California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) English Practice Exam

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the main idea?

1. Specificity

2. Generalization

3. Clarity

4. Focus

The correct answer is: Generalization

The main idea of a text encapsulates the central point or primary message the author wants to convey. It aims to provide a broad understanding of the content. Generalization, as an option, implies a notion that is overly broad or vague, which does not effectively capture the essence of a main idea. Specificity refers to the level of detail and precision in articulating the main idea, effectively narrowing down to specific themes or points within the text. Clarity ensures that the main idea is easily understood, while focus means that the main idea stays relevant and concisely addresses the central topic without deviating into unrelated areas. These characteristics contribute to the effectiveness and usefulness of a main idea in conveying information. In contrast, generalization would lead to an ambiguous understanding, making it less appropriate as a defining characteristic of the main idea.