Finding the central idea of a paragraph

1. As important as water conservation is, it is also very easy. A few simple habits can signifi cantly
reduce the water consumption of a household. One way to save water is to turn off the faucet when
reduce the water consumption of a household. One way to save water is to turn off the faucet when
brushing your teeth.  Also, don’t allow faucets to drip; one drip can waste a large amount of water
over a short period of time. Baths require less water than showers, so by taking a bath instead of a
shower, you can reduce the amount of water your home uses. In the kitchen, running a dishwasher
when it is completely full, rather than half full, can save up to 20 gallons a day. These simple changes
will save water and save money.

1

What is the main idea of the first paragraph?

2. One the most popular musical instruments is the piano. In the traditional musical instrument
classifi cation system of string, woodwind, percussion and brass, the piano falls into two categories.
It is considered a string instrument because the sound comes from the strings inside the piano. It
is also considered a percussion instrument, since the player strikes the keyboard, which signals an
internal hammer to strike the strings.

1

What is the main idea of the second paragraph?

3.  Irish immigration to the U.S. began during the early development of the American colonies. It
is estimated that 200,000 Irish came to the U.S. in the 17th and 18th centuries. The numbers swelled
from 1820 to 1850 to almost 2 million Irish immigrants. Most of these were fl eeing the potato fam-
ine from 1845 until 1852. Steady numbers continued to arrive during the late 19th and 20th centu-
ries. Today, over 36 million Americans claim some level of Irish ancestry.

1

What is the main idea of the first paragraph?

What is the main idea of the second paragraph?

What is the central idea of paragraph 3?