The central idea of a text is best described as what?

• A. The mood of the author
• B. The setting
• C. The main point the author wants readers to take away
• D. The tone

Answer: (C)

The central idea is the main point the author wants readers to take away. It’s the overarching message or claim that ties all the details and examples in the text together, and it may be stated directly or implied by what the author emphasizes across the passage. It’s not about the mood, setting, or tone—those describe the feeling, place, or attitude, while the central idea is the idea the text is making about the topic as a whole. To spot it, look for the idea that the author keeps returning to and that the evidence in the text supports. For example, in a piece about reducing waste, the central idea would be the notion that individual actions can make a real difference, with the specific facts and examples illustrating how.