English Skills with Readings 7th Edition by John Langan

Exercise 63

One key to effective outlining is the ability to distinguish between general ideas and specific details that fit under those ideas. Read each group of specific ideas below. Then circle the letter of the general idea that tells what the specific ideas have in common. Note that the general idea should not be too broad or too narrow. Begin by trying the example item, and then read the explanation that follows.
EXAMPLE
Specific ideas: runny nose, coughing, sneezing, sore throat
The general idea is:
cold symptoms.
b. symptoms.
c. throat problems.
EXPLANATION It is true that the specific ideas are all symptoms, but they have in common something even more specific-they are all symptoms of the common cold. Therefore, answer b is too broad; the correct answer is a. Answer c is too narrow because it doesn't cover all the specific ideas; it covers only the final item in the list ("sore throat").
1. Specific ideas: leaking toilet, no hot water, broken window, roaches The general idea is:
a. problems.
b. kitchen problems.
c. apartment problems.
2. Specific ideas: count to ten, take a deep breath, go for a walk 1 The general idea is:
a. actions.
b. ways to calm down.
c. ways to calm down just before a test.
3. Specific ideas: putting sticky tape on someone's chair, putting a "kick me" sign on someone's back, putting hot pepper in someone's cereal
The general idea is:
a. jokes.
b. practical jokes.
c. practical jokes played on teachers.
4. Specific ideas: going to bed earlier, eating healthier foods, reading for half an 8 hour each day, trying to be kinder
The general idea is:
a. resolutions.
b. problems.
c. solutions.
5. Specific ideas: money problems, family problems, relationship problems, health problems
The general idea is:
a. poor grades.
b. causes of poor grades.
c. effects of poor grades.