段中对此只字未提。作者在第三、四段中分别提到了打猎“hunting”，但也只是一带而过，属于枝节问题。C项不对，第一、二段的文字完全是关于霍皮和朱尼等印第安部族，但这只是前两段的中心内容，它不可代替整篇文章的中心内容。文章的中心是各个段落都围绕它并对之进行描述和论证的内容，它必须具有概括性，即涉及全篇文章，这一点是至关重要的。

练习：

（1）

Did you ever watch a child in front of a television set？Very interesting things can be observed.A child may be crawling on the floor，playing with his or her toys or talking to himself or herself while the show is in progress.However，as soon as a commercial appears，the child stops what he or she is doing and faces the television set，intent on the picture，motion，and sound coming from the screen.No matter what is said，the child stares at the set until the commercial has ended.Then the child returns to crawling，playing，and talking.The magnetic effect of commercials on children is amazing.

Question：

What is the main idea of the passage？

A.Children’s behaviors are observed when TV is on.

B.Children are magnetically attracted by commercials.

C.Children are keen on pictures from the screen.

D.Children stare at the commercials even when they have ended.

（2）

English is one of seven dozen modern languages that are descented from the prehistoric parent language，Indo-European.Written English，Germanic language，can be described as having roughly three major historical phases.The first，the Anglo-Saxon period，dates from around the fifth century to A.D.1100—from the arrival of the Angles，Saxons，and Jutes in Britain to the Norman- French invasion.The second，the middle English period，stretches through the middle Ages，from around 1100-1500.These centuries saw Anglo-Saxon modified by the influences of French and Latin.The third，the Modern English period，from 1500 to the present，has shown increasing influence of other modern languages and of ancient Greek and Latin.However，the common vocabulary of English remains basically Germanic.

Question：

The subject of this paragraph is＿＿＿.

A.French invasion in the development of English

B.A three major historical phases of written English

C.Germanic base for modern written English

D.The influence of ancient Latin and Greek on modern English

（3）

Have you ever seen children in costume and makes ringing doorbells and crying out“Trick or Treat？”This is a very common sight every year on October 31.The children are celebrating Halloween.On this holiday children dress up as witches，ghosts，and other characters.They ring doorbells and ask for a piece of candy or some bubble gum or even a few pennies.If they do not receive a treat，they may play a trick on the person or on the house.

Question：

Which is the main idea in the paragraph？

A.October 31 is an annual holiday.

B.Children are celebrating Halloween.

C.Children ring doorbells in costumes and masks.

D.Children play a trick on friends and neighbors.

（4）

Mike is a freshman in college.He is also trying to earn the money he needs to live on.As a result，he works forty hours a week at a gasoline station.But this work must be done at night because Mike is a full-time college student.Mike also tries to make time for things he enjoys doing that are not related to college or work.He likes to ski in winter and play golf in summer.However，he is finding less and less time for these pleasures.

Question：

This paragraph would be entitled＿＿＿.

A.A Freshman

B.Working Time

C.Mike

D.Pleasures

（5）

Today，new family arrangements are appearing all over the country.One major change has been brought about by increased divorce rates.For example，it is estimated that more than 50% of all American marriages end in divorce.Those individuals who are responsible for maintaining the family unity and structure after divorce are known as single heads of households.Children living within such a family structure usually spend most of their time with one parent.They may visit their other parent on weekends and in the summer.More and more frequently，children are growing up in a single head of household family unit.

Question：

The title that best expresses the main idea is＿＿＿.

A.Children Raising

B.Marriage Change

C.High Divorce Rate

D.New Family Arrangements

（6）

In the United States the cost of living has been steadily rising for the past few decades.Food price，clothing costs，housing expenses，and tuition fees are constantly getting higher and higher.Partly because of financial need，and partly because of career choices for personal fulfillment，mothers have been leaving the traditional role of full-time homemaker.Increasingly they have been taking salaried jobs outside the home.

Question：

Which of the following states the central idea of this paragraph？

A.Nowadays more and more mothers are working outside the home.

B.The cost of living in the U.S.is dropping.

C.The prices in the U.S.are constantly rising.

D.Mothers tend to work outside mainly because of career fulfillment.

参考答案：

（1）A（2）B（3）B（4）C（5）D（6）C