Question 130·Easy·Central Ideas and Details
In the 1940s agronomist Norman Borlaug began working in Mexico to develop new varieties of wheat that could resist disease and thrive in different climates. His research dramatically increased wheat yields, and in the 1960s he helped introduce these high-yield crops and modern farming techniques to India and Pakistan. Borlaug’s efforts are widely credited with preventing severe food shortages and feeding millions of people worldwide.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
For main idea questions, first ignore the choices and quickly summarize the passage in 5–10 words. Then, check each answer against your summary and eliminate options that focus on only one detail (a specific place, time, or example) or that leave out the outcome or significance the passage emphasizes. Choose the option that best captures both what happened and why it mattered, using the beginning and ending sentences of the passage as key guides.
Hints
Restate the passage briefly
Before looking at the options, try to explain in one short sentence what the entire paragraph is mostly about.
Look for repeated or emphasized ideas
Notice which ideas show up at the beginning, middle, and end of the passage—those are usually part of the main idea.
Watch out for answers that are too narrow
Ask of each choice: does this describe the whole paragraph, or only one time period, one place, or one specific fact mentioned?
Include both what happened and why it matters
The passage doesn’t only describe events; it also explains their impact. Make sure the answer you pick reflects both the action and its significance.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify what the question is asking
The question asks for the main idea of the text. That means you must find the one sentence that best sums up the entire passage, not just one part or detail.
Summarize the passage in your own words
Mentally put the passage into a single short sentence: it describes Borlaug’s work in Mexico to create better wheat, how this wheat was brought to other countries, and how his efforts are credited with preventing food shortages for millions of people. Notice both the action (developing and spreading new wheat varieties) and the impact (preventing severe food shortages).
Check each choice: detail or full main idea?
Look at each answer and ask: does it cover all of the important parts of the passage (Borlaug’s work, the new wheat, and the worldwide impact), or does it mention only one location, one time period, or one piece of information? Answers that focus on just Mexico, just India and Pakistan, or just his career location are too narrow to be the main idea.
Choose the option that matches your summary
Only “Borlaug developed high-yield, disease-resistant wheat that greatly boosted harvests and helped avert famine for millions.” includes both what he created (new wheat varieties) and the large-scale result (much higher yields and preventing severe food shortages), so this is the best statement of the passage’s main idea.