Which of the following best describes the difference between a topic and a central/main idea? (1 point)
Responses
A topic helps to introduce the central idea.
A topic helps to introduce the central idea.
A topic is the subject, whereas the central idea is what the author wants the reader to know about the topic.
A topic is the subject, whereas the central idea is what the author wants the reader to know about the topic.
A central idea includes many important details about the topic.
A central idea includes many important details about the topic.
A central idea is the subject and is usually short, whereas the topic gives the reader lots of extra information.
A central idea is the subject and is usually short, whereas the topic gives the reader lots of extra information.
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A central idea is the subject and is usually short, whereas the topic gives the reader lots of extra information.
The best description of the difference between a topic and a central/main idea is:
A topic is the subject, whereas the central idea is what the author wants the reader to know about the topic.
The correct answer is:
"A topic is the subject, whereas the central idea is what the author wants the reader to know about the topic."
To determine the difference between a topic and a central/main idea, we need to understand their definitions.
A topic refers to the subject or general theme of a text or discussion. It provides the broad focus or subject matter of the content. For example, if you are reading an article about climate change, the topic would be climate change itself.
On the other hand, a central/main idea is the specific message or main point that the author is trying to convey to the reader about the topic. It represents the author's purpose or intention in writing the text. Going back to the climate change example, the central idea could be something like "Human activities are contributing to the rapid warming of the Earth's atmosphere."
So, while the topic introduces the subject, the central idea is what the author wants the reader to know or understand about that subject. The central idea provides more specific information or insight about the topic, focusing on the main point or key message that the author is trying to convey. It is usually shorter and more concise than the topic, which may contain a greater amount of information.